This will be my last post as the superintendent of Hunt School.
I am taken back with the flood of emotion that I feel even typing that sentence. I have grown to love this community and this school over the past 7 years. I feel blessed to have been able to work beside the staff members who have worked tirelessly for the Hunt School. I continue to be amazed by the talents of our students - I just saw several ceramic projects in an art class today and was as proud as they were of their efforts.
A lone finalist was named by the board last night. Her name is Luci Harmon and I know that you will welcome her to our community and our school when she arrives next month. She has served as a principal in Nueces Canyon ISD and I am sure is as excited as I was for the 21 day waiting period to pass.
As I leave the Hunt School, I am so proud of many things.
Our facilities would be a large source of pride for me after overseeing the band room, multi-purpose room and library renovations and the construction of new septic and plumbing systems, new classrooms, new offices/entry way, new pavilion, and a new gymnatorium. Each of those areas hold some blood, sweat and tears from me over the last several years, but as I look back I am proud of what we all accomplished together with the passage of the bond.
I am proud of our technology improvements. We are a 1-1 district with iPads for all students in grades 3 - 8 and a full computer lab. Our younger students also have classroom iPads for their use. Our infrastructure continues to improve and I see good things moving forward.
I am proud of our maintenance calendar and set-asides for the future with regard to our facilities, buses, roofs, technology, etc... Our board has been dedicated to making it better for the next group, and I certainly appreciate their efforts! We have ended each year "in the black" and that was important for all of us!
I am proud of our staff here! We continue to grow and change, but are able to have some wonderful, experienced teachers on board for next year. It is always exciting to hire new people who amaze me with their talents and skills that they bring to the table. We have benefitted from the leadership of a fabulous campus principal, Tammy Brown, who considers the needs of her students and her staff with each decision she makes! Her focus with curriculum next year will be in math and science. I'm excited that Sarah Nichols will be changing roles and overseeing discipline, special programs and technology next year. Her focus will be on our reading and social studies curriculum. Our goals continue to be on excelling in the classroom and we are well on our way so far!
I am proud of our students who I continue to watch grow as they leave Hunt School and as they go off to college. My first group of students in 8th grade are now about to be juniors in college, have entered the work force, or in a few cases have children of their own and are parenting. I continue to hear what a great foundation the Hunt School gave them and I am proud to have played a part in that season of their lives.
Thank you for enabling me to be here and serve as your superintendent since 2011. Hunt will always have a very special part of my heart.
All my best!
Crystal
Well, testing season is upon us. STAAR testing week is a time that makes our teachers nervous because we want our students to excel and show what they know. Our students are nervous because they want to do well and pass. Our adminsitrators are nervous because a grade is given now to the school that reflects how all of your students did by how the lowest scores looked.
How did we get here? I don't know.
32 years ago when I started in the classroom, we used assessments as they are designed to be used. We looked at what students knew and didn't know and tried to reteach (or in many situations teach for the first time) topics, concepts and processes. We now have to tell 9 and 10 year olds that they didn't measure up to what the state says they should know. I'm not sure that is what learning is really about. I like to focus on the "YET". They may not know some things yet....... but they are learning. I am in my 50's and I am still learning. That, to me, is the best adventure of this thing called life!
I am so proud of our students, our staff, our school, and our community. We have many skills and areas that cause me to feel that pride. Some of these are measured by a test, but many of the skills I want my students and wanted my own children to leave with are measured by their character, their grit, their compassion.
I love teaching and I love education. if you decided my "worth" or "future success" level from one test, one day - especially in history - I would be in bad shape. HA! Luckily, learning goes on for years and all of us get to change and improve as we go!
The students here matter to me. Their learning matters to me. Their character matters to me.
Being a part of Hunt School has mattered to me..... Thank you for blessing me by allowing me to be here!
All my best!
Crystal
February 26, 2018
Dear Hunt School Family,
It is with mixed emotions that I submitted my retirement letter to our board at this past board meeting. I have just completed my thirty-second (32) year in education and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I picked my profession well.
I thought I would take more time to travel and just enjoy this community. I started doing some things to my home that I have wanted to do for years and accepted a leadership role in the Kerrville Rotary Club that would have started in July.
In January, I went to a superintendent conference in Austin that I attend each year, and those plans changed. I had some time to visit with the Executive Director that week, and I was offered a position as a Deputy Executive Director for the Texas Association of Community Schools. This organization advocates for school districts with only one high school or any school district with an average daily attendance of 12,000 or less regardless of the number of high schools that they might have. So, in many ways, I will still be at work for Hunt School. I will also be blessed with the opportunity to travel around this fabulous state and meet with and assist districts who have visions much like our own.
I have been blessed here to work with an incredibly dedicated and talented group of people, a committed school board, an amazingly supportive community, and these fabulous children!
I am very proud of the work we have accomplished together over the last 6 1/2 years. We have a facility that we can all be proud of and are using every square inch. We have added to our fund balance and put steps in place to be sure that we are maintaining our facilities and buses well to allow us to continue to use them for years to come. Our student growth is continuing to improve while still focusing on character education, professional learning, and extended opportunities for our students to excel academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. We don't just teach subjects here at Hunt School. We teach children, and of that I am very proud.
My last official day for retirement purposes is August 31st; however, I will be in and out of the district from June 1st thru the hiring date of your next superintendent.
Thank you for your incredible support! I will value the friendships that have been established while I have been here in Hunt. I will always remain a fan of the Hunt Eagles and will continue to love this community of people!
With love and gratitude,
Crystal
Dr. Crystal Dockery
Wow!! It is funny how the year seems to just go faster every year! I love the end of September because it becomes officially fall. The rain we have had this week has been a wonderful reminder of the new season's beginning!
We are heading into October and will be starting a new six weeks before we know it. This is the time of year that we get excited about our fall carnival. I came my first year - 6 years ago - just after the fall carnival was held. I have always loved the fall and an evening where our school and our community come together for food, an auction, games, live music, and trunk or treat is THE BEST!
I have been so amazed by our hard working PTSA members every year!! I know how much work goes into the evening and every year things are different and so fun!! This year our staff is coming as historical figures. It should be alot of fun just to see the different costumes from staff, students and attendees!
Fall is also the time that students begin to discover the strengths they have and begin the process of learning all the new things that are out there to learn. I have the privilege of driving 4 young men back to Hunt each day from football practice at Ingram. Since my son is 28 and not riding around with me anymore, I love the time I have them captive in the car. We talk about their classes, their teachers, other students, hunting, weekend plans, and whether or not coffee puts hair on your chest. HA! They make me laugh and remember why I do what I do every day.
Thanks for trusting us with your amazing children. Even the ones that bring us challenges can give us "Happy Hearts"!
Wishing each of you a fall that makes your hearts happy. Enjoy your time with your children... it passes just as quickly as this school year has.
Stay tuned...
Crystal
Open house is one of my favorite nights every single year!
I will admit that I am the person who gets so excited when the new calendars and school supplies are put up in the stores - though I am not going to lie, I think some of the stores have their calendars a little off. School supplies were out in June and Halloween things are out and it is still August. Sorry, I digress........
Standing in the hallway and greeting students new to Hunt as well as all the familiar faces was a thrill for me last night. Kids are excited to see their new teachers - some students even brought cupcakes and drawings for them. Why does the excitement to learn in August sometimes fade by the end of May?
I think it is similar to what happens to many of us as adults. We grow used to things and the excitement begins to wane. I remember moving here to Hunt and thinking that there would never be a time that I would drive down the highway and not focus on the beauty of the Guadalupe River. I am embarrassed to admit that I have driven that road to Kerrville and realized I never even glanced toward the water. Ugh!
As we start the 2017-2018 school year, we have spent some time focusing on our goal. Dedicated to Students - Committed to Excellence. I have always been proud of how our Hunt Staff loves our students. We try to show that love with our actions - whether that is opening doors when they arrive or when they leave each day, greeting our students with a smile, calling each student by name, laughing when they laugh or crying with them when their hearts are broken.
We realize how fortunate we are that you share your children with us. Thank you for entrusting us with someone so precious and special to you. We will work hard to partner with you to help them grow and learn academically, socially, and emotionally.
We are really working on the academic focus this year as it relates to application of the learning. For us, it isn't about one test they take one day a year. We want them to develop a love and passion for learning and discovering. We will be monitoring their progress using many measures, one of which is the STAAR test.
It is going to be a great year!
Stay tuned...
Crystal
I think about my grandparents talking about how quickly time goes by as they would watch us at school events or see how much we had grown when we would get together. As a child it seems like time can drag on forever - as we wait to turn 13 or we wait to get our driver's license or we wait for graduation.
I realize that I am now edging closer to the age of my grandparents when I was in school and I realize that time really does go by quickly. It seems like just yesterday we were sorting school supplies and starting our professional development activities for the 16-17 school year. We just had a site-based decision making team meeting and approved the professional development activities for the 2017-2018 school year.
It is with mixed emotions that we see some of our people leave to retire, to move with their families to pursue new employment at the location where their spouse has been called, to work closer to home or near extended family, or be with a husband attending seminary. It is hard not to be happy for the changes they are getting ready for, but it is sad realizing that many of these people will no longer live in our area where we can see them every day...
Lane Rouse (pre-kindergarten) and Mun Sparks (cafeteria) are leaving us to begin the retirement chapters of their lives. Aaron Anderegg (technology) is moving a little further away from the district and will be working closer to home to spend more time with his sons and his wife. Christine Bretthauer (3rd grade) is moving with her husband who is a youth pastor now in Ohio. Mycah Klinker (kindergarten) is heading with her husband as he attends seminary in Iowa. Suzanne Frels (MS math) is joining her husband and moving closer to family in the Ingleside area as he retires this summer.
These shoes will be hard to follow, but Tammy Brown and her committee have come up with some good folks to take over these positions in August.
Pre-kindergarten will be filled by Martha Simone each morning here at Hunt School.
Teresa Carrillo will be shifting from her role as a paraprofessional to our lead cafeteria staff member.
Aaron Anderegg will be our distance technology assistance person and will work on a contract basis rather than as a full-time employee.
Our students in grade 3,4, and 5 will be departmentalized next year. Sarah Nichols will teach reading, Meghan Murray will teach math. Tara Blair will teach science and social studies.
Jenna Lair will be our new kindergarten teacher.
Healther Bolton will be our new math teacher for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
As we count down these last days of school for the 2016-2017 school year, I am thankful. Thankful for opportunities to work with each of these staff members and thankful for opportunities to watch these amazing children grow up!
Stay tuned...
March is here and we are almost midway through a legislative session! I typically don't get political; however, several of our parents and community members have talked to me about putting together some information about legislation impacting Hunt ISD.
School finance is always the first thing we thing of... everything costs money and you just paid your taxes. As you wrote your check, you probably thought about how Hunt ISD was using your dollars. In case you don't know, not all of your additional taxes paid will ramain in Hunt ISD. Although our Maintenance and Operations collections are about $3,742,414, we send about $2,138,642 dollars back to the state in recapture. That is right, almost $0.65 of every $1.00 goes back to the state. Recapture dollars go into the State's public education fund, freeing up state dollars for spending elsewhere. Basically, the legislature is using your tax dollars to reduce the amount it would otherwise contribute to public education from other sources. The state has not increased district’s funding per student in the last six years; meanwhile, we remain as one of the five lowest-funded states on a per pupil basis in the U.S.
Another finance issue deals with our desire to remove a small district formula penalty for districts with fewer than 1600 students in less than 300 square miles - we are just over 200 square miles. Repeal of this penalty would benefit our district by around $250,000. We have all of the same mandates, requirements, and charges as other districts. It only makes sense that we are funded in a way that allows us to be equitable. Our board signed a resolution to repeal this penalty and has sent it to our representatives.
Our board also signed one other resolution concerning private school voucher plans or Education Savings Plan. The Texas Constitution requires the state to finance the "support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools." These savings plans or vouchers haven't been shown to improve the education system in other places; however, they would be diverting money for a dual system of schools. We haven't been able to fix the school funding system when dealing with only public schools. I'm not sure how we would be able to manage two or three..... I have a 32 page booklet of mandates for public school systems. Private schools and home schools do not have the same accountability standards and mandates - should they receive the same funding?
It is easy to get discouraged or frustrated at times with changes and unfunded mandates and accountability systems that rely on a state test that "fits all" while seeming to forget that we are working with students rather than things. Today as I read "Oh the Places You'll Go!" to a couple of classes for Dr. Seuss' birthday, I pondered these lines.......
"I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you."
Sometimes it feels like after a legislative session, we are a little banged up. Truth is, we can remember we will succeed - we are "98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed" according to Dr. Seuss...
We have great kids, a great staff, and a great community of folks here in Hunt ISD! Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the team!
Stay tuned....
This is a month that reminds me of all the blessings and things to be thankful for in my life. I have to say that I am so very thankful that I have been given the opportunity to work here in Hunt ISD as the superintendent. When I came here in November of 2011, I knew no one in this district or community. I had met the seven people who served on the school board and am very thankful that they took a chance on a girl from the panhandle of Texas to lead this district. Thank you Laurie Lowe, Buff Adams Blackman, Allison Hinton, Nicia Oakes, Doug Foss, Jason Blewett, and Fred Moseley!
I continue to be blessed to work with an amazing staff!
Gina Walker has been a blessing to me even before I started here! She contacted me and made sure that the day I began work I had email set up, office supplies, and a "go to" person. She works tirelessly and often behind the scenes. She makes me look good! She is definitely in the right spot here at Hunt School! During the course of the last five years I have appreciated all of her help and her friendship!
Marybel Walker has continued to allow me opportunities to learn about the history of the district and where all the skeletons are buried so to speak. Her knowledge and ability to get the job done has been an asset to me over the past several years and to this district for over 20 years!
Tammy Brown worked to finish her master's degree in administration and has become a great campus leader here for Hunt! She works every day to create a safe, loving environment to help children grow academically, socially, and personally. She wants to hear the hearts of the people she works alongside. What a gift.
Verlene Wallace has become such an encourager and counselor for our students here at Hunt. Her smile, her sense of humor and her sense of style add so much to our campus! She loves her kids, the staff, and this community! We are so lucky to have her here!
Cindy Lambert remains such a flexible member of our team here! She has moved classrooms and added assignments along the way. She serves as our diagnostician and special education teacher. For me, she also is my geography guide and my travel guru! She has a passion for helping students who are struggling in some area. She wants to help them grow to their potential.
Aaron Anderegg brings so much laughter to my world. He definitely thinks differently than I do and I respect his ability to speak for those who learn differently and need to be moving and going. He loves loud music, loves his family, and loves to be a kid.... He is a master with our technology and wants to keep making it better, faster, stronger!
Our newest addition in this office - Becca Bigott - is definitely a positive addition as well. Speaking of thinking differently... her emails give the staff laughter and time for reflection. Her love of literature and film are evident in discussions with her. She wants to build capacity in others as she builds it in herself. She is already adding to our team!
I have others I have the opportunity to work beside, and hope to introduce you to them during our next discussion time! Tammy supervises our teachers and paraprofessionals. I am blessed by each of them as well!!!
Wishing all of you opportunities to be thankful and reflect on what truly matters - family and friendships are both right there at the top of my list!
Happy Thanksgiving Month!
Crystal
Such an exciting first week of school!! We are nearing completion of our new gymnatorium and are completing new outdoor learning areas that we are calling HILZ - Hunt Integrated Learning Zones. Once we are more certain of our completion date, we will have an open house day and invite our community members in to see all that is new for Hunt School and our students, parents, and community members!
We have a board election coming up in November and 5 people have filed to fill four positions:
Carter Crain, Britt Eastland, Geoff Gannaway, Linda Pipkin and Meredith Ragsdale
I am proud to announce that we have received an Accountability Rating of Met Standard, our Community and Parent Engagement was rated Exemplary, and our FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating was Superior.
We have started the year with 163 students grades PK - 8. We had 38 students (including our pre-k students) who were brand new to Hunt School this year.
Academic achievement is a focus here at Hunt; however, I personally realize that we are teaching children - not subjects. Children come to us from all different backgrounds, with different life experiences and different levels of knowledge. Our privilege is being entrusted with them every day to help them grow mentally (through our classroom and field trip learning opportunities), physically (through our wellness, nutrition and activity programs), emotionally and socially (through guidance opportunities and cultural experiences).
I appreciate the many partnerships with parents and community members that help Hunt ISD raise our next generation. THANK YOU!!
Stay tuned...
Dr. Crystal Dockery
2016-2017 School Year is about to begin!!
Hard for me to believe we are only a few weeks away from our new school year!
We have several new staff members joining us and a few staff members who are changing assignments.
Jason Blewett will be joining us as our new middle school science teacher. Jason is married to Laurie and they have three daughters - two of which were/are students here at Hunt School.
Lee Pool will be our new physical education teacher and coach. Lee is married to Stephanie and they have two children - both of whom are Hunt students.
Greg Wallace will be our new English teacher at the middle school. Greg is married to Verlene who is our counselor here. Their daughter was also a student here at Hunt ISD.
Rebecca Bigot is our new school secretary and we are so excited to have someone who is familiar who will be answering the phones and greeting you when you come in to the school. Rebecca got married this summer, so many of you knew her as Rebecca Gavin.
We are finishing our last phase of our construction right now with a completion date of September 14, 2016. We will have a beautiful gymnatorium and look forward to our events there for many years to come!
Registration is set for the first week of August. It is going to be a wonderful year!
Stay tuned.... Dr. Crystal Dockery
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