Jacksonville school board recognizes TIA teachers, hires principals
May 24—The Jacksonville Independent School District's trustees recognized teachers who received a Teacher Incentive Allotment designation from the Texas Education Agency and announced the hire of two campus principals.
Eight teachers received TIA designations and one received a higher designation than last year, bringing the total number of JISD teachers with TIA designations to 33. The 2024 designees are:
— Donald Cupples, Jacksonville High School, Recognized
— Lacy Haney, Jacksonville High School, Master
— Jason Kearney, Jacksonville High School, Exemplary
— Anissa Kiener, Jacksonville High School, Exemplary
— LaShondra Robinson, Jacksonville High School, Exemplary
— Ceara Oliver, Jacksonville Middle School, Recognized
— Jeri Summerville, Jacksonville Middle School, Master
— Cassie Bingham, East Side Elementary, Recognized
"The intent of the teacher incentive allotment is to get our very best teachers with students in the state of Texas that have the highest level of needs," said Superintendent Brad Stewart. "We're very proud of these teachers that have done this and have gotten so much growth out of their students."
Stewart named the candidates for two principal positions within the district, both of whom were unanimously approved by the board.
Shelley Cook will take the helm at East Side Elementary. Cook came to JISD in 2016 as a third grade teacher, and became assistant principal for East Side in 2018. She has been serving as interim principal since Jodi Alderete, who previously held the position, became principal of the high school campus.
Joe Wright Elementary Assistant Principal Stephanie Hinton will take over as principal following the retirement of Cindy Slovacek. Hinton has spent all 20 years of her educational career with JISD. She has served as assistant principal since the 2015-2016 school year.
County Court at Law Judge Janice Stone administered the oath of office to Josh Best, Place 1 trustee.
The board reorganized, electing new officers. Matthew Leinback, who had been serving as vice president, was elected board president. Jill Penn is the new vice president and Dean Dublin was reelected to serve as board secretary.
Items approved by the board included:
— the engagement of Patillo Brown & Hill as external auditors,
— a resolution naming BOK Financial as investment provider,
— the annual Region 7 purchasing cooperative agreement,
— the memorandum of understanding with Tyler Junior College and dual credit agreement with Jacksonville College for the 2024-2025school year,
— authorization for the superintendent to negotiate a contract with Christus Mother Frances Hospital for exclusive health service and as sports medicine provider,
— a return to the original date of June 17 for the June meeting,
— and the consent agenda, consisting of previous meeting minutes, financial reports, a donation of $3,000 from East Side PTO to help with field trips, a $2,000 donation from Charles Holman to Jacksonville High School for football activity and five tax refunds exceeding $2,500.
