KATY MAGAZINE l JUNE 2019
By Jennifer Miko
At the end of the 2018-2019 school year, the Partners in Education and the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Executive Board recognized the district’s thousands of volunteers at their annual celebration event.
The 2018-2019 Katy ISD Volunteers of the Year.
The Katy ISD VIPS Celebration honored the volunteers who donate their time and talents to the district’s students and teachers. The Katy High School Bengal Brigade and Cheerleaders served as greeters for the more than 800 volunteers who attended the event at the Merrell Center.
District-wide entertainment was provided by McMeans Junior High, Tays Junior High and Paetow High School Theater as well as Taylor High School Theater and Choir.
Volunteers Contribute to District's Success
For two decades, Rebecca Fox, former member, Katy ISD Board of Trustees, has attended the VIPS Celebrations. "Their service reveals the commitment our parents and community members have to support our students and teachers," says Fox. "Volunteers are such a vital part of the success of Katy ISD."
One of the most anticipated segments of the program were the announcements of each school’s 2018-2019 Volunteer of the Year. Here is the list of this year's honorees:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
Alexander Elementary: Charlotte Shutt
Bear Creek Elementary: Taylor Perez
Bethke Elementary: Kalee Harper
Bryant Elementary: Kathalyn Garza
Campbell Elementary: Lucy Madero
Cimarron Elementary: Anita Gelowitz
Creech Elementary: Leslie Cernosek
Davidson Elementary: Virginia Beeson
Exley Elementary: Jennifer Young
Fielder Elementary: Victor Alvarado
Franz Elementary: Vanessa Williams
Golbow Elementary: Kathryn Perry
Griffin Elementary: Allison Lindberg
Hayes Elementary: Trazanna Moreno
Holland Elementary: JoLynn Meier
Hutsell Elementary: Dawn Woytek
Jenks Elementary: Miriam Daboub
Katy Elementary: Stephanie Richter
Kilpatrick Elementary: Lian Blake
Mayde Creek Elementary: Kelsey Judd
McRoberts Elementary: Ruby Martinez Ilagan
Memorial Parkway Elementary: Yvonne Debus
Morton Ranch Elementary: Cornelia Elrod
Nottingham Country Elementary: Jim Troutman
Pattison Elementary: Iratxe Barcenilla Larrinaga
Randolph Elementary: Kim Brown
Rhoads Elementary: Kimberly Lord
Rylander Elementary: Devon Hulyk
Schmalz Elementary: Tamela Adams
Shafer Elementary: Brittany Dyal
Stanley Elementary: Amanda Boyle
Stephens Elementary: Christine Peña
Sundown Elementary: April Eldridge
West Memorial Elementary: Jayna Balcer
Williams Elementary: Sara McKenzie
Wilson Elementary: Carly Ferchuk
Winborn Elementary: Holly Painter
Wolfe Elementary: Barbara Havlik
Wolman Elementary: Sheila Adams
WoodCreek Elementary: Mindy Pitcock
Volunteer Roles Continue to Evolve
"More of today's volunteer roles accommodate working parent schedules. Dads are taking a greater leadership role through programs like Watch D.O.G.S.," Janet Theis, Katy ISD's Director of Community Partnerships. "Our Sister Schools program connects volunteers at two campuses across the district."
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
Beck Junior High: Maryellen Hager
Beckendorff Junior High: Jenny Kumar
Cardiff Junior High: Jennifer Valencia
Cinco Ranch Junior High: Dena Pyne
Katy Junior High: Laura Stukenborg
Mayde Creek Junior High: Sue Roberts
McDonald Junior High: Besima Baltic
McMeans Junior High: Allason James
Memorial Parkway Junior High: Kristen Allen
Morton Ranch Junior High: Michelle Duty
Seven Lakes Junior High: Angela Kunkel
Stockdick Junior High: Ruben Jimenez
Tays Junior High: Chris Green
West Memorial Junior High: Ann Perez
WoodCreek Junior High: Anitra Ondrush
Each Campus Benefits from Volunteers
The office of the Katy ISD Partners in Education calculated that volunteers across the district donated more than 847,142 hours. In human resource terms, these hours represent the equivalent of 604 additional teachers or nine additional teachers at every campus.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
Cinco Ranch High School: Anna Marsh
Katy High School: Kelly Goerig
Mayde Creek High School: Emma Boutwell
Morton Ranch High School: Katrina Williams
Paetow High School: Tawnya Morse
Seven Lakes High School: Santiago Molina
Taylor High School: Sharon Mitchell
Tompkins High School: Linda Lummus
Inspiring Guest Speakers Address Audience
Over the years, notable guest speakers have entertained the audiences at the VIPS Celebration. Each one recognized the dedication of the volunteers and their impact on the children, teachers and school district. Some of the most prominent people to take the podium at the VIPS event include First Lady Barbara Bush, Apollo Astronaut Gene Cernan, former Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane, Senator John Cornyn (then Texas Attorney General) and former NFL player Spencer Tillman.
This year, the keynote speaker, 18-year-old Aidan Thomas Anderson – "giver, speaker and musician," inspired the crowd. The co-founder of the charity Aidan Cares, now in its 11th year, has gained national and international attention. His organization’s mission is to encourage people to spread the joy and importance of giving by “partnering with nonprofits, communities, and individuals to magnify the good they want to see in the world.”
Anderson has encouraged youth from more than 30 countries to start their own giving initiatives. The young man is dedicated to showing people, especially kids from all economic backgrounds, the incredible impact that can be achieved by serving others.
"Ours is a vibrant volunteer program that consistently responds to the evolving needs of our schools and community," says Theis. "What has not changed is Katy ISD's commitment to its volunteer programs. Volunteers will always be an important part of our Katy ISD family."
Volunteers in Public Schools, a Katy ISD Partners in Education program, offers moms, dads, family and community members a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at their chosen campus. To learn more, visit the Partners in Education website or contact your campus Volunteer Coordinator.