The eLeader

Website: lpisd.org
Location: 1002 San Jacinto Street, La Porte, TX, USA
Phone: 281-604-7000

Greetings, La Porte ISD Family. Today is a great day to be a Bulldog!

Our students continue to impress us with their dedication to learning and their outstanding achievements both in and out of the classroom. From academic accomplishments to artistic endeavors and athletic triumphs, our students consistently demonstrate their talents, passion, and commitment to excellence.

Excellence was exemplified at every turn this past week in our district, from athletics to academics and performing arts — and La Porte ISD staff. Our success is the result of our Board of Trustees' vision for our school district, and the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our students, staff and parents. Last week was marked by moments of collaboration, creativity, and camaraderie as we come together as a community to celebrate our diversity and embrace the spirit of unity through cultural events and other activities. Many of our elementary students celebrated 100 Days of School with costumes and campus parades; our JROTC cadets took a deeper dive into aviation (this is rare for Army JROTC programs); and some of our student groups and Board members celebrated Mardi Gras in the annual parade. There were many more wonderful happenings and accomplishments that you will read about in this weekly newsletter.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional team of educators and staff who work tirelessly to create a positive and nurturing environment for our students to thrive. I am grateful for everything you do to support our school community. Further, I offer my thanks to our wonderful community members, whose support enables us to provide enriching educational experiences, innovative programs, and essential resources that empower our students to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Superintendent Shout-outs

• Six student-athletes signed national letters of intent this past week study and play at the collegiate level. Congratulations on this monumental achievement!
• Congratulations to the La Porte High School Swim & Dive Team for your wonderful success at the UIL Regionals this weekend. A special shout-out goes to Ben Tercero, who qualified to compete at UIL State!
• Kudos to the La Porte High School Bowling Club Team for your success at the Sam Houston State University Tournament, and to Austin Goetz, who earned tournament MVP honors.
• Shout-out to the La Porte High School Indoor Drumline for earning bronze at the TCGC Indoor Drumline Competition in Pasadena. Good luck at your Feb. 24 meet!
• A big shout-out goes to our Lady Dawgs Basketball Team for qualifying once again for the Bi-District Playoffs. They take on Pasadena Memorial on Monday at 6 p.m.. Everyone is invited to come out and support them. The game starts at 6 at Lee College.
• We honored our school counselors this past week during National School Counseling Week. Their role is vital to the academic success and emotional well-being of our students, and we are grateful to them!
• I had the pleasure last week of accompanying five outstanding La Porte ISD educators to the annual HAABSE Awards Dinner, which honors great educators from across the greater Houston area. Congratulations to all of you, and thank you for choosing La Porte!

As we continue our journey through the second semester, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our students with the support and resources they need to reach their full potential. Together, we will continue to celebrate achievements, overcome challenges, and inspire one another to greatness.

I wish everyone a great week!

With La Porte pride,

Walter Jackson, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Feb. 12 – Bi-District Playoff – Lady Dawgs vs. PA Memorial; 6 p.m. @ Lee College

Feb. 15 – School Resource Officer Day
Feb. 15 – Dual Enrollment Family Meeting (10th grade); 6:30 p.m. @ LPHS
Feb. 16 – Student Holiday/Professional Development Day/Elementary Parent Conferences
Feb. 19 – Presidents Day (Student/Teacher Holiday)
Feb. 21 – LPISD/SanJac Maritime Info. Meeting (Zoom); 6-7 p.m.

La Porte High School’s unique JROTC program entails the innovative integration of aviation education. Recently, our students embarked on a field trip to the Lone Star Flight Museum where they explored historic aircraft, engaged with museum staff, and gained invaluable insights into the world of flight. In addition, students have access to flight simulators right in their classroom. Learn more about the program in the video below.

La Porte High School swimmer Ben Tecero this weekend qualified to compete in the UIL 5A State Championships in the 100 yard breaststroke after finishing second in the Region 5 Swimming Championships in Sugarland

Of the 14 La Porte swimmers who competed in the event, all set personal records, and two swimmers broke school records: 100 Girls yard Freestyle - Carmen Estarellas, and Boys 100 yard Breaststroke - Benjamin Tercero.

The UIL 5A State Swim & Dive Championships are set for Feb. 23-24 at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

The Lomax Jr. High 8th Grade 'A' Boys and the La Porte Jr. High 7th Grade 'B' Girls added another trophy to their respective award cases following successful runs at the district basketball tournament this weekend. Lomax won the district championship with a win Saturday over Pearland West. The Lady Bullpups grabbed the district runner-up spot after narrowly losing to Pearland South.

The La Porte High School Varsity Bowling (club) advanced to match play on Feb. 3 at the 12th Annual Kat Cup hosted by Sam Houston State University Bowling. Austin Goetz led La Porte with scores of 246 (he had seven strikes in game one), 191 and 191. He was the boys tournament MVP and was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Kat Cup is a Texas High School Elite Invitational Tournament hosted by the Sam Houston Women's Bowling team featuring some of the top girls and boys high school teams in Texas. There were over 200+ athletes in attendance. The tournament is bowled on a challenging collegiate sport shot oil pattern.

Congratulations to the La Porte High School student-athletes who committed to study and play at the next level during National Signing Day ceremonies on Feb. 7.

• Nathan Wolbrect, football, Henderson State University
• Nathan Barrera, baseball, Schreiner University
• Kera Arrington, volleyball, Wharton County Jr. College
• Micah Klinkerman, track & cross country, Hardin Simmons University
• Ezra Arriaga, football, Anderson University
• Leland Tran, football, Knox College

Construction continues at the site of the new Bulldog Stadium. This is an aerial view taken on Wednesday. Though weather and supply chain issues continue to affect most construction sites in our region, we are still within the 18-24-month Bulldog Stadium construction timeframe that we outlined to the community when the project began.

Five La Porte ISD educators were honored Thursday at the 37th Annual Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators Awards for being among the best in the greater Houston Area. Dr. Jackson sponsored and accompanied the district’s honorees, who were: Yolanda Joseph, College Park Elementary kindergarten teacher; Anissa Jackson, La Porte High School math teacher; Belva Perry, La Porte Elementary third grade teacher; Kevin Poe, Lomax Jr. High band director; and Anthony Stephens, La Porte High School head basketball coach.

The La Porte ISD Human Resources Department has announced its Heroes of the Month for January. Kimberly Rodriguez, a FOCUS aide at Heritage Elementary School and Capt. Hector Echevarria, La Porte High School’s JROTC Senior Army instructor each received a $100 Amazon gift card, courtesy of Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union.

Kimberly Rodriguez goes above and beyond to ensure that each of the students in her class are loved, respected, educated, and encouraged. Her positive outlook makes her the true definition of a hero!

Capt. Echevarria has grown and strengthened our JROTC program, demonstrates remarkable leadership, and dedication. He selflessly mentors his peers and creates an enriched learning environment for all students!

LP Legacy Leaders is a new series that we will occasionally share about adult and student leaders in our district. Our pilot episode features Mrs. Brynna Gonzalez, who teaches reading at Lomax Elementary School.

Get your tickets now for the La Porte Education Foundation’s Hoops Classic. The event is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 at Bulldog Centre. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The action is set to get underway at 6:30. More information and tickets are available here.

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