Clear Creek Education Foundation News

CCISD Community Invited to Honor Outstanding CCISD Alumni, Other Dedicated Individuals

The Clear Creek Education Foundation 11th Annual Reach for the Stars Gala will be held on Saturday, November 5th, at the South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, 2500 South Shore Blvd, League City. This event will honor outstanding Clear Creek Independent School District alumni graduates and others who have significantly contributed to the successes of the Clear Creek Independent School District. The 2011 honorees are:

George B. Carlisle Award
David Feldman, City Attorney, City of Houston

Valor Award
Gregory Paul Countie, Houston Police Department

Outstanding Alumni
William King, Class of 1970, Clear Creek High School
Steve McKinney, Class of 1994, Clear Lake High School
Vince Ryan, Class of 1965, Clear Creek High School
Joddie Witte, Class of 1954, Webster High School

CCISD Superstars
Tommy Cones - Houston Fire Department & League City Volunteer
Roy Green - South Shore Harbour
Barbara Scott - CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year
Donna Stone - CCISD Secondary Teacher of the Year - Clear Brook High School

Tickets for the gala are $100 each and may be purchased online.

Gala co-chairs Lisa Holbrook and Kim Barker, along with the Night at the Oasis Gala Committee, are busy coordinating this event. The committee invites businesses, organizations and individuals to consider helping sponsor the gala, either through underwriting the event, purchasing an ad in the program or through donations for the exciting auctions being planned which include themed baskets from CCISD schools.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation, established in 1992, is comprised of business and community leaders; all of whom volunteer to raise funds to support the academic achievement of all students.

Proceeds from the gala help to fund several programs, including Teacher Innovative Instructional Grants, Synergistic Career Exploration Labs, National Board Teacher Certification and the Clear Horizons Early College High School program.

Since its inception, the foundation has awarded grants worth over $910,000 to CCISD teachers.

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Trustees Seek Citizen of the Year

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees has established an endowment to honor outstanding community members within Clear Creek ISD. The recipient of the award will be named as the Citizen of the Year. In addition, the recipient may designate endowment funds to a Clear Creek ISD academic program or classroom activity in his or her name. The recipient will be announced at the Clear Creek Education Foundation's annual gala on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the South Shore Harbour Resort.

Recipients eligible for this award must meet the following requirements:

« Demonstrated a commitment to Clear Creek ISD through volunteer efforts.
« Contributed significantly in ways that have benefited the entirety of Clear Creek ISD.
« Maintained a reputation across the Clear Creek ISD community as an individual with high standards and dedication to excellence in public education.
« Voluntarily served the district and its students and patrons over an extended period of time.

All nominations must be submitted no later than September 15, 2011 to be considered for the 2011 award. Nomination forms are available online on the foundation's website and the district website (clearcreekeducationfoundation.org | ccisd.net). Nominations should be mailed to:

Clear Creek Education Foundation
c/o COTY Chair
PO Box 1631
League City, TX 77574

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Education Foundation Seeks Nominees for Outstanding Alumni & CCISD Superstars to Honor at 11th Annual Gala

The Clear Creek Education Foundation is seeking nominees for Outstanding Alumni and CCISD Superstars. Eligible applicants for the Outstanding Alumni award must be graduates of the Clear Creek Independent School District who have excelled in their chosen profession and have made significant contributions to their respective communities. The CCISD Superstar award honors individuals in our community who have provided outstanding service in the education and lives of students in Clear Creek ISD. Nomination forms for both awards are available on the foundation’s website and are due by August 15, 2011.

Last year’s Outstanding Alumni recipients were Joe McKinney CCHS class of 1965 and Roger Worthington CLHS class of 1979. Last year's CCISD Superstars included Karen Hearn, CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, Erika Bondy, CCISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, John Ennis, Butch Milks, and Jill Rauscher. Dr. William Staples of UHCL was presented the George B. Carlisle Award. For all past honorees, click here.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation’s Gala Committee asks that you “Save the Date” to attend the Annual Reach for the Stars Gala. The “Night at the Oasis” Gala will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at the South Shore Harbour Resort.

Lisa Holbrook, Gala Chairman, and Kim Barker, Co-Chairman, along with the Night at the Oasis Gala Committee, are busy coordinating this event. The Committee invites businesses, organizations and individuals to consider helping sponsor the Gala, either through underwriting the event, purchasing an ad in the program or through donations for the exciting auctions being planned.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation, established in 1992, is comprised of business and community leaders; all of whom volunteer to raise funds to support the academic achievement of all students. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded grants worth over $900,000 to CCISD teacher. In total, the foundation has raised over $1.25 Million on behalf of the district's teachers and students.

The success of the Foundation is due not only to the volunteer effort of many but also to the countless businesses and individuals in the community who make a difference by financially supporting fundraising activities. The following attachments provide a multitude of options of ways that you can show your support. In order to properly recognize our supporters in all publicity materials, donations should be received no later than October 15, 2011.

Nomination forms:
« Outstanding Alumni
« CCISD Superstar
« CCISD Board of Trustees Citizen of the Year

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Foundation Donates $20,000 to Clear Horizons Early College High School

The Clear Creek Education Foundation presented CCISD officials with a check for $20,000 to assist with tuition costs associated with the Clear Horizons Early College High School.
CCEF Executive Director Doug Frazior presents CHECHS Principal Dr. Jennifer Morrow with the $20,000 donation.
 
Clear Horizons Early College High School was established in 2007 on the campus of San Jacinto College South on Beamer Road and has earned a TEA Exemplary rating four years. Students graduate each year with an Associate’s Degree from San Jacinto College three weeks before walking across the stage and receiving a high school diploma from CCISD.

Early College High Schools are limited to serving approximately 400 students, 100 per grade level. Early College High Schools are designed so that low-income youth, first-generation college goers, English language learners, students of color, and other young people who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor’s degree—tuition free. While these criterion are not required, more than eighty-seven percent of the students meet one of the four criterion.

Eighth-grade students in CCISD may apply each spring to participate in the lottery selection for 120 seats in the freshman class. All coursework is at the Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement levels. In addition to regular degree coursework, service learning projects are required annually, and internships are required in the junior and senior years.

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Foundation's Programs Committee Awards Scholarships

The foundation's Programs committee had a busy end to the school year. In addition to the $60,000 awarded in teacher grants, the committee had to select scholarship recipients for the various scholarships the foundation administers.

The committee reviewed almost 70 applications. The committee members, Lisa Holbrook (chair), Terri Divine, Dinah Matthews and Joan McKinney evaluated each of these as well as received inputs from Deborah Hutchinson regarding the Ray Joseph Hutchinson applicants. All scholarships were awarded at each high school's awards banquet.

The following scholarships were awarded:

James F. Bay Scholarship
Clear Brook High School - Kasey Acosta
Clear Creek High School - Meghan Benavides
Clear Horizons Early College High School - Danica Becker
Clear Springs High School - Emily Coughenour

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center
Clear Brook High School - Nick Dias
Clear Lake High School - Hayley Gordon
Clear Lake High School - Michael Hoffmann
Clear Lake High School - Xing Wang
Clear Springs High School - Aproteem Choudhury

Dooley Family Scholarship
Clear View High School - Alexandra Chotas
Clear View High School - Stephanie Rodriguez

Ray Joseph Hutchinson Scholarship
Clear Brook High School - Rachel Arend
Clear Creek High School - Meagan Benavides
Clear Springs High School - Brian Boettger

Bob Neill Scholarship
Clear Lake High School - Christopher Carrocio

Reinhartsen Scholarship
Clear Brook High School - Olivia Hanson

Seabrook Police Officers Association
Clear Lake High School - Christopher Carrocio

Weber Scholarship
Clear Creek High School - Christos Patelis
Clear Creek High School - Hayley Krueger

Zrubek Family Scholarship
Clear Creek High School - Sarah Johnson
 

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Foundation Distributes over $60,000 in Teacher Grants to Impact over 15,000 CCISD Students

The Clear Creek Education Foundation visited deserving teachers on 14 CCISD campuses during the annual SurPrize Patrol to surprise them with Teacher Innovative Grants totaling over $60,000 and estimated to impact over 15,000 students. The Clear Creek Education Foundation supplies teachers with grant money to implement innovative programs for the coming school year. Since the Foundation’s inception in 1992, more than $900,000 in innovative teacher grants has been disbursed district-wide.

The impact of the Teacher Innovative Grants can be tremendous. Weber Elementary Principal, Teresa Snider credits last year’s science grant that 5th grade teacher Nancy Watson received for playing a part in 99.3% of 5th graders passing the science portion of TAKS this year when a few years ago the percentage was just over half. Watson was awarded another grant this year named Put it in Their Hands! To summarize her grant, Watson wrote, “As the concepts being taught become more abstract, the importance of hands-on experiences increases tremendously. These hands-on, concrete experiences are what provide the bridges that allow students to make connections and gain a true understanding of science concepts.”

Some of the grants impact entire schools. For example, the grant presented to Heather Wallace at Clear Springs High School should impact 2500 students at the school in the fields of biology and aquatics and the grant awarded to Debbie Boehm at Westbrook Intermediate will affect all 1200 students across all core areas.

The foundation is planning on opening up the grant application process year round and finding opportunities to partner business with specific grants throughout the year. As more cuts become necessary due to lower state funding levels, the foundation feels this could prove to be a vital and necessary strategy in assisting teachers in maintaining the high level of achievement in CCISD.

Below are the 2011-2012 grant recipients and the campus the grant will affect:

 
Heather Danek   
Armand Bayou Elementary

Ladonna Littlejohn
Bauerschlag Elementary

Jan Grout
Brookside Intermediate

Doris Herrman
Brookside Intermediate

Michelle Hammonds
Brookside Intermediate

Camille Sullivan
Clear Brook High School

Hope Taub
Clear Brook High Scool

Tracy Arlington and Lauren Skarke
Clear Creek High School

Betty McCulloch
Clear Creek Intermediate

Gregory W. Smithey
Clear Lake Intermediate

Kaci Longoria
Clear Springs High School

Heather Wallace
Clear Springs High School

Amy L. Toland
Falcon Pass Elementary

Veronica Walker
Falcon Pass Elementary

Crista Sereni
Ross Elementary

Clay Barnett
Space Center Intermediate

Nancy O. Watson
Weber Elementary

Jacqueline A. Graham
Westbrook Intermediate

Debbie Boehm
Westbrook Intermediate

Miriam Bailey
Whitcomb Elementary

View the day in photos

 

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A Day Under the Big Top

Hundreds were on hand Sunday May 15 when the Clear Creek Education Foundation staged its annual Fashion Show at the Hilton Clear Lake. The event theme was “A Day Under the Big Top” and over 70 CCISD students showed off fashions from Dillard’s Baybrook to raise funds for the organization. The Fashion Show portion of the evening was produced by Lenny Matuszewski, Jr.

When guests arrived at the Hilton they were greeted by a juggler, a monkey and costumed performers welcoming them into the “Big Top”. The Hilton’s lobby and Atlantis Ballroom had been turned into a vintage circus tent and performing arena by Sonya Moore, Jan Bailey, Dinah Matthews, Terri Dieste, Carol Webber, Paula Black, Karen Couch, Janis Blizzard, Diane Krist, Tammy Barrier, Denise Sanders, Annette Snow Falks and Ilana Cowan.

Guests included CCISD administrators Dr. Greg Smith, Steve Ebell, Holly Hughes, Vicki McCarthy, and Elaina Polsen. CCISD Board of Trustee member Ann Hammond was in attendance, as was Clear Creek Education Foundation board members Lisa Holbrook, Jim Towey, Patty Cooper, Tammy Barrier, Bob Richmond and Executive Director, Doug Frazior. Clear Creek Education Foundation board members with featured roles were Ringmasters Gene Hollier and Scott Rainey and Fashion Show chairs Dinah Matthews and Jan Bailey.

Also enjoying the show were Annette Dwyer, Tonya and Eric Collum, Diane and Kevin Krist, Kim and Scott Krist, Kate and Jerry Foyt, Jayne and State Representative John Davis, Diane Overman, Ann Brady, Carmen and Franco Geremia, Yani and Dr. Raul Rivera.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation was established in 1992 and is comprised of business and community leaders, all of whom volunteer to raise funds to support the academic achievement of all students. The Foundation raises funds for the following district initiatives: award monetary grants to teachers so that they can implement innovative educational programs in their individual classrooms; fund career exploration labs for intermediate schools; reimburse teachers fees who achieve National Board Certification; and support the Clear Horizon’s Early College High School campus by providing tuition.

The success of the Foundation is due to not only the volunteer efforts of many but also to the countless businesses and individuals in the community who make a difference by financially supporting fundraising activities.


Student Models. right to left: Paloma Rivera (daughter of Dr. Raul and Yani Rivera), Gaston Davis (son of State Representative John and Jayne Davis), and Holly Matthews (daughter of Joe and Dinah Matthews).

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Education Foundation Funds Final Career Lab

The Clear Creek Education Foundation presented Bayside Intermediate principal Jamey Majewski a check for $72,832 to fully fund the Bayside Career Exploration Technology Lab. Foundation board members, CCISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Steve Ebell, members from Space Center Rotary and Ruth Rendon with BP Texas City were on hand to tour the latest lab funded by the foundation in CCISD middle schools. The Bayside lab was funded through generous donations from BP Texas City and Space Center Rotary.

The CCISD Career Exploration Technology Labs have curriculum infused with math, science, and technology, and includes hands-on activities.  Each lab has up to 12 work stations that can accommodate 2 to 3 students at one time. Students are "energized" by the depth of their experiences and praise the programs for giving hands-on, up-front career experiences. The labs are made up of up to 12 to 15 educational modules. Each year, more than 900 students are served by these labs per campus.


Board members of the foundation present the $72,823 check to Bayside Intermediate Principal Jamey Majewski for the Career Exploration Technology Lab. Also present were representatives from BP and Space Center Rotary who were the major contributors in funding the lab.
Ruth Rendon with BP discusses the lab with Mary Alys Cherry of the Bay Area Citizen. Space Center Rotary representatives pose in the lab which the group helped fund.

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Galaxy of Stars Fashion Show: A Day Under the Big Top

The Clear Creek Education Foundation is planning their 5th annual Galaxy of Stars Fashion Show and this year's event, A Day Under the Big Top, will have a circus theme. The fashion show will take place on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake Admiral Ballroom. The excitement will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a welcome reception and then guests will be treated to a stellar parade of fashions, featuring outstanding student models and principals from Clear Creek ISD area high schools. Fashions will be provided by Dillard's and the show will be produced by the very talented Lenny Matuszewski.

Proceeds from the fashion show will be used to provide funding for programs that enhance education in the Clear Creek Independent School District. Among the programs supported by the foundation are Teacher Innovative Instructional Grants, tuition for students in the Clear Horizons Early College High School and National Board Teacher Certification.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation is seeking donations of auction items and sponsorships for the event and appreciates the support of businesses and community members toward the goal of enriching and enhancing academic achievement in Clear Creek ISD.

For information about the A Day Under the Big Top Fashion Show, please contact Dinah Matthews via e-mail at dinahmat@sbcglobal.net or by telephone at 281-796-5090. If you have any questions about the Clear Creek Education Foundation, contact Doug Frazior via e-mail at dfrazior@clearcreekeducationfoundation.org or by telephone at 281-284-0031
 
L to R: Scott Rainey (Fashion Show Ringmaster) and Dinah Matthews (Fashion Show Chairman)

 

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Education Foundation Board of Directors Announce New Executive Officers

The Clear Creek Education Foundation recently announced their executive officers for 2011. This group of dedicated community volunteers leads the effort to provide funding for programs that enhance education in the Clear Creek Independent School District. Among the programs supported by the foundation are Teacher Innovative Instructional Grants, tuition for students in the Clear Horizons Early College High School and National Board Teacher Certification. Now, more than ever, their leadership is needed during this critical time of looming budget cutbacks in public education and the necessity for providing outstanding learning opportunities for our students.

The foundation appreciates the support of businesses and community members toward the goal of enriching and enhancing academic achievement in this exemplary rated school district. There are many opportunities at the local level to fund the programs that the foundation supports and you are invited to help with a tax deductible donation. Your gift makes such a difference in the lives of students and teachers in Clear Creek ISD.

Caption for attached photo: From L to R: Jamieson Mackay, Chairman; James Towey, Treasurer; Joe Barlow, Vice-Chairman; Dinah Matthews, Secretary; Scott Rainey, Chairman-Elect; Lisa Holbrook, Past Chairman
 

 

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Attention CCISD Juniors & Parents

The Clear Creek Education Foundation is looking for some star power to kick-off the fifth annual fashion show to benefit the great students and teachers of Clear Creek Independent School District. The Foundation is searching for high school juniors, male and female, who demonstrate all that is positive about CCISD to serve as models for the Clear Creek Education Foundation’s Galaxy of the Stars fashion show on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton NASA Clear Lake, located at 3000 NASA Parkway in Houston. This show will be produced by Lenny Matsuszewski, Jr., the nationally known fashion event producer, and will feature fashions from Dillard’s –Baybrook.

Student Model Application

 

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Grants in Action: FPE TV Ch. 9
Area business funds media grant at Falcon Pass Elementary School

The Clear Creek Education Foundation is seeking community leaders and businesses interested in reading and funding Teacher Innovative Grant applications.  Should any businesses or community members fund a grant via a tax deductible donation, they would be invited to present the grant recipient with a special check during the foundation’s Surprize Patrol. One such grant funded last year was Falcon Pass Elementary's FPE TV Channel 9 which was graciously funded by Griffin Communications Group.

Representatives of Griffin Communications Group and the foundation were able to witness first hand the grant's impact on the students who participate in this after school activity. The group is led by teachers Veronica Walker, Mindy Ybarra and Debbie Adams. Funds from the grant were used to purchase audio-visual equipment that students use to produce the morning announcements in the format of a newscast complete with writers, camera operators and news anchors. The newscast airs on televisions throughout the school on channel 9.
 


Adults from L to R: Carrie Taylor with Griffin Communications Group, Falcon Pass teachers Veronica Walker, Debbie Adams and Mindy Ybarra, 2010 Foundation Board Chair Lisa Holbrook and foundation executive director Doug Frazior along with the cast and crew of FPE TV Ch. 9.

Associated Video: Student Thank You | Portion of newscast

Photos from FPE TV Ch 9

 

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Foundation Names Doug Frazior as Executive Director

League City, TX – The Clear Creek Education Foundation has named Doug Frazior as the organization’s first Executive Director. Mr. Frazior brings a wealth of nonprofit management experience to his new post, most recently serving as League City’s Economic Development Coordinator. With school funding issues looming, the foundation foresees a greater need and role in assisting the district maintain the highest levels of achievement in CCISD.

The foundation is grateful to have someone with Frazior’s background helping the organization face the coming challenges and Mr. Frazior is relishing the opportunity.  “I have a passion for this community, and its premier school district, that I will use to provide the giant leap forward for the Clear Creek Education Foundation,” said Frazior.

 

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