Leander ISD officials stated that the Destination Imagination teams who represented the district at the Global Finals competition in Knoxville, Tenn., last weekend dominated the creative problem-solving event. All three teams placed in the top 10 in their challenges.

The team from Cedar Park High School won first place in their challenge The World Canvas, beating 32 other teams from around the world. The team also took third place for the Instant Challenge. Team members are Nico Hawes, Catherine Jordan, Lindsey Koski, Jeremy Martin, Lindsey Stawowy and Connie Zhao.

The team from Rouse High School took fifth place out of 80 teams in the challenge Coming Attractions. Team members are Toni Schmidt, Josh Petro, Casey McMahan, Andy Mask, Stephanie Hofmann and Paige Smith.

The team from Vista Ridge High School received sixth place from among 40 teams in the Assembly Required challenge. Team members are Michael Kowlessar, Sahil Solankee, Rachel Madhru, Mario Alanis and Matthew McClain.

“We are proud to have LISD represented so well at the prestigious Global DI Competition. Never before has LISD finished so strongly at this competition,” says LISD Superintendent Bret Champion. “To successfully compete in DI, students have to demonstrate skills of well-rounded students, including the ability to think on their feet, seek answers outside the box and work well with others. These students represent the best of these qualities and we couldn’t be more proud. Congratulations to these teams, managers and parents!”

For more information about LISD’s DI programs, please visit www.leanderisd.org.

Cedar Park High School	Rouse High School
Vista Ridge High School

As this school year comes to an end, we wish to express our sincere thanks to the LISD employees that are retiring. Thank you for your service to the students at LISD and we wish you the best on this new chapter of your lives. See names and years of services for 2012 LISD Retirees

Leander ISD and the Texas Department of Agriculture are sponsoring a summer food program to provide free meals for children ages 1 – 18 years old. The program will be offered at nine locations in the LISD community. Breakfast will also be served at eight locations.

The lunch program will service the following areas:

Lakeline Apartments, 3000 N. Lakeline Blvd. in Leander
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – August 10

Bagdad Elementary, 800 Deercreek Ln. in Leander
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Cedar Ridge Apartments, 2702 S Bagdad Rd. in Leander
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Cherry Hollow Church, 21509 Cherry Hollow Dr. in Leander
Serving lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Cypress Creek Apartments, 2101 South Lakeline Blvd. in Cedar Park
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Deer Creek Elementary, 2420 Zeppelin Dr. in Cedar Park
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

River Place Elementary, 6500 Sitio Del Rio Blvd. in Austin
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Twin Lakes Fellowship, 1150 S. Bell Blvd. in Cedar Park
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug 10

Cedar Park Townhomes, 400 E. Cypress Creek Rd. in Cedar Park
Serving breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m. and lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – Aug. 10.

Participants in the summer food program are not required to be residents of the apartment complexes. Acceptance and participation requirements for this service and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write or call immediately to:
USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY)
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information, visit the Texas Department of Agriculture website at www.SummerFood.org or call 2-1-1 for other locations of summer food programs.

At the May 17 LISD Board meeting new board officers were selected. New officers are: President - Pamela Waggoner, Vice President - Russell Bundy and Secretary - Grace S. Barber-Jordan, M.Ed. For more details about all the LISD Board members, visit the district board of trustees page.

The Leander ISD community is invited to attend an informational session, “Keeping Your Students Safe: Suicide - Prevention and Postvention”, from 6:30-8:15 p.m. on May 14, in the Vista Ridge High School Auditorium. Elizabeth Roebuck, Texas Suicide Prevention Organization, a part of Mental Health America, will discuss suicide and how to recognize if your student is at-risk and how to respond.

Also on hand will be Annie Burwell, director of the Williamson County Mobile Outreach team, to discuss the role they play and how as a community resource they can help our families access additional resources. We will also discuss how counselors in LISD serve students when they become aware of an outcry and the process and protocol involved.

Student safety and mental health well-being are a priority in LISD and we invite you to come and learn more about how you can make a difference in a child's life.

Congrats to the 2012 Krispy Kreme Austin Teacher of the Year contest winners! Cheryl Collins from CPHS took first place while Graham Mitchell from LHS is the first runner up. We are so proud of you and thanks for all you do for the students of LISD!

Students and staff of Laura Welch Bush Elementary (LWBE) in Austin will celebrate their 10th Anniversary with an Outdoor Education Center dedication and reception presided by guest of honor and namesake, Mrs. Laura W. Bush. The outdoor festivities, open to current and former students, staff and parents, begin at 10 a.m. on May 11 at the school, 12600 Country Trails Lane, 78732. A private indoor reception and technology presentation hosted by the staff and Parent Teacher Association will immediately follow in the library.

Mrs. Bush will tour the school prior to dedicating the new Outdoor Center addition, which is a gift from the school PTA. A past teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush will address students and staff during the dedication.

Mrs. Bush made an appearance at the school in August of 2002 when LWBE first opened its doors in Austin’s growing northwest corridor, which is part of the Leander Independent School District. Since that time, LWBE has distinguished itself as a Texas Exemplary School excelling students to their highest potential through current technology, relevant curriculum and effective instruction.

At their final meeting of the year, the Leadership Leander ISD program this week honored 18 community leaders who successfully completed the course. The program is another step in a continuing tradition of opening LISD schools to the com­munity, allowing leaders of area businesses and communities to get an inside look at how one of Texas’ fastest-growing districts operates.

The graduating class met at schools and district facilities through the course of the school year to learn about LISD programs and public education issues. Their activities included acting as principals for a day, watching demonstrations by teachers using innovative technology in their classrooms, learning about the new STAAR test and touring the facility where the district’s elementary science materials are assembled.

“The opportunity to really learn about all the moving parts that operate the district, and to meet other invested community members, has really made me feel more connected to LISD and to my kids’ schools,” said graduate Misti Dwyer. “I highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to learn more about the district and what it has to offer!”

The program has also provided an outlet for these dedicated participants to give their feedback for improving district programs and operations.

“Having spent time in each of their classes, I can say that is this is truly an outstanding group of people and we’re thrilled to welcome them as educated partners with our schools,” said Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion.

This graduating class marks the seventh for Leadership Leander ISD, totaling nearly 150 participants in the program. Participants meet for two hours, once a month from September through May.

The class is open to anyone who would like to learn more about Leander ISD and become a community ambassador for the district. Those who are interested in joining the 2012-13 class should contact the School/Community Relations department at 512-570-0027.

Leadership Leander ISD Class of 2012
Laura Balla, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center; Heather Bonham, Cedar Park/Leander Statesman; Alfredo Bouchot; Cory Dirkson, Austin Toros; Alicia Fermin; Misti Dwyer; Dominic Giarratani, Texas Association of School Boards; Trisha Greenway, PTA; Brian Haulotte, Dunn Construction/LEEF; Gabriel Hernandez, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union; Debbie Hoffman, Habitat for Humanity Williamson County; Sherry Huffman, Huntington School; Chris Hurta, Hill Country Bible Church- Steiner Ranch; Sallie Spradlin Jett, Spradlin Music; Jeff Johnson, Hill Country Bible Church- Leander; Tim Mattox, Dell, Inc.; Sheri McKim, Benchmark Mortgage; Tammy Morrow, Chick-fil-A Cedar Park

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced Joe Willis as Cedar Park High School’s new head football coach and athletic coordinator.

“Joe was a natural fit for the role of head football coach at CPHS. Throughout his career, Joe has proven to be a dedicated educator who strives to give students an opportunity to develop into responsible citizens through athletic competition and high academic expectations,” says LISD Superintendent Bret Champion. “He is a strong advocate for kids.” LISD Athletic Director Chris Ross says, “I had the privilege to work with Joe for five years at CPHS, and I am confident that he will build upon the Timberwolves’ tradition of excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. His genuine care and concern for his students and ties to the community will take the CPHS program to the next level.”

Willis has 19 years of experience as both a teacher and coach for districts throughout Texas. Prior to taking a position as assistant head football coach at CPHS in 2007, Willis’ career has included seven years spent serving as head coach and five years as an offensive coordinator/assistant head coach. Willis earned a bachelor’s degree from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, in 1992.

Willis replaces Ross who was named LISD Athletic Director in April.

Students, parents, staff, business and community leaders are invited to join Leander ISD and Generation TX on Friday, May 4, and wear their favorite college t-shirt in a united show of support for building a college-going culture that encourages students to pursue career and technical training, two-year and four-year degrees following high school.

Generation TX, is a statewide, grassroots movement focused on creating a culture of college and career education that leads to the most successful generation ever.