OCTOBER 2022
Message from the Coordinator of Innovation
Message from the Coordinator of Innovation
I am very excited to be the new Coordinator of Innovation in CISD! This year we have a lot of exciting events going on in your campuses with the implementation of Engineering Days, STEM Days, and Gifted and Talented curriculum! It is my mission to assure that every student receives high quality STEM Plus instruction in the elementary schools by assuring that our STEM Plus Specialists connect with students, encourage creative thinking, teach problem solving skills, plan high level tiered instruction and explore real word applications.
Stay tuned for exciting STEM activities that are being planned district wide!
Thank you for your support of the STEM Plus program in CISD.
STEM DAY
You've likely heard the term STEM, but what does it stand for? STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. These four fields share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. And together they make up a popular and fast-growing industry. Ensuring students have access to a quality STEM education is essential for keeping the U.S. competitive in the global market. Students are actively encouraged to study STEM here at Crowley ISD! We are very excited and proud that this year, we have embedded STEM to all classrooms!
On September 22, 2022 we had our first STEM Day in all our elementary campuses. On this day, all our elementary campuses embedded STEM in all curriculum. All our students engaged in the Engineering Design process and had fun! Our STEM Day was even featured in the news.
Please take the time to give us some Feedback on our STEM Day. We look forward to hearing from you and making our next STEM Day (November 3, 2022) even better!
STEM DAY Campus Winner!!
Parkway Elementary!!
All the votes are in and Parkway Elementary is the Winner for STEM DAY! The STEM PLUS specialist is Chauntee Pitts and she did an amazing job in immersing STEM on her campus!
The campus will receive a STEM Day banner that will be posted on the front of the school!!
Here are some of the comments that were submitted:
"This STEM specialist went above and beyond to make all her students and staff have an amazing STEM day experience. Even some of the teacher went above and beyond with whole classroom transformations."
"I was extremely impressed with the time and energy it took this STEM Plus Specialist to transform the entire campus with the VERY limited amount of time she has during the day. Not only is she juggling class rotations and GATE, but she was able to promote the events in the days leading up, built an entire archway with her hands, inspired tenacity and creativity in her staff and represented the STEM Plus team exceptionally well."
"I was impressed and inspired by the creativity that was shown in creating an entire Campus experience."
Parkway Elementary
STEM Specialist: Chauntee Pitts
I grew up in Crowley, TX right off of 1187. I moved to Richmond Virginia in 2009 and attended the University of Richmond where I obtained my bachelors degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Elementary Education. I have taught 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades. This is my third year in Crowley ISD as the STEM Specialist at Parkway. I am graduating in December with my masters in STEM Education from Tarleton University
Parkway started their STEM day by entering through the giant STEM Lab doors. Complete with a hand scanner and top secret codes, the students walked through the fog and flashing lights and into a day of engaging activities. Every student at Parkway was able to participate in STEM Day through dressing up and learning opportunities that were brought to life by the high energy teachers of all grades. We are so excited to engage in the next STEM Day.
Principal: Dr. Lakita Reed
Assistant Principal: Tara Jackson
SCROLL BELOW TO SEE PICTURES OF YOUR SCHOOL'S STEM DAY ACTIVITIES
Poynter Elementary
STEM Specialist: Mrs. Jazmine Jimenez
Poynter students and staff truly enjoyed this day. Students were gearing up to explore and take in the day fully. They worked on an array of lessons that fostered ingenuity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Students were also paired into small teams which lead to team collaboration and helped them further develop communication skills. Overall, I would say that it was a great success!
Principal: Dr. Williams
Assistant Principal : Mrs. Lewis
Jackie Carden Elementary
STEM Specialist: Mrs. Jaqueline Lee
Hello, my name is Jacqueline Lee and I'm the STEM Specialist at Jackie Carden Elementary. I have been teaching for 17 years and this is my second year at Jackie Carden Elementary. I love teaching STEM because it's more than math and science. STEM-based education teaches students how to focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications that develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st century skills.
Jackie Carden Elementary was very excited to take part of STEM Day! Students enjoyed being immersed in learning how to solve real world problems and engaging in so many STEM activities!
Principal: Valerie Walker
Assistant Principal: Crystal Hudson
1st Grade student Camdin in Mrs. Olalde's class explaining and modeling his STEM Day creature- I will be able to design a new creature that has at least three different physical properties (texture/color/shape/etc.)
Ms. Chatman's 5th grade class creating a circuit.
Mrs. Eason Pre-K class building a tall structure during STEM Day centers.
JA Hargrave Elementary
STEM Specialist: Sherri Rodriguez
I am very excited to be the JA Hargrave STEM Plus specialist. Here is a little bit about me: I am originally from Oregon and have been in Texas since 2010. I have taught both math and science at the 3rd-6th grade levels as well as Kinder through 2nd. I have one beautiful and wonderful daughter who is a teacher and two amazing granddaughters. I enjoy gardening, swimming, vacationing, and spending time with my dogs and family.
STEM Day at Hargrave was very exciting. Students learned the importance of working together and how they could accomplish more by learning from their mistakes. Teachers learned that students could learn through exploration and trial and error. Overall, the hands-on experience was extremely positive, and students are asking when the next STEM Day is 🙂
Principal: Roxey Norflis
Assistant Principal: Quentella Knox
Sue Crouch Elementary
STEM PLUS Specialist: Chelsea Ruffin-Hawthorn
I graduated from the University of Arkansas and earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Spanish and Creative Writing before I answered my educator calling, I was a news producer and a multimedia journalist in Arkansas. I served as an educator for 8 years! I've taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, 4th and 5th grade ELAR/Writing and 6th grade STEM Science. I have been in CISD for 5 years and two of those years have been as a STEM Plus Specialist. One of the things I love about STEM is the CREATIVITY, FREEDOM of EXPRESSION and encouragement of OUT OF THE BOX thinking provided to our students. STEM in CISD has taken an innovative approach allowing STEM Plus Specialists and core content teachers to collaborate EDP lessons. What an exciting time to be a part of STEM Plus!
Sue Crouch Knights celebrated Ada Twist STEM Day!
STEM Plus for ALL really meant ALL at SCE as students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade engaged in STEM-tastic activities.
4th graders created balloon cars, our smallest inventors explored Capillary Action, and our 5th grade investigators saved us from a Zombie Apocalypse by inventing new designs for flashlights! We had so much STEM fun and can’t wait till the next one! See you in November!
Oakmont Elementary
STEM Specialist
I have been teaching in Crowley ISD for nearly 10 years. I started by teaching career as a 2nd grade teacher before moving to my current position as the STEM/GT specialist. I love everything about Science, but Space is my favorite topic. I even spent part of my summer learning at NASA in Houston. STEM is the best!
Oakmont STEM day:
Students at Oakmont put their Scientist hats on for a fun-filled day of hands-on learning. All students listen to a book in the Ada Twist book series before engaging in building activity. Students in second grade were architects and created a model of a famous building. Fourth graders were engineers and made cars powered by balloons. In Fifth grade students had to escape from a Zombie invasion by making flashlights.
Principal: Bianca Green
Assistant Principal: Nyva Levine
Sycamore Elementary
STEM Specialist: Janelle Weaver
Mrs. Weaver’s Bio:
Hi, my name is Mrs. Janelle Weaver, and I am the STEM+/GATE Specialist at Sycamore Elementary. I have been with Crowley ISD for 18 years. I love working with students in my STEM and GATE classes! Being able to see the creativity, originality, and commitment that my students possess and demonstrate is what feeds my love of teaching! I hope to help inspire students to believe in themselves and be successful in pursuing their goals.
STEM Day at Sycamore Elementary was a huge success! Teachers and students dressed up in their science attire, participated in STEM activities, and engaged in a day of fun while learning at high levels! Mrs. Hunt, our principal, was able to see first-hand STEM inspired, hands-on activities and high student engagement. Sycamore is looking forward to our next district STEM Day!
Principals: Rebekah Hunt and Kali Saleh
Assistant Principal: Rosalina Jones
Deer Creek Elementary
STEM DAY!
STEM Day was a very exciting day at Deer Creek Elementary! The students were engaged all day while having fun! Students participated and were able to create engineering projects!
Principal: Stephanie Gravely
Assistant Principal: Marlie Mobley and Ben Travis
S.H. Crowley Elementary
STEM Specialist: Catherine Emmerson
Catherine Emerson is the STEM+/ GATE Specialist at SH Crowley Elementary. She has served in various positions over the years in Crowley. No matter the position, the goal of inspiring curiosity and learning in students has always been the same. She is a believer in challenging students, causing them to develop life skills that will serve them long after graduation. She encourages students that they can do hard things if they decide to. Mrs. Emerson was influenced by a very special educator during her elementary years and wants to be that cheerleader for the students she serves.
Dr. Runnels and the SH Crowley coyotes went all out on the inaugural STEM DAY. Teachers, staff and students dressed as a scientist and practiced thinking as a scientist. We engaged in lots of cross-curricular activities in Reading, Science and Social Studies from PreK to 5th grade, PE, Music and Special Education Programs. We explored the Engineering Design Process (EDP). Prototypes were created while practicing teamwork, communication, and problem solving. The coyote community can't wait to participate in the next campus wide STEM experience!!!
Principal: Dr. Joy Runnels
Assistant Principal: Shelly Douglas
June W. Davis Elementary
STEM Specialist: Angela Partin
My name is Angie Partin and I am the STEM Plus Specialist at June W. Davis Elementary. This is my 19th year in education. I am a graduate of The University of Maryland Baltimore County. For me, teaching is all about inspiring a love for learning by giving students opportunities and providing support with new experiences.
June W. Davis Elementary was the place to be on Ada Twist STEM Day! Our teachers went out of their way to bring anticipation and excitement resulting in a day full of engaged learners, laughter and fun! We were so excited to have THE June Davis herself visit to see some of the cross-curricular connections and the students working through different phases of the Engineer Design Process. We can’t wait for the next district-wide STEM Day!
Principal: Dr. Hannah Anthony
Assistant Principal: Sharretha Jonhson-Hinton and Leigh Dansby-Jernigan
Dallas Park Elementary
STEM Specialist: Susan Marshall
Sue Marshall is Dallas Park’s STEM Plus Specialist who has been teaching in Crowley ISD for 22 years. She is happy to be working with STEM where she can teach kids the foundational principles of the engineering design process. Students are learning qualities of collaboration and perseverance as they work to solve real world problems.
Dallas Park El. celebrated STEM Day, Ada Twist Day, by participating in activities that highlighted physical properties. Students were busy designing balloon cars and buildings, making flashlights to keep the zombies away, making bricks, creating shape pictures, and lots more.
Principal: Dr. Edmond Henderson
Assistant Principal: Kristin Green
Meadowcreek Elementary
STEM Specialist: Kayla Tymony
My name is Kayla Tymony and I am excited to be the Meadowcreek Elementary STEM Specialist. I am very excited to engage your students in hands on learning everyday!
STEM Day was a success! My teachers were excited, and all students were engaged. I now have students and staff telling me they "Love" STEM!! I feel like STEM day will really change the mindset of what STEM truly is.
Principal: Joseph Cato
Assistant Principal: Arkelia Cannon and Kelly Brown
Mary Harris Elementary
STEM Specialist: Meredith O'Shea
Mary Harris went above and beyond on STEM Day! The entire campus was excited about STEM Day and students engaged in hands on activities. Not only did the students have a lot of fun learning about The Engineering Design Process but they had so much fun working on their projects!
DL Walker
STEM Specialist: Amanda Cortez
Hello, My name is Amanda Cortez, I am the proud STEM specialist at David L. Walker Elementary in Crowley ISD. I previously taught 4th grade Math and Science, and before that I taught all subjects in self contained classrooms spanning grade levels from kindergarten through 4th grade over the past 13 years. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I started teaching my dolls when I was little, but it wasn’t until I started school that my love for science led me to my dream job of getting to invent, explore, and learn more than I ever imagined through fun and exciting STEM projects with cool kids every single day!!!!
Bess Race Elementary
STEM Specialist: Jessica Stephens
We had a STEM-tastic 1st STEM Day! All of our campus educators including RISE, SEAS, and Pre-K to 5th grade did an incredible job in giving our students engaging and thought-provoking projects that lit their curiosity and imaginations! Our scholars had a blast completing complex projects such as creating flashlights to escape zombies, creating a balloon powered car, or exploring monster magnets. STEM Day at Bess Race ES was a day when our students explored what could be done with the content that they are learning every day!
Let's Celebrate Hispanic National Month!
First Hispanic Astronaut: Ellen Ochoa
Ellen Ochoa (born May 10, 1958) is an American engineer, former astronaut and former director of the Johnson Space Center. In 1993, Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Ochoa became director of the center upon the retirement of the previous director, Michael Coats, on December 31, 2012. She was the first Hispanic director and the second female director of Johnson Space Center.
Bill R. Johnson CTE Center Grade Level Field Trips
Upcoming Field Trips
STEM Plus at the CISD College and Career Fair
STEM PLUS Fun!
STEM Plus was at the Crowley ISD College and Career Fair. Students and families engaged in fun STEM activities by building robots, buildings, and testing architectural structures! Thank you for visiting our STEM Plus Room!
Engineering Days
Did you know your students at being taught Engineering Lessons?
This school year, all elementary school students are receiving Engineering Lessons in their science classes. Ask your child what Engineering Lesson they have learned this semester. Here is the Calendar of lessons being taught.
August 11- September 22
Kinder-"Catch My Drip".
2nd Grade- "Bring Home the Bacon"--"Water Crossing"
September 26-November 4
3rd Grade- "The Amazing City Ride"
5th Grade- "Stick the Landing"
November 7-December 16
1st Grade- "Move it with Magnets"
4th Grade-"Fresh Water for Everyone"
Upcoming Events
October 2022 Events
-Engineering Days for 3rd grade (The Amazing City Ride), and 5th grade (Stick the Landing)
-Hispanic Heritage Month STEM/GATE Lesson- Frida Kahlo
-GATE Testing (See your campus specialist for specific campus dates)
-After-School STEM programs (See you campus specialist for specific campus programs)
Family STEM Resources
Don't limit the STEM fun to school—bring the STEM excitement home and get the whole family involved in the fun. Here are some opportunities in your community to engage the family in STEM!
October STEM Family Project
The first big holiday of the school year is upon us! If you want to keep your child engaged and working while visions of candy and costumes dance in their brains, you’re going to need something special. Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve got just the fall activity: Bone Bridge!
When you finish building your bone bridge, bring the bridge to your campus STEM Classroom and receive a small treat! Have fun working on this awesome STEM project as a family!