The Weekly Howl
07.19.24
Principal's Corner
Time has flown by! We are less than thirty days away from opening up our doors and the excitement from staff is contagious! The leadership team is scheduled to move in the week of July 29. Staff is scheduled to move in the week of August 5th. We are all very excited!
Please be on the lookout for a message from our PTO asking for volunteers to help us move in. Please be sure to sign up through PTO. Thank you for everyone's willingness to help the pack!
Please enjoy the last couple weeks of summer! We cannot wait to see you soon!
Welcome Daniel Kavanek- Art
I am originally from Virginia but have lived in TX since 2011. I enlisted in US Navy in 2003 and served for 6 years aboard nuclear submarines as a Navigation Electronic Technician. I transferred to the Army Reserve and am currently a staff sergeant in an airborne PsyOps unit. Outside of my military career I attended both Viginia Commonwealth University and Texas State University pursuing a degree and certification in Art Education. I have been an art teacher with NISD for 5 years and am about to begin my new career with BISD here at our new Viola Wilson Elementary. I am excited to start a new chapter in my life and look forward to working with you all!
Welcome Vinson Canady- Fifth Grade
Hello! My name is Vinson Canady. I began my teaching career in California. I taught for fourteen years in California before moving to Boerne. I have taught grades 4 through 6. I have also worked with children of all ages coaching various athletic teams. I live in Boerne and have three children. Two of my children attend Boerne ISD schools. The oldest child is attending Texas State University. I am coming to Viola Wilson after teaching for six years at Kendall Elementary. I enjoy playing sports, and I am currently playing on a couple softball teams. I am excited to join the team at Viola Wilson. Go Wolves!!
Welcome Lara Carey- Fifth Grade
Hello, I’m Lara Carey and I am delighted to be teaching 5th grade this year at Viola Wilson Elementary! I’m originally from Abilene, TX, and the daughter of lifelong educators. I graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and a Master of Arts degree in Communication. I previously taught courses at the college level, but I felt led to teach at the elementary level, most recently as a Gifted and Talented teacher. This will be my 3rd year at Boerne ISD.
My husband and I are blessed to have three energetic boys and two dogs. I love to spend time making memories with my family. Some of my favorite activities are traveling, hiking, kayaking, reading, watching movies and playing games. I devote much of my after-school time and weekends to Boerne Little League Baseball, and most nights you can find me on the baseball field.
As a lifelong history enthusiast and investigator, I’m especially looking forward to teaching social studies and science. I love to inspire my students through creative projects and hands-on experiences.
I’m most excited to be a part of establishing a culture of learning on campus, collaborating with my colleagues, and building relationships with my students and their families. I’m thrilled to join the Wolf Pack!
Welcome Nancy Holguin- Fourth Grade
4th grade teacher, Nancy Holguin here! Excited to be back in Boerne ISD as a part of the first teacher/staff team of VWES! I’ve been in Education for 16 years, and this will be my 6th year teaching. I’ve taught both 1st grade and 4th grade bilingual/ESL.
Not only am I a new 4th grade teacher for VWES, I’m also a new “neeny” to my beautiful granddaughter, Elsa! This summer, I got to meet my first granddaughter and see my eldest daughter, Lauren, in Germany. My husband, John, is also a first-time grandpa, and my youngest daughter, Kelly, is a first-time aunt!
Outside of being a neeny, I enjoy traveling and hiking/running outdoors. I look forward to building the best “wolf pack” with all VWES teachers, staff and families. Go Wolves!!
Welcome Melinda Armadillo- Music
Hello my name is Melinda Armadillo and I’ll be your music teacher at Viola Wilson Elementary. I’m from Corpus Christi, TX and I went to earn my Bachelors and Masters in Music Education at Texas A&M University Kingsville. I was a band kid growing up and I play the trumpet, piano, and ukulele. We will have lots of fun learning music through song and dance, using a variety of instruments and plenty of games. I just got married this summer in Glacier National Park to my wonderful husband who is the band director at Voss Middle School and Champion High School. We moved to Boerne this summer into our first house with our dog and our pet bunny. We love going on walks, trying out new restaurants, and staying strong in the gym. I can’t wait to start this new adventure with all of you!
Welcome Christie Eddy- Pre-K
Hi! My name is Christie Eddy, and I have lived in Boerne since 2015. I am married with 3 children. My daughter is a graduate from The University of Illinois, my older son will be a senior at Boerne High School, and my youngest son will be an 8th grader at Boerne Middle School North. My two boys keep my husband & I very busy with their sports and music. We also enjoy camping, hiking, working outside, and simply being together as a family.
I will be the PreK teacher at Viola Wilson Elementary! I have been a teacher for 16 years & I love teaching the little ones. I enjoy watching and participating in their growth socially, emotionally, physically, and with their academics.
Welcome Ashley Kayser- Pre-K Aide
I’m so excited to be joining the VWES team as a Pre-k Aide. I’ve recently decided on a mid-life career change after working for the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services in several capacities over many years as an abuse/neglect Investigator, an Adoption Specialist and finally a Day Care Investigator. In February of 2024 I became a guest teacher with Boerne I.S.D and am now in the process of obtaining my teaching certification for EC-6th grade to be completed this fall. I’m a 2004 Boerne High School graduate and a UTSA graduate with a degree in psychology.
I’ve been married to my husband Jordan for 12 years and we have 2 daughters, Brynlee age 9 and Adeline, age 3. We love to travel as a family as often as we can. We’ve frequented England, France and Mexico and in May we visited Italy and Germany. Other hobbies of mine include singing, crafting and photography. I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning from this amazing group of educators!
Welcome Tanya Martell- Pre-K Aide
Mrs. Martell grew up in Rosenberg Tx. She and her husband have been married for 7 years, and have 2 children. They also have a black lab mix named striker. They recently moved to Pipe Creek about 2 years ago. She has been working with children for about 20 years. Outside of school she likes to spend time with family and friends. On her spare time she likes to tend to her garden and play games with family.
Welcome Tammy Gonzalez- Life Skills
Hello everyone. My name is Tammy Gonzalez and I’m so excited to be part of amazing school. I graduated from The University of the Incarnate Word. I hold a Certification in Special Education K-12 and a Generalist 4-8. I have been teaching for 23 years. Special Education makes my heart so very happy.
I have three beautiful grown daughters and I am “Nana” to four fabulous grandchildren who I adore. 💕I also have three pups, two cats and a tortoise, who we call Abby.
I am the new Life Skills teacher here at Viola Wilson Elementary and I am beyond excited to meet all of my students and their parents. This school year is going to ROCK!!!
Go Wolves !!!!!!
Welcome Penny Koerperich- Head Custodian
Penny Koerperich was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in a family of 10. Penny has spent the majority of her life in administrative roles in the health care system and joined the Boerne ISD family after relocating with her husband of 14 years Clint, to Boerne in 2022. She is the proud mother of Haley and Holly and grandmother to Julian (9), Myella (6), and recently welcomed Aviana to the family, July 12th 2024. Mrs. Koerperich has been a custodian at Samuel Champion High School since December 2023, and has been afforded the opportunity to be Lead Custodian of Viola (Olie) Wilson Elementary beginning 24/25.
Mrs. Koerperich is dedicated to ensuring students and faculty are treated with the kind of “Iowa Nice” that was instilled in her as a Midwest native.
Penny’s hobby’s include, fishing, camping, listening to music and spending time with her family and friends.
Welcome Tania Carbonaro- Behavior
Hello Viola Wilson Community! I'm looking forward to meeting all of you! My name is Tania Carbonaro and this will be my 15th year of teaching elementary school. I received my degree from the University of Texas at Austin where I studied history and expository writing. I completed all of my cross-categorical teaching coursework in Phoenix, AZ at Rio Salado College. I hold dual certifications in general education and special education. I am lucky to be married to a wonderful man who is a retired army veteran and we have an 80 pound Plott Hound that we spoil daily. One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is experimenting with different herb and vegetable varietals in my garden. If I wasn't a teacher, I'd be an ethnobotanist.
Welcome Ashtyn Bachicha-Ross- Fourth Grade
My name is Ashtyn Bachicha-Ross, this is my fourth year teaching and my second year in BISD. I graduated from Tarleton State University in 2020, and got married in April of this year! I am so excited to join the Wolf Den and be a part of opening VWES.
Welcome Taylor Ross- Second Grade
Mrs. Ross is a dedicated and passionate educator, currently in her sixth-year teaching second grade in the district. She grew up in the small town of Boerne, where she learned the value of community and a good education. Mrs. Ross lives with her husband, their energetic three-year-old son Beckham, and their fluffy Great Pyrenees, Babe.
When she's not in the classroom, Mrs. Ross loves to travel and explore new places. She's a foodie with a knack for finding the trendiest new restaurants and coolest outdoor hangouts. Her enthusiasm for life and learning is contagious, making her classroom a vibrant and inspiring place where students feel excited to learn and grow.
Welcome Veronica Vela Villalobos- Dual Language Kinder
After being blessed to stay at home to raise my two daughters and four step children, I am beyond proud and excited to be a part of the wolf pack at Viola Wilson Elementary School! I was born in Mexico, raised in the Rio Grande Valley, and moved to San Antonio in 2000. I graduated from UTSA and I am certified to teach General EC-4, Bilingual – Spanish EC-4, and Secondary English 6-12. I come from a family of educators and was inspired at a very young age to follow in my grandmother’s footsteps. She was an educator, principal and community leader in my hometown back in Mexico. I’ve taught 3rd, 9th, 11th and 12th grade at NEISD and NISD. My favorite experience was working to establish the first Dual Language program for NEISD and teaching ESL 3rd grade. I can’t wait to meet all my students and start the school year!
I have a daughter who graduated Champion HS 2023, an 11th and 10th grader at Champion, and an 8th grader at BMSS. I love spending time with my family, reading, and creating art. I am a Co-Leader at Chicktime Boerne, where together with my daughters, I serve the girls at our local orphanage. I strive to help others find their voice, respect their ideas and find value in our common goal for hope and improvement.
Welcome Michelle Benavides- Computer Aide
Hello everyone! My name is Michelle Benavides, I was born and raised in San Antonio, and proud to be a Texas native! I am married to my husband Ivan of 30 years. We have 3 grown children( 2 daughters and 1 son), 1 amazing granddaughter, and soon we will be welcoming a grandson to our growing family. Our family moved to Boerne in 2019, and absolutely love the community. For 8 years, I worked for NEISD as a paraprofessional at Fox Run Elementary School in their Specials program. In my spare time, my husband and I love to sit in the backyard and spend time with our granddaughter Mila and take her for walks in the neighborhood. I’m so excited to start this new school year, and feel extremely blessed to be part of this school and community!
Welcome Stephanie Bradford- Instructional Coach
Hey Wolfpack! My name is Stephanie Bradford. I am excited to be serving as VWES Instructional Coach this year. I am starting my 6th year in Boerne ISD and my 23rd year in education. I have Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and K-8 Education as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership. I was a classroom teacher and instructional coach in North Carolina before moving with my family to Texas. My husband Roger and I have two girls, a freshman at BHS and a recent Greyhound graduate on her way to college this fall. We have loved being part of the local community. In my spare time I enjoy reading, baking and spending time with family & friends. I am excited to share my love of learning and passion for encouraging students (& teachers) to reach their full potential each day. I can’t wait to meet the Wolfpack faculty, students, and families. I am looking forward to supporting everyone as we begin the journey at our new school. I know it will be a wonderful year!
Welcome Sarah Huston- Kindergarten
Hi, I'm Sarah Huston and I am so excited to start my 5th year in Boerne ISD! I have over 14 years of teaching. My favorite part of teaching is watching young learners grow, gain confidence, and develop a love for learning. I have been married for 10 years. My husband, Ryan and I have 3 wonderful children (4th grade, 2nd grade, & Pre-K) who will attend Viola Wilson this upcoming year. Outside of school, I love to spend time with family and friends or diving into a good book. I look forward to meeting you and your children soon and start the 2024-2025 school year off strong!
Welcome Diana de Jesus- First Grade
Greetings wolfpack! My name is Diana De Jesus. I was born in El Paso, TX and received my Bachelor of Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. Go miners! My family of four has been in Boerne a little over a year now and we absolutely love it. I had the pleasure of starting last school year as a teacher for BISD and quickly realized I missed the classroom. I previously taught in Houston for 6 years and took some time off when I had my twin boys. I am thrilled to also have them join us at Viola Wilson. I am married to my amazing husband, Javier, going on 14 years. We love spending our free time with family, traveling, and exploring Boerne. I am eager and excited to be opening Viola Wilson and getting to know my new school family and community. Let’s go Wolves!
Welcome Marna Randall- First Grade
Hello there! My name is Marna Randall and I am so excited about being a Wilson Wolf! I have been an educator for 24 years, all for Boerne ISD. I taught at Kendall for 22 of those years in grades K-2. I am blessed to be a teacher!
I have two grown daughters and am Lolli to two amazing grandchildren. Andy is 4 1/2 and Maggie is 2. We love to travel together, have movie nights, and play games. When I'm not with my family my favorite things to do are to read, see a good movie, and work on paper crafts.
I am so excited to be part of our Wolf Pack and begin a new adventure! I can't wait to welcome both familiar and new faces to our new school home!
Welcome Erika McCullough- Dyslexia
My name is Erika McCullough and I am thrilled to be the Dyslexia Specialist at VWES! I have been teaching for 12 years in grades Kinder-5th and have found reasons to love each grade level. Working with students in small groups and seeing the tremendous growth made each year is the very best part of being in the classroom for me. I grew up and went to college in Oregon for my M.Ed. but found my home teaching with BISD six years ago. I have two little girls who will both be at Viola Wilson in 1st and 5th grades.
In our free time we love to spend time with our dogs, travel, camp, watch sports, and hike. We have been fortunate to travel to many places around the world, and I love sharing stories and hearing about other's adventures and experiences.
I'm looking forward to an exciting year and can't wait to meet my students and families as we build this new community together!
Meet our PTO Board
We Appreciate You!
Important Dates
- 08.01.24- First Day of School for Teachers
- 08.08.24- Meet the Teacher
- PK-2: 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
- 3-5: 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
- 08.12.24- First Day of School
YMCA for Viola Wilson
If your child is enrolled in YMCA, the current plan is for them to go to Kendall Elementary after school for the 2024-2025 school year. Your children would ride a bus from Viola Wilson and they will need to be picked up from Kendall after school. Historically, new campuses do not provide after school care during the inaugural year due to the building warranty.
STAAR Results Info
Starting June 14, families can log in to the district’s parent portal to gain insights into their child’s 2024 3-8 STAAR Results. Discover how your child tackled test questions and get personalized resources to support learning at home. Don’t miss out—Log In & Learn More!
Skyward Registration
If you log into Skyward and see a tile labeled "2024-2025 Viola Wilson EL Registration" please go ahead and complete the tasks for your children. We appreciate your help with this. Thank you!
See Something, Say Something
We have updated our See Something Say Something reporting system. Please note that, all reports are now confidential and no longer anonymous, however we will still protect your identity if you wish. This update is important to assist administration and law enforcement to investigate reports more efficiently. Please check out our updated PSA below: (Then paste this video link) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEcPbAMGPXg&t=4s
Click below to see the School Supply List
Nurse Kelley's Corner
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VWES Address/ Phone Number
1313 Homestead Ridge
Boerne, Texas 78006
(830) 357-4700