KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
December 14,2018
Katy ISD is now accepting nominations for the naming of Junior High #16. Junior High #16 is a current prototype junior high school designed for 1,400 students and is located in LUZ 73C in the Cross Creek Ranch community.
Junior High #16 prototype courtesy of Katy ISD
Naming the New Junior High
Katy Independent School District is now accepting nominations for the naming of Junior High #16 which is located in the Cross Creek Ranch subdivision in Fulshear, TX. Growth in the southwest quadrant of the District continues on an annual basis. This junior high will provide relief to existing campuses that currently house students in surrounding attendance boundaries.
Submission Requirements
Individuals interested in submitting a name can review the Katy ISD Board Policy CW (Local) for specific facility naming guidelines and submit a completed “Junior High #16 Naming Form,” found on the Katy ISD website.
It is recommended that nominations be made with a written statement containing, biographical data, significant contributions; and, statement of why a school or facility should be named after the person.
Other supplemental materials, such as in-depth biographies, news clippings, photos, letters of recommendation and/or other printed resources that would assist the board in making a decision should be sent via the Katy ISD Internal & Community Relations Department.
How to Submit Nominations
The public may submit the Nomination for Naming a New School or Facility form and supplemental materials via email at schoolnaming@katyisd.org.
By mail to: Katy ISD School/Facility NamingDepartment of Internal & Community RelationsP.O. Box 159Katy, TX 77492-0159
Or personal delivery to: Education Support Complex (ESC)Department of Internal & Community Relations6301 S. Stadium LaneKaty, TX 77494
The deadline for submitting nominations is January, 8, 2019.
Breaking Ground on the New Junior High As community development continues around the Cross Creek Ranch subdivision, May 2 marked the groundbreaking ceremony of Junior High #16 and High School #9 took place. Both schools will alleviate the thriving southwest quadrant of the district and provide relief to existing campuses that currently house students in the surrounding boundaries.
"Within the walls of these schools, future leaders will be taught, memories will be made and educational opportunities will prepare and inspire," said Superintendent Lance Hindt. "The construction of these campuses will be a new opportunity for this neighborhood and our community at large, to invest in our students as they create their future," added Hindt.
The buildings will be constructed as part of the 2017 voter-approved bond program. These educational facilities will not only be state-of-the-art buildings with collaborative spacing and leading edge technology, but they will be equipped with quality educators which make Katy ISD one of the best schools in the country. The construction of both facilities is another example of Katy ISD's promise to the community to provide unparalleled learning experiences to all students.
Past Names Chosen for Katy ISD Schools
The Board chooses School Namesakes on the basis of the person in consideration has made or is making significant contributions to public education and has a significant connection to the District as a student, an alumnus, a staff member, an administrator, a donor, or a supporter.
Here is a look back on the most recent names chosen for schools in Katy ISD.
MayDell Jenks Elementary (2016)
MayDell Jenks devoted her entire 43 year professional career focused on teaching students languages. In 1981, Jenks began her career in Katy ISD teaching German at Taylor High School. For the next 31 years, she would serve the student language population in Katy ISD. Over the years, Jenks’ service was filled with her passion for students, especially language learners. Yet she always recognized the need for community involvement. It went so far as to develop parent centers that offered second language instruction for parents along with assisting students navigate the requirements of each grade level.
Catherine Bethke Elementary (2016)
Catherine (Gigi) Bethke (Beth-key) entered the education field in 1976 with great enthusiasm and pride in her role as a teacher. A REACH teacher where she worked with students who struggled with reading and provided intensive, supplemental instruction. She also taught PRIDE, served as an Academic Support teacher, and created and piloted a reading fluency program. In 2006, she was honored as a Campus Teacher of the Year and went on to be a Katy ISD District-wide finalist, also honored as the Walmart Teacher of the Year.
Robert & Felice Bryant Elementary (2017)
Together, the Bryants have dedicated over 70 years as public school educators in Texas. Bob became the head band director at Katy High School, also serving as Fine Arts Department Chair before being promoted to Executive Director of Fine Arts for Katy ISD in 2000. Felice devoted 29 years teaching kindergarten and first grade students.She served on various campus and district committees developing reading and writing curriculum and teaching strategies. Felice also served as Kindergarten Team Leader and as First Grade Team Leader while at Katy Elementary. She was named the Katy Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1997.
Patricia E. Paetow High School (2017)
Named in remembrance of Patricia E. Paetow, a lifelong educator who dedicated nearly 30 years to Katy ISD before losing her battle to cancer in July 2015. Mrs. Paetow began her career in Katy ISD in 1987 as an educational diagnostician. She then spent the next three decades working in different capacities, including assistant principal, principal, and director of campus administration. She led Wolfe Elementary to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education for the 1989-1990 school year, and opened Betty Sue Creech Elementary in 2000.
Stockdick Junior High (2017)
In honor of the Stockdick family who has contributed to public education in Katy for more than a century. In 1895, the Stockdick family was among one of the first families to arrive in Katy and played an instrumental role in opening a one-room schoolhouse on what is now known as Stockdick School Road. Since then, several generations of Stockdicks have attended Katy ISD schools and have served as teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators and board members. They have also devoted countless hours as volunteers in our schools.
Amy Campbell Elementary (2018) In 1987, she piloted the Life Skills program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and at the same time, began the Occupational Lab, a place where students completed jobs for area businesses. Her students were soon invited to extend their classroom learning into various workplace environments. Today, this program exists in every Katy ISD high school. Many of the students who participated in this program have been successfully employed after graduating from high school. In 1995, Campbell moved to Taylor High School to start the Life Skills and Work-Based Learning programs. While there, she and a fellow teacher founded the second Texas high school chapter of Best Buddies, a program dedicated to creating one-to-one friendships, securing successful employment, and developing leadership skills for both students with and without disabilities.