In March 2012, the second cohort of Humble ISD participants began their journey.
Meet the members of the REEP Fellowship 2013
Annette Nevermann, Assistant Principal
Maple Brook Elementary
Annette Nevermann spent her primary years growing up in a small town in southern Illinois. In high school, she and her family moved to the small town of Orangefield, Texas. She graduated from Lamar University in 1994 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies specializing in special and elementary education. Shortly after graduating, she began her first teaching assignment in Vidor, Texas as a special education teacher. The Nevermann family moved to the Houston area where she spent a few years as a stay-at-home mom. Anxious to get back to her passion for teaching, Annette began working at Humble ISD, Maplebrook Elementary in 2003. Later she became a science academic instructional coach with the responsibility of raising academic success in science. She graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2008 with a Master’s of Education in Administration. Currently, she holds the title of assistant principal at Maplebrook Elementary. When Annette is not watching her children run track and cross country, she enjoys spending time with her family boating. She also enjoys spending quality time with her daughter volunteering with the Lake Houston National Charity League Chapter.
Chandra Elizondo, Bilingual Facilitator
Humble ISD Administration
Although born in Kentucky, Chandra considers herself to be a native to the Rio Grand Valley. Chandra began her primary education in the Mid-Valley area of San Jan and Edinburg, Texas. As a graduate of Donna High school, she followed her family to the East Texas area where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Professional Pedagogy from Lamar University in Beaumont. Soon after, she began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher in the Dayton Independent School District. During her tenure in Dayton, Chandra was inspired to pursue her certification in both English as a Second Language and later her bilingual certification. Seeing the need for administration who would be capable of addressing the needs of language learners, Chandra was inspired to pursue her master's in Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University. Eventually, Chandra moved to the Humble Independent School District where she taught bilingual fifth grade at Humble Elementary and has for the last three years, served as the Bilingual Facilitator for the school district. Through Chandra's unique experiences of starting up bilingual programs as well as currently facilitating a shift in bilingual program models; she is able to readily speak on the importance of quality education for all learners. Chandra loves to travel work- out at the gym and compete in different runs and marathons.
Katherine Wade-Smith, Foundation Relations Officer
Humble Education Foundation
Katherine was born in Mobile, Alabama and graduated from Robertsdale High School in Robertsdale. Thanks to AP credit ,she was able to complete her B.A.in three years. She then enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Spring Hill College while she worked in the Special Education Department at Gulf Shores High. In 2004, she joined Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes and shortly thereafter, she was promoted to the role of Consultant in the School Services Division. Subsequently, she joined a Miami based educational nonprofit to explore development and fundraising as a career. She later moved onto Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida and the Advancement Office of The Awty International School in Houston, Texas. In 2009, following the birth of her daughter, she returned to public education and is now the Foundation Relations Officer for the Humble ISD Education Foundation. She holds a B.A. from the University of South Alabama and a M.Ed in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Shannon Lalmansingh, Assistant Principal
Whispering Pines Elementary
As a native of New Jersey, Shannon had the opportunity to complete her elementary and secondary education in her home state. Following a family transfer to Texas, she completed high school in Kingwood. Shannon left Texas to study biology/animal science in Kansas until an illness changed her path. Her education continued at Baylor University where she then obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education. Later she earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University. The first 11 years of her career was spent teaching and serving in leadership roles at the elementary level in Spring Branch ISD. Since 2004,she has been a part of the Humble ISD family serving the district as a teacher, special education interventionist, dyslexia specialist, ELT, campus TAKS coordinator and an instructional coach. Currently, she serves Whispering Pines Elementary, as the assistant principal. She loves watching football, reading (books, magazines and blogs) and shopping.
Damico Bartley, Assistant Principal
Timberwood Middle School
A native cajun, Damico Bartley was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA. Following high school graduation he moved to Columbus Texas where he attended Texas Bible College to gain a deeper knowledge and spiritual strength. From TBC he moved to Houston Texas and enrolled at the University of Houston Downtown, in 1998. In2002, he joined Lakewood Church and began assisting the Lakewood Student Ministries. He is currently serving as the service program director at Christian Family Church International in Porter Texas. He and his wife also co-founded a community youth outreach, called Real Outreach. Since moving to Houston, Damico has obtained a Bachelor’s in Business Administration-Finance from the University of Houston Downtown. He then enrolled in Kingwood College where he received his teaching certification in special education. He later pursued a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston University where he graduated in 2008. He began his teaching career in 2003 in Humble ISD at Humble Middle School as a special education adaptive behavior teacher. He left Humble Middle School after 8 years and made a change to elementary for a semester at Foster Elementary. He is currently serving as the 6th grade principal at Timberwood Middle School. He loves spending time with his wife and three kids.
Samba Goddard, EDUC 1300 Facilitator/Principal Intern
Quest Early College High School
Samba Goddard was born in New York, but he is a native Houstonian. When his parents separated, he was raised by his mother and his maternal family in south central Houston. Goddard spent much of his time as a young man at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and the Y.M.C.A. Samba formative educational years were spent in Houston, where he graduated from the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Goddard obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana, and he obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas Southern University. Goddard has been married to his wonderful wife, Bridgette, for four years. Goddard started teaching in 2006 in North Forest I.S.D. and has been at Quest E.C.H.S. in Humble I.S.D. for the past 4 years. His roles at Quest have included world geography and world history facilitator and Region 4 Principal Intern. He currently holds the title of EDUC 1300 Facilitator/Region 4 Principal Intern. Samba is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and he serves in many communities‟ service activities with his fraternity brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Samba loves the news, politics, and playing basketball.
A special thanks to Raise Your Hand Texas for providing funding for these participants:
Melissa Hayhurst, Principal
Kingwood High School
Melissa grew up in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her parents who were both teachers; the value of an education was instilled in her from a very early age. Melissa never wondered “if she went to college” but rather “when I go to college.” Even though she graduated with only 102 other students, she was fortunate to have teachers who pushed her academically and gave her the foundation she needed to be successful no matter what avenues she chose to pursue. They made her believe in herself. Therefore, upon graduation she headed to college to begin her journey that would ultimately lead her to a high-powered career in law. After 3 years she had earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and took a teaching position at Kingwood High School. Melissa simply fell in love with teaching. Twenty-three years have passed, and she is at the same school whose doors she cautiously entered all those years ago. Melissa earned two master’s degrees from Stephen F. Austin, one in Liberal Arts and the other in Education. Although she left the classroom in 2000 and became an administrator and she has never forgotten the opportunities and exhilaration that only an education can provide. Melissa is currently the principal of Kingwood High School.
Glenda Holder, Principal
Lakeland Elementary School
Glenda Holder is a transformational, visionary servant who guides, inspires and develops the skills and talents of the teachers, students and parents she serves. Struggling with learning math in elementary school, it was her fourth grade teacher who helped her overcome her struggles in math and inspired her to become an educator. She pushes hersef to be the one person that can change the course of a child’s life each and everyday. Glenda is a Yankee by birth but a Texan by choice. After moving to Dallas when she was 8,she finished high school in Richardson ISD. From there she went on to attend college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1988 and her masters in 1995. Over the past 23 years, you can find Glenda working with some of the most challenging students in our most challenging schools. She attributes this drive to being adopted. Many times, you can hear Glenda saying “I want our students to have the same educational opportunities that I had so they too can make their dreams come true despite any obstacles they face.” She started teaching in Aldine ISD as a first grade and kindergarten teacher in 1989. For the past twenty years she has been serving students in Humble ISD, as a kindergarten teacher, fourth grade teacher, testing coordinator, assistant principal and principal. She currently holds the title of Principal at Lakeland Elementary. Glenda loves to walk and play on the beach as much as possible at her family Lake house in Michigan.
Kim Klepcyk, Principal
Quest Early College High School
Kimberly Klepcyk is the daughter of a school teacher and has two sisters and a brother who has also been educator. Kimberly started teaching English and journalism in the Leakey ISD in 1989. She joined the staff of Quest High School in Humble ISD as the Resource Center Facilitator in 1997. Since joining the staff, she has been the school’s resource center facilitator and curriculum facilitator. Since 2005, she has been the Principal of Quest Early College High School. For the past seven years, she has led a small reform-oriented high school and has recently guided the transformation of the school into an early college high school. The school was recently namedthe2011winner of ASCD's annual Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. As a member of the National School Reform Faculty, she is a trained Critical Friends Group coach. She completed her principal certification at the University of Houston (2002) and received her M.Ed in the Higher Education sequence with a concentration in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio (1994), and her B.J. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin (1989).Kimberly loves to travel, read and spend time with her husband and three children.
Stephanie knew that she wanted to be a teacher from a very young age; she "played" school with her dolls and stuffed animals in the evenings and on the weekends copying what her teachers had taught during the week. In fact she remembers sitting in class in 4th grade imagining herself as the Principal and evaluating her teacher's lessons. Stephanie obtained her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Houston Clear Lake and master's degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin. Stephanie started teaching in 1998 at the same elementary school that she attended as a young girl. Mr. Davis, the Principal was still there and he encouraged her to pursue her masters to be an administrator. After teaching kindergarten for two years in Pasadena I.S.D., she moved to Humble I.S.D. Stephanie taught kindergarten, 5th grade and 3rd grade before she became the Assistant Principal of Timbers Elementary. She was the assistant principal for four years. She is currently in her second year as the school's Principal. Stephanie loves to watch her boy's baseball games, bike ride, read, and spend time with her family.