INSIDE DSISD
The latest news from Dripping Springs ISD
WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2023
COMMUNITY BOND INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS
Dripping Springs ISD will hold bond information presentations for DSISD voters at all campuses over the next month. Community members can hear information on the upcoming May 2023 bond from Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz and Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn and ask questions. Parents and community members are invited to attend any session.
*Childcare will be provided during these presentations. If childcare is needed, please RSVP here.
REMAINING COMMUNITY BOND INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS
Wednesday, April 5, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Dripping Springs High School Cafeteria
*Thursday, April 6, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Dripping Springs Elementary Cafeteria
*Monday, April 10, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Sycamore Springs Elementary Cafeteria
Tuesday, April 11, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sycamore Springs Middle School Cafeteria
*Wednesday, April 12, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Walnut Springs Elementary Cafeteria
Tuesday, April 18, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Dripping Springs Middle School Cafeteria
DSISD MAY 2023 BOND WEBSITE
Information on the DSISD May 2023 bond can be found at DSISDBOND.COM including proposed projects, community meeting dates, information on district growth, taxes and voting, and FAQs.
DSISD ANNOUNCES CAMPUS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
On Thursday, March 30, Dripping Springs ISD recognized eight professionals as 2022-23 Campus Teachers of the Year.
Campus winners were selected through a nomination and voting process of all staff at each school. They are now eligible for the DSISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year awards, which are chosen by a volunteer committee comprised of retired educators and announced at the May 22 board meeting. The selection process is based on submitted essay responses and a virtual interview.
Below is a brief career summary on each of the campus winners.
ELEMENTARY
Stephanie Stamps, Cypress Springs Elementary, Special Education
Fifth year teaching elementary, all at DSISD
Graduate of Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Studies
Certified in Core Subjects (EC-6) and Special Education (EC-12)
Katie Anderson, Dripping Springs Elementary, Music
Fourth year teaching music, all at DSISD
Graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies
Certified in Music (EC-12)
Kathryn Wilson, Rooster Springs Elementary, 4th Grade
Sixth year teaching with DSISD and 29th year overall
Has taught 20 years in Texas and nine years in Georgia
Graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a Bachelor of Science in Curriculum Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Counseling
Certified in Elementary Self-Contained (1-8), Elementary Mathematics (1-8) and ESL Supplemental (1-8)
Jennifer Blackmon, Sycamore Springs Elementary, 3rd Grade
DSISD elementary teacher for six years and 10 total years of teaching experience
Graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Certified in Elementary English and Reading (1-6), Elementary Life/Earth Science, Mathematics, Self-Contained (1-8) and ESL Supplemental (1-8)
Jennifer McGinnis, Walnut Springs Elementary, 3rd Grade
Fourth year teaching with DSISD and 22nd overall
Spent 18 years teaching in Illinois before coming to Dripping Springs
Graduate of Elmhurst College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education
Certified in Core Subjects (EC-6 and 4-8) and ESL Supplemental (EC-8)
SECONDARY
Jennifer Morris, Dripping Springs Middle School, World Cultures
Third year teaching in DSISD and 13th year overall
Graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Geography Resource and Environmental Studies
Certified in Generalist (4-8) and ESL Supplemental (4-8)
Dan Shane, Sycamore Springs Middle School, Speech & Debate
Seventh year teaching with DSISD and 20 total years in education
Previously taught Social Studies
Spent six years with Austin ISD and seven with the New York City Department of Education
Graduated from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and earned a Master of Science in Middle School Education/Special Education from Touro College
Certified in Social Studies (4-8) and 7-12
Chrissy Hinkle, Dripping Springs High School, English Language Arts
Seventh year in teaching, all at DSISD
Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in English
Certified in English Language Arts and Reading (7-12), Special Education Supplemental and ESL Supplemental
DSE TEACHER NAMED H-E-B RISING STAR AWARD FINALIST
Dripping Springs Elementary fifth-grade science teacher Jill Zipperer has been named one of five finalists for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Rising Star Elementary Award, H-E-B representatives announced in a surprise campus visit on Friday, March 31.
The Rising Star category honors exceptionally promising teachers with less than 10 years of experience. As a finalist, Zipperer received a $1,000 check for her and $1,000 for Dripping Springs Elementary, cookies and balloons. Finalists will travel to San Antonio for the awards gala in April where judges will conduct face-to-face interviews. Winners will receive $5,000 for themselves and a $5,000 grant for their school.
Zipperer, who is in her sixth year with Dripping Springs ISD, received her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University and her master’s in Science Education from Western Governors University.
Created in 2002, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are designed to honor outstanding public school professionals and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each and every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.
ACKER NAMED HEAD BOYS' BASKETBALL COACH
On Tuesday, Dripping Springs ISD Athletic Director Galen Zimmerman announced that current Dripping Springs High School boys’ basketball associate head coach Thomas Acker has been promoted to head coach for the basketball program.
Acker is in his fourth year at Dripping Springs High School, helping the varsity basketball program to back-to-back area playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022. He also served as the freshman boys head coach where he guided the team to district titles in 2021 and 2022. Acker takes over for a program that finished 17-15 on the season and was just one win from qualifying for the state playoffs.
Acker served as the varsity defensive coordinator where he was responsible for the team’s defensive scheme and game plans, and oversaw the sub-varsity system implementation. In the classroom, Acker has worked as a special education teacher in Chemistry, Physics and Aquatic Science. He also served as the assistant coach for the Tiger cross country program.
Prior to joining DSHS, Acker spent three years at San Marcos High School including two seasons as the head boys’ basketball coach where he led the Rattlers to the bi-district round of the playoffs in 2018. In 2004, Acker was named the first boys’ basketball coach for Lehman High School in Kyle, a position he held for 11 seasons.
Acker received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. He began his career as a Physical Education teacher at Small Middle School in Austin in 1999.
HOSA QUALIFIES TWO FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Dripping Springs High School Health Science students Priya Chandrani and Connor Johnson qualified for the 2023 HOSA International Leadership Conference after placing in the top 10 percent on the Healthcare Issues exam at the state competition from March 28-30 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock.
Johnson (Health Informatics), Bailey Inglish (Medical Reading), Noelle Butkevic (Behavioral Health) and Ashton Harmon (Job Seeking Skills) all placed in the top 10 in their respective events, each earning sixth-place finishes. The top three finishers advanced to the international competition.
Inglish was honored with the Barbara James Service Award for completing over 100 volunteer hours in the community. He was also awarded a $5,000 scholarship, the highest HOSA scholarship amount.
The Dripping Springs HOSA program was also recognized for collecting 144 units of blood during their three blood drives throughout the 2022-23 school year.
The HOSA International Leadership Conference will be held June 21-24 in Dallas.
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFIERS
Healthcare Issues Exam
*Priya Chandrani
Connor Johnson
*2022 International Qualifier
DSHS FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM ADVANCES TO STATE
The Dripping Springs High School FIRST Robotics team, 6357 The Spring Konstant, qualified their robot for the UIL State Championship after placing first at the final state-qualifying competition last weekend in Clear Lake.
Competing against 33 schools, DSHS sat in 3rd place after 12 qualifying matches before heading into the double elimination tournament. As the No. 2 alliance captain, the team worked with alliance partners to advance through the tournament and into the finals against the No. 1 alliance. In a best-of-three final, they won the final two matches to earn the title.
In March, DSHS was awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award at the district competition, recognizing the promotion and growth of Engineering within the community. The team will also present at the UIL State Championship, which will be held April 7-8 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
The final match can be viewed here.
DSHS BANDS RECEIVE HIGH RATINGS AT UIL CONCERT & SIGHTREADING
Three performing groups from the Dripping Springs High School band earned Superior and Excellent ratings at the UIL Region 18 Concert and Sightreading event on March 28-29 at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center in Kyle.
Performing three prepared pieces in front of a judging panel, the DSHS Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band each earned Superior ratings in the concert portion of the event.
In sightreading, the bands were given 10 minutes to study and rehearse a never-before-seen piece to perform in front of judges. The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band each earned a Superior rating while the Concert Band was awarded an Excellent rating.
The Tiger Band will hold their 2023 Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 9.