The Comal Independent School District hosted its annual Night of Stars banquet Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Chandelier of Gruene, honoring teachers and administrators who have been instrumental in student progress and performance for the 2018-2019 school year.
Since earning an “A” with a score of 92 in the state’s A-F accountability system in August, Comal ISD has a lot to celebrate, and this evening showcased campus and teaching teams who exemplify the hard work and dedication it takes to ensure that every student’s success comes first.
The evening’s awards included the district’s 60 distinctions earned from the Texas Education Agency’s 2019 Accountability Ratings; campuses which ranked among the top 10 in the Greater San Antonio Region by Children at Risk; student progress teams; community partners; and a special Parent Teacher Association recognition.
The Smithson Valley High School orchestra under the instruction of Richard Helsley greeted guests as they arrived.
The awards began by honoring several of the district’s community partners including Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, Coleman Company, Greater New Braunfels Home Builders Association, Escamilla & Poneck, Walmart, Walgreens and H-E-B. Each of these companies made generous donations to the district and have been willing to lend a hand when needed.
Elementary campuses earning distinctions
- Arlon Seay for academic growth and closing performance gaps
- Bill Brown for science
- Freiheit for academic growth and closing performance gaps
- Garden Ridge for math and postsecondary readiness
- Goodwin Frazier for science, academic growth and closing performance gaps
- Hoffmann Lane for science, academic growth, closing performance gaps, postsecondary readiness and English/language arts
- Kinder Ranch for science
- Morningside for academic growth
- Mountain Valley for science, academic growth, closing performance gaps and postsecondary readiness
- Oak Creek for science, closing performance gaps and postsecondary readiness
- Rahe Bulverde for science
- Specht for closing performance gaps.
- Timberwood Park Elementary received all six campus distinctions including English/language arts, science, closing performance gaps, postsecondary readiness, math and academic growth.
Middle school campuses earning distinctions
- Canyon for English/language arts, social studies, academic growth, closing performance gaps and postsecondary readiness
- Church Hill for English/language arts, science and postsecondary readiness
- Danville for math
- Mountain Valley for postsecondary readiness, math, science, social studies, closing performance gaps and academic growth
- Spring Branch for science, postsecondary readiness and social studies
- Smithson Valley for academic growth
High school campuses earning distinctions
- Canyon High for math
- Canyon Lake with English/language arts, math, social studies, closing performance gaps and postsecondary readiness
- Memorial Early College High for closing gaps, postsecondary readiness and English/language arts
Children at Risk Top 10
Grade Level Teams in Student Growth
The district also recognized campuses and grade level teams for achievement in student growth. Using data from the previous two years of the STAAR and end of course exams, the district determined which teaching teams for grades four through 10 showed the most progress based on the available data in the subjects of math and English.
Student progress awards in math
- Fourth grade from Garden Ridge Elementary, teacher Jennifer Mundy with principal Jennifer Schultz
- Fifth grade from Arlon Seay Elementary, teachers Allison Bryant and Katherine Woods with principal Carla Carter
- Sixth grade from Smithson Valley Middle, teachers William Daugherty, Alissa Lebahn, Christine McGinnes and Julie Mergele with principal Michael Keranen
- Seventh grade from Canyon Middle, teachers Jessica Carollo, Erin Torres, Toni Hurley, Belinda Serventes, Traci Vicente and Judith Wilson with principal Ernie Reynolds
- Eighth grade math from Danville Middle, teachers Ramon Corona, Dawn McGurr, Kaitlin Barry, Candice Ornes and Jessica Auzier with principal Julie Cronkhite
- Eighth grade Algebra I with Church Hill Middle, teachers Toni Rowe and Devon Hooper with principal Jaime Alvarez-Calderon
- Ninth grade Algebra I from Canyon High, teachers Laura Hahn, Kimberly Newman and Stacy Morris with principal Casey Whittle
Student progress awards in English Language Arts
- Fourth grade from Bill Brown Elementary, teachers Maureen Alaniva, Angelica Gamez and Mara McCranie with principal Jullian Jurica
- Fifth grade from Hoffmann Lane Elementary teachers Jennifer Duncan and Kara Harcrow with principal Leslie Durst
- Sixth grade from Pieper Ranch Middle, teachers Nina Guevara, Julia Long, Nichole Reid and Lynda Senn with principal Scott Hammond
- Seventh grade from Canyon Middle, teachers Sarah Chapman, Mariah Rivas, Michelle Curley, Brant Eames, Tara Goetz, Belinda Servantes and Traci Vicente with principal Ernie Reynolds
- Eighth grade from Smithson Valley Middle, teachers Wendy Clark, Yvonne Hines, Shardea Houston and Christine McGinnes with principal Michael Keranan
- Tenth grade from Memorial Early College High, teacher Jennifer Fey with principal Meredith Pappas
PSAT and AP Progress Awards
- PSAT growth – Canyon High, principal Casey Whittle
- Highest percentage of students earning a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam – Smithson Valley High, principal Michael Wahl
Top Elementary Student Progress Awards
- Timberwood Park Elementary; principal Kim Lyssy
- Hoffmann Lane Elementary; principal Leslie Durst
- Mountain Valley Elementary; principal Jennifer Smith
- Oak Creek Elementary; principal Stacey Wilkie
- And Garden Ridge Elementary; principal Jennifer Schultz
Top Middle School Student Progress Awards
- Mountain Valley Middle School; principal Dustin Davisson
- Canyon Middle School; principal Ernie Reynolds
- And Church Hill Middle School; principal Jaime Alvarez-Calderon
Top High School Student Progress Awards
- Canyon Lake High School; principal Kristy Castilleja
- Memorial Early College High School; principal Meredith Papas