Best way to describe Alto ISD's accomplishments: 'What a year!'
Alto
DR. RAY DESPAIN
The 2006-07 school year at Alto ISD has been one of many accomplishments. Student enrollment numbers and student attendance percentages are

RAY DESPAIN

both up, and great things are happening on all three of our school's campuses.

Academic successes boil down to two things: (1) Teachers preparing students; and (2) Students performing.

Our state standardized test results this year showed great gains over 2005-06. In 24 of 27 TAKS tested areas, percentage gains were seen, and we have been able to overcome the "academically unacceptable" rating at the high school by improving more than 20 percentage points in both mathematics and special education. Our African American student population showed big gains in all four areas of testing (math, science, language arts and social studies). Alto Middle School could possibly achieve "recognized" status when A.E.I.S. results are posted, thanks in large measure to our 100 percent passing rate on sixth grade math and reading tests.

In grades five through eleven, we had a 97 percent passing rate in social studies and a 91 percent passing rate in English language arts. Alto had 155 students achieve "commended performance" district-wide on tests, as compared to 96 this time last year. In spring 2006, Alto High School had 19 students who did not meet state standards on exit level tests (15 of those failed two or more tests). This spring, only eight students fell short (with only two failing more than one test).

In the extracurricular realm, Brooke Poole was the Regional Champion in U.I.L. poetry competition and advanced to the state meet in Austin. Trevor Haggerty and Clayton Scott were selected to participate in the NASA High School Scholars program. Alto's Elementary and Junior High academic and literary teams were district champions. Our Mean Sting won the school's first ever state football championship in U.I.L. Class 1A, Division 1. Led by the state's most valuable offensive player, Julian Willis, and state's most valuable defensive player, Clayton Scott, Alto had five other players named to the All-State team: Ben Johnson, Tyson Mitchell, Jeremy Lofton, Lance Low and Tarcellus Mitchell. Keith Gardner was named coach of the year in the state.

Alto had student-athletes advance to the state level in girls' track including Taneshia Pope, Tiffany Griffin, Laqudequel Tyler and Amber Morrison. In boys' track, Julian Willis advanced as well as Trevor and Shannon Haggerty in tennis.

Our softball team and boys track teams were area champions, and our baseball team won the Bi-District championship. Our high school girls golf and junior high boys basketball teams were District champions. Several of our student-athletes were named district most valuable players in their respective sports, and we had over 30 regional qualifiers in various sporting events throughout the year.

Two of our band students, Cody Hudnall and Patricia Harford, advanced to State Solo and Ensemble competition. The future of our band looks very bright, as our sixth grade band received a superior rating at their spring competition.

Brooke Poole and Lauren Pierce were named to the one act play all star cast. Our junior high one act play did very well at District competition also. Adam Davis was named best actor and Taylor Kessinger and Rhett Gresham were named to the all star cast.

The Alto High School Student Council was named outstanding chapter at the district level, and was a state finalist. Their many activities and dedicated work set the tone of "leading by example" for all our students.

It was another banner year for the Alto FFA under the leadership of John Griffith. Lance Low captured grand champion honors at both the Fort Worth and San Antonio Livestock shows with his beef master heifer. Alto Chapter President Margo Kahla was awarded the prestigious "Go Texan" scholarship for her many accomplishments, and Matthew Barnes was named Area IX FFA President, which puts him in line to be a state officer next year. Several other chapter members grabbed high honors both for projects and showmanship.

On the technology front, we've added more than 60 computers district-wide this year, and were recently awarded a technology grant to be spent over the next two years. We're upgrading our software for both our accelerated reading and accelerated math programs and have instituted the "Study Island" program for all of our academic tutorials thanks to these funds.

Thanks to a great deal of dedicated work by several staff members, Alto ISD has been able to regain "in compliance" status as set forth by the Texas Education Agency in the areas of TAKS testing administration, PBMAS (Special Education), food service, student transportation and T.A.S.B. operating policies.

We honored several of our faculty and staff members at an end-of-year ceremony last Thursday. Perfect attendance gift cards were given to Delana Mason, Teresa Bradshaw and Doug Chumley.

Retirement gifts were presented to high school science teacher John Hillis and nurse Sonya Howell. Five year service plaques were awarded to Sharon Reid, Shannon Flowers, Sherry Dover, Misty Duplichain, JayAnna Davis and John Griffith. Ten year plaques were handed out to Lonnie Ross, Jennifer Pearman and Teresa Crosby. Norma Silva received a 15- year plaque, Sherry Germany a 20-year service plaque, Melvin Mumphrey a 20-five year plaque, and Ann Morgan a 30-year plaque. "Above and Beyond" award plaques were presented to: middle school teacher and cheerleader sponsor Rachael Burrows; transportation coordinator Teresa Bradshaw; fourth grade teacher Linda Skinner; vocational agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor John Griffith; high school math teacher Pam Taylor; elementary computer lab coordinator Kathy Cox; athletic director and head football coach Keith Gardner; middle school teacher and gifted/talented coordinator Mindy Scott; middle school teacher Martha Gresham; high school secretary and bus driver Ella Thacker and pre-kindergarten paraprofessional Jill Pegues.

Our Alto ISD motto for this year is "Excellence, Now!" It has often been said that "... it takes a village to educate a child." Never has that been truer than at Alto ISD this past school year.

Due to the fact that the board of trustees, administration, faculty, staff, parents and community all worked together, students at Alto have taken great strides in all areas.

"What a year" is the best way to describe the many accomplishments at Alto ISD for 2006-07.

We sincerely appreciate the efforts of everyone and look forward to "Taking the Next Step" in 2007-08.

Come see us some time - you'll be impressed!

Dr. DeSpain is superintendent of Alto ISD.