The Plainview ISD staff gathered Monday morning in the high school auditorium for the annual convocation to kick off the 2023-24 school year. After a breakfast served by SFE, student council president Aden Alarcon and vice-president Graham Tirey welcomed the staff and served as emcees for the morning’s assembly.
Members of the high school’s Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps participated in the presentation of colors for the pledges to the flags and for the national anthem, which was sung by Lori Johnston.
Adam Soto, president of the school board, was the first speaker of the morning. He told of his lifelong affiliation with both being a bulldog and wanting to have a bulldog as a pet. After years of waiting to get a bulldog, Mr. Soto was finally able to get a one-year-old bulldog in 2020. As he tells the story, it was on the way home from getting Sarge that he began to wonder why Sarge had so many owners in his short life. Sarge’s scars hinted at trauma, but Mr. Soto knew that with the right environment, Sarge could have a bright future. Sarge stole the show as he walked out on stage and posed for the crowd.
Mr. Soto then shared about his kindergarten teacher and how she nurtured him and became a part of his life. The challenge for educators from Mr. Soto is to embrace students as he was embraced and to see the potential in each child.
Following Mr. Soto’s address, the following teachers received recognition as being District Educators of the Year for 2022-23:
Plainview North Elementary - Ms. Sally Salas
Plainview Central Elementary - Ms. Lisa Bailey
Plainview South Elementary - Ms. Chasity Mooney
Plainview Intermediate School - Ms. Audrey Varela
Plainview Junior High School - Ms. Mackenzie Sutton
Plainview High School - Ms. Kelly Shackelford
Plainview Collegiate High School – Mr. Tyson Carthel
Ash Program - Mr. James Pittman
Mrs. Audrey Varela, the District Educator of the Year, addressed the gathering. In her remarks, she spoke of her experience of being mistaken as a student and, at times, feeling like she didn’t fit in. There were times, she admitted, when she felt like no one was listening or taking her seriously. She made the choice to keep going and to build relationships.
Her persistence gradually changed how others saw her and how she saw herself. “Talk to people you don’t know in the hallways,” she encouraged. Speaking up isn’t always easy or comfortable, but building friendships and relationships leads to bright futures.
In addition to the educators of the year, many were recognized for their length of service with Plainview ISD. Those recognized for 10 Years of Service: Guadalupe Alcozer, Alejandra Aranda, Amanda Aycock, Barbara Ballew, Tina Bettis, Megan Biggs, Ashley Camargo, Mary Elizabeth Dickerson, Karla Dunn, Dalia Garcia, Gerardo Hernandez, Emily Johnson, Melissa Landeros, Justin Ogden, Leigha Pate, Joni Perez, Andrew Peterson, Brenda Ramirez, Claudia Reyes, Victor Reyes, Mandy Soto, Natalie Sims, Ricky Vasquez, and Connie Westbrook.
Those recognized for 15 Years of Service: Deborah Alcozer, Diana Banda, Sonja Barton, Jacob Bentley, Charles Mooney, Karla Morrison, Marcelina Nava, Alicia Ramirez, Carmen Salinas, Sarah Williams, Jimmie Wiseman, and Nancy Wood.
Those recognized for 20 Years of Service: Elvia Castillo, Doris Chapa, Rebecca Dunlap, Rebecca Gallardo, Josephine Garcia, Varie Gomez, Judy King, Kimberly Kaci Lee, Virginia Leal, Leticia Lopez, Libby Martinez, Olga Samarripa, and Luella Taylor.
Those recognized for 25 Years of Service: Angela Clawson, Wistie Ellis, Laura Larralde, Brandy Merrick, Lynda Reagan, Della Riggins, Dalia Rivera, Christina Salazar, Tonjua Smith, and Scott Voyles.
Those recognized for 30 Years of Service: Glenna Butler and Stephanie Woods.
Those recognized for 35 Years of Service: Lucy Aguilera and Kym Norrell.
In his address to the Plainview ISD staff, Plainview ISD Superintendent, Dr. H. T. Sanchez, equated educators to the thin silver line that stands between civilization and chaos, success and failure.
Drawing from the images of the thin blue line slogan describing police forces that protect citizens and from the familiar saying of every cloud having a silver lining, Dr. Sanchez asked educators to see themselves as the difference between a future of failure or a future of success in each student. And with the success of each student, the future becomes brighter.
The keynote speaker for convocation was David Luna. Mr. Luna, in addition to being a youth pastor and author and business owner, serves as a mentor for students in DAEP. As a child, Mr. Luna grew up in a home affected by alcohol and drug abuse. At school, he had learning difficulties and was in the special education program. He uses these experiences to talk about seeds, roots and fruit, and creating an environment for growth and success.
Seeds are all those things in a child’s life that bring about success or that cause difficulties. As those seeds take root, fruit begins to form. Positive seeds often bring about desired fruit. But to truly understand the fruit, Mr. Luna says, one must understand the root. Behaviors that are disruptive or harmful or show signs of inattentiveness are often the result of things beyond the student’s control. Mr. Luna urged educators, as one who had overcome destructive roots, to help students change their roots by planting seeds of success and by providing an environment where the student could grow to success.
Gretchen Massengill concluded the program by speaking briefly about the Plainview Education Foundation and its partnership with Plainview ISD to support education. In the 2022-23 school year, two grants were awarded.
These grants doubled the number of door prizes for the Gentex signing day and provided classroom maps. Posters are at each Plainview ISD campus with information about being a part of the Plainview Education Foundation and with information about how to apply for a grant with the foundation.
In his final remarks, Dr. Sanchez sent the entire Plainview ISD staff out by reminding them that, because of them, the future of Plainview ISD is bright.
In the main hallway outside the auditorium, staff members visited and took pictures in the Bulldog booth.
