School Matters
April 2020
Governor extends school closure through remainder of 2019-2020 school year
Governor Greg Abbott recently announced the “opening of Texas” will begin to occur in various stages. However, he also indicated all public and private schools will remain closed through the remainder of the current school year. Please note, the current school year will not be extended into the summer. The governor’s order results in the cancellation of all LTISD events scheduled through Friday, May 22, our final day of instruction for the current school year. Read more
Superintendent provides district update, Q&A in response to school closure as of April 23, 2020
District releases guidelines on grading during online learning
During the April 22 special called school board meeting, trustees approved a resolution authorizing Superintendent Dr. Brad Lancaster to modify certain grading requirements, class rank calculations and promotion/retention standards in response to COVID-19. These guidelines will remain in effect through the completion of the 2019-2020 school year. Read more
As we manage the impact of COVID-19, what are the most important things LTISD should consider to best support our families as we conclude this school year?
Please join this conversation today and share your thoughts and questions via the following link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/621345299. Also, please "star" or rate the thoughts shared by others. We will use the results of this exchange to make sure we are meeting the needs of our students, families, and staff. The exchange will be open through Friday, May 1.
Get Connected
2019-2020 Campus Teachers of the Year announced
Despite school closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Superintendent Dr. Brad Lancaster found a way to meet with the 2019-2020 campus teachers of the year.
Between April 21-24, the superintendent and district senior staff took to Google Meet video conferencing to recognize each campus honoree among his or her peers during virtual faculty meetings.
“We have some of the finest teachers in all of Texas,” said Dr. Lancaster. “Now more than ever, they work hard each and every day to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for students in a highly-demanding and ever-evolving profession. Regardless of our new normal, this is one of our favorite times of the year, and COVID-19 is not going to take that away from us.”
Watch our video highlighting the announcement of all 10 Lake Travis ISD 2019-2020 Campus Teachers of the Year.
Lake Travis ISD 2019-2020 Campus Teachers of the Year
- Shannon Norris - Lake Pointe Elementary School
- Maggie Bauer - Lakeway Elementary School
- Idalia Gannon - Lake Travis Elementary School
- Bianca Brymer - West Cypress Hills Elementary School
- Rachel Hughes - Bee Cave Elementary School
- Kelly Stewart - Serene Hills Elementary School
- Jennifer Monshaugen - Bee Cave Middle School
- Frank Assorgi - Lake Travis Middle School
- Megan Guynes - Hudson Bend Middle School
- Shannon Aguirre - Lake Travis High School
LTE, SHE principals announced
April 19-25 is National Library Week
With the theme “Find Your Place at the Library,” Lake Travis ISD joins the American Library Association (ALA) to celebrate April 19-25, 2020 as National Library Week in recognition of our school librarians and their unique contributions to public education.
According to the ALA, this year’s theme was chosen some time ago, well before the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic that would force our schools and libraries to close their physical spaces. However, our libraries are open for business online, providing the virtual services and digital content our students need now more than ever. In fact, this year’s theme has been creatively repurposed to reflect our current environment: “Find the Library at Your Place.”
A total of 10 elementary and secondary school librarians, and one librarian aide, provide services to more than 11,400 students across LTISD:
Michelle Cheeney – Bee Cave Elementary
Deborah Foster – Lake Pointe Elementary
Brekka Larrew – Lakeway Elementary
Kim Wood – Lake Travis Elementary
Helen Dawkins – Serene Hills Elementary
Cathy Seidenberger – West Cypress Hills Elementary School
Andrea Heckler – Bee Cave Middle School
Caitlin Hooker – Hudson Bend Middle School
Joyce Loyd – Lake Travis Middle School
Elizabeth Stearns – Lake Travis High School
Rosalie Galliver – Lake Travis High School
"Our librarians actively and creatively engage students in developing the most fundamental of skills, collaboratively plan with teachers and other school staff to deliver quality instruction through cutting-edge technology, and work with parents to plan, design, and coordinate book fairs and other special campus events," said Superintendent Dr. Brad Lancaster. "Whether it’s by creating an interest in reading or by helping students connect to the Internet, our LTISD librarians have a direct impact on student learning and achievement."
Earth Day
April 20-24 is Public School Volunteer Week
April 20-24 is Public School Volunteer Week. We thank our many Lake Travis ISD volunteers for the time and contributions invested in our staff, students and schools. On behalf of Superintendent Dr. Brad Lancaster, we are proud to recognize the following individuals as our 2019-2020 campus volunteers and mentors of the year:
Campus Volunteers of the Year:
Patt Germann – Bee Cave Elementary
Brooke Williams – Lake Pointe Elementary
Christina Colwell – Lakeway Elementary
Kimberly Taylor – Lake Travis Elementary
Erin Warner – Serene Hills Elementary
Amy Stine – West Cypress Hills Elementary School
Brandy Meid – Bee Cave Middle School
Elizabeth O’Dell – Hudson Bend Middle School
Aimee Riebold – Lake Travis Middle School
Rachel Morilli – Lake Travis High School
Campus Mentors of the Year:
Mike Paggi – Bee Cave Elementary
Tammy Pochop – Lake Pointe Elementary
Evan Duval – Lakeway Elementary
Phil Storin – Lake Travis Elementary
George Wagner – Serene Hills Elementary
Leslie Menikoff – West Cypress Hills Elementary School
Babita Deitrich – Bee Cave Middle School
Dr. Jeff Lazar – Hudson Bend Middle School
John Breidinger – Lake Travis Middle School
Joe Stallone – Lake Travis High School
April 6 - 10 is National Assistant Principals Week
From car duty and traffic control, administrator on call for evening and weekend athletic events, to academic support and student discipline issues, assistant principals make significant contributions throughout the school environment. In honor and recognition of these hard-working professionals and the critical duties they perform, Lake Travis ISD joins the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators to celebrate April 6-10, 2020 as National Assistant Principals Week.
The following men and women serve students across our district as assistant principals:
- Ashley Nauta - Bee Cave Elementary School
- Mak El-Hassan - Lake Pointe Elementary School
- Lizeth Thompson - Lake Travis Elementary School
- Kelli Ruby - Lakeway Elementary School
- Keegan Luedecke - Serene Hills Elementary School
- Leanna Pesta - West Cypress Hills Elementary School
- Tres Ellis and Laura Keogh - Bee Cave Middle School
- Logan Docherty - Hudson Bend Middle School
- Dr. John Haro (interim) - Hudson Bend Middle School
- Michaele Pansza - Hudson Bend Middle School
- Rachel Foreman - Lake Travis Middle School
- Janet Pyne - Lake Travis Middle School
- Patrick Hinson (associate principal) - Lake Travis High School
- Zach Freed - Lake Travis High School
- Darnell Horton - Lake Travis High School
- Angela Hrapchak - Lake Travis High School
- Roy Hudson - Lake Travis High School
- Brianne Walker - Lake Travis High School
April is Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational Therapists (OTs) are licensed professionals who help improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages and stages. School-based OTs support academic achievement and social participation by promoting occupation within school routines including recess, classroom, and cafeteria time. They utilize strategies for student health and well-being and prepare them for college, career, and community integration. In recognition of the critical role OTs play in both school and clinical settings, the month of April is designated as Occupational Therapy month.
The following Occupational Therapists serve students across LTISD:
- Quina Brown - BCE, WCHE
- Cat Daniel - LTHS, LTMS, BCMS
- Jenna Olney - SHE, LWE, HBMS
- Johann Salas - LTE, LPE
#TeachersCan initiative spotlights importance and impact of the teaching profession amid pandemic
The #TeachersCan initiative encourages Texans to thank both current teachers as well as those who had a profound impacton their lives by entering their favorite educators into a drawing. Nominated teachers and educators will be automatically entered into a drawing for a host of exclusive prizes, with winners announced daily during a special week-long virtual National Teacher Appreciation Week celebration May 4-8.
For more information about the #TeachersCan initiative, visit TeachersCan.org.
LTHS Cavalier Band fight song at-home version
Rough Hollow Elementary School logo released
HBMS yearbook recognized as Best Of 2019
Balfour has recognized the 2019 Hudson Bend Middle School yearbook staff in the publisher’s Best Of 2019 collection for the students’ outstanding contribution to scholastic journalism.
Lake Travis Independent School District
Email: info@ltisdschools.org
Website: www.ltisdschools.org
Location: 3322 Ranch Road 620 South, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-533-6000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools/
Twitter: @ltisdschools