State of the District Shows Together We're Invincible!

A performance of "Invincible" by the Barton Hills Elementary choir was featured in the State of the District movie.

Together we're invincible! If you watch the AISD State of the District movie on the district website or on AISD Channel 22, you'll know what I mean by this phrase! Every year as part of our annual reporting rhythm, I present an update of the district’s goals, achievements, and challenges. This year, I put a call out to our staff and students to help us tell our story, and, through this lens, we were able to provide a snapshot of the current state of AISD in a movie format.
This morning, the movie was shown at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in the Spirit Theater. Students from Pease, Pecan Springs, Campbell and Houston elementary schools were able to attend, and they really enjoyed the fog, stars, and rumbling seats. They got to take home blinking blue safety bracelets, used in the photo at the top during the movie.They had great questions and were a wonderful audience.

We had the opportunity to recognize and honor these outstanding members of our AISD family:


Elaine Leibick, a fourth grade teacher at Highland Park Elementary School who has taught for 34 years and was recognized for her work in 2012 with the HEB Lifetime Achievement Award;

Adriana Gonzales, the principal of St. Elmo Elementary School, where she led the district in all reporting categories from 2003 – 2011;

Billy Dragoo, Austin High School’s Theater Department director, who been named Teacher Educator of the Year by the Texas Educational Theater Association. It seems like Austin High’s one-act productions have won the UIL state championship almost every year that I have been superintendent --2009, 2011 and 2012;

Jeanie Tuttle, a Librarian at Clayton Elementary School, who was a finalist for librarian of the year. Jeanie has provided outstanding service with Austin ISD for 37 years!

Ida Collins is an AISD bus driver who has dedicated 38 years to Austin ISD. Imagine how many students Ida transported safely in all of those years!

O Haywood, the head custodian at Galindo, has worked for the district even longer-- 51 years!

Pam Hall, who this year announced her retirement as the district’s Executive Director of Human Resources, has devoted 36 years to Austin ISD as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and in central office. She was named 2011 Personnel Administrator of the Year by the TX Association of School Personnel Administrators;

Anderson High School student Matthew McDermott inspired the younger students with his record of perfect attendance and the highest GPA every year since kindergarten.

An outstanding senior who has had perfect attendance every year since kindergarten, and the highest GPA through his junior year is Matthew McDermott;

Dr. Charles Akins has had a distinguished career in AISD as a teacher, principal, administrator and volunteer; and

Leonore Vargas, who works with the Austin Project and offered tremendous support during the recent floods in southeast Austin.

The State of the District movie was the work of many hands. Our students and staff sent us hours and hours of great material from schools and departments throughout the district. We’ll be posting as much as we can on the district’s website, hopefully by the end of the week. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

The movie was simultaneously posted on the district website and will be broadcast all day on AISD Channel 22.