Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays’ Week Ahead – May 27, 2025

I hope that everyone had a restful Memorial Weekend! We appreciate our soldiers who have sacrificed for our country, allowing us to enjoy the freedoms we exercise on a three-day weekend.

Thank you to everyone who has served our students and families throughout the school year. I hope that the summer time allows you to find some downtime with family and friends. If you can make the time this summer, please take care of yourself by leaning into your hobbies and whatever revitalizes your soul for the fall season. Our students rely on you to refill your bucket so that you can return to Alief ISD to help meet the needs of others. I continue to say that you cannot give from an empty bucket, so please take this summer to take care of yourself!

Graduation season is here, and we have many proud parents throughout Alief who will celebrate the culmination of the hard work and dedication of educators and families. This week, we shared an e-mail list of our graduates; thanks to our teachers who shared with me their pride in knowing graduates who will walk the Alief stage! The pride emanates from the joy in the part you played in helping our students to achieve this significant milestone in their lives! Thank you, educators, for everything that you do and have done for our students!

We need educators who believe in the magic that can happen in the classroom to help us meet student needs. I encourage everyone to share the opportunity to join the Alief family on your social media platforms. We are always seeking talented teachers to meet the needs of our community and students.

Teach Alief Takes Off!

We celebrated the exciting launch of Teach Alief—Alief ISD’s first-ever dual credit pathway designed for students pursuing a career in education. These dedicated scholars are getting a head start on their future, earning college credits while preparing to become tomorrow’s teachers. With plans to return and inspire in the very classrooms where they once learned, they embody our commitment to growing our own. We’re proud to invest in the educators of tomorrow, right here in Alief ISD!

Kerr High School Art Students Receive National Recognition

Shixin (Yanny) Zhao was awarded a National Silver Key Medal from the Scholastic Art and Writing competition for their 2D digital artwork entitled “Surreal Escape”. The Scholastic Art & Writing competition is the nation’s longest-running program for supporting the creative growth of teens and Yanny was the only student in Alief ISD this school year to achieve recognition at the national level through this prestigious competition!

Faith Nguyen was selected as a national ARTEFFECT finalist for her colored pencil drawing entitled “Behind the Scenes” from among a pool of entries across the United States and several countries around the world. The ARTEFFECT competition is sponsored by the Lowell Milken Center and focuses on celebrating individuals who have made positive impacts in the lives of others.

Kerr High School teacher Keri Reynolds was selected as a national ARTEFFECT Ambassador by The Lowell Milken Family Foundation. As an ARTEFFECT Ambassador, she engaged in professional development and implemented curricular programming with high school art students inspired by The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. The ARTEFFECT Ambassadors fellowship is a prestigious visual arts online fellowship for educators across the country who work directly with impacting students at the secondary level.

Albright and Olle Middle Schools Shine at State Speech and Debate Tournament

Albright Middle School and Olle Middle School proudly represented Alief ISD at the Texas Junior Speech and Debate Association Middle School State Tournament. Students who advanced to the semifinals placed among the top 12 in the state, while quarterfinalists ranked in the top 24 statewide—an outstanding achievement for both campuses.

A special highlight of the event was the recognition of Olle Middle School speech coach, Mr. George Tennison, for his exceptional leadership and dedicated service to the Texas middle school speech and debate community.

Albright and Olle were the only schools from Alief ISD to participate in this prestigious competition, making their accomplishments all the more noteworthy.

Albright Middle School

Amerina Ko, Glory Onwuachi. Ana Wong—ninth place in world schools debate

Glory Onwuachi—fourteenth ranked speaker in world schools debate

Olaoluwamide Adenrele—quarterfinalist in prose interpretation

Janiyah Bowen—quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation and poetry interpretation

Olle Middle School

Elizabeth Ibeku—third place in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, and quarterfinalist in prose interpretation

Damilola Adeoshun—third place in original spoken word poetry and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation

Riccah Bautista—quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation

Ashley Gonzales Zelaya—quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation

Heaven Pittman—quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation

Main Event Stafford Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to Raisa Dhuka (Petrosky Elementary), Sandra Parada (Mata Intermediate School), and Larrisha McDonnough (Hastings High School), Main Event Stafford May Teacher of the Month winners! Thank you Mike at Main Event Stafford for recognizing our teachers and for your partnership with the Alief ISD Education Foundation!

Congratulations to the Winners of the Art Card Contest

We’re thrilled to celebrate the talented winners of Alief ISD’s inaugural Art Card Contest, proudly supported by the Alief ISD Education Foundation and generously sponsored by Arcadis. Open to all K-12 students and staff, the contest showcased the incredible creativity within our district. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and to our Fine Arts Department for their invaluable support—this initiative wouldn’t have been possible without you. Congratulations again to all the winners!

Alief ISD Education Foundation – Pay It Forward Campaign

Dear Alief ISD Team,

We’re excited to invite you to participate in the Alief ISD Education Foundation’s Pay It Forward Campaign! This initiative is a simple yet meaningful way to support our students and teachers by automatically giving a seamless donation directly from your paycheck.

Click here to complete the Pay It Forward Form

As a token of our appreciation, participants will receive an Alief ISD Education Foundation t-shirt to proudly show their support!

For more information on this campaign, please visit our website or contact Li Wen Su, PR Specialist and Alief ISD Education Foundation Liaison, at li.su@aliefisd.net.

Thank you for supporting the mission of the Alief ISD Education Foundation. Together, we can make a lasting difference in our community!

With appreciation,

Alief ISD Education Foundation

For fundraiser opportunities, contact li.su@aliefisd.net.

“Let’s Make It Clear” Backpack Policy

In an effort to improve the safety measures currently in place, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, Alief ISD will require all intermediate, middle, and high school students to use clear backpacks.

Students participating in an extracurricular activity are permitted to carry non-transparent bags to store items pertaining to their particular activity (i.e., band, athletics, etc.).

All extracurricular activity bags must be stored in designated areas upon entry into the school and are subject to search.

Additionally, the maximum size for non-transparent bags that students in intermediate, middle, and high school will be permitted to carry during the school day, such as lunch kits, pencil bags, and purses, will be “6 x 9”.

Elementary school students will be allowed to continue using traditional backpacks.

For more information, please visit our designated webpage HERE.

Do you have a special celebration or achievement you’d love to share? Submit your celebration here and let us highlight the amazing moments that make Alief ISD so special!

Explore the Alief ISD SmugMug photo gallery and relive unforgettable moments from school events, celebrations, and achievements. Browse through vibrant snapshots capturing the spirit, talent, and dedication of our students and staff. Check out the gallery here!

Join the Alief Alumni Influencer Association and Stay Connected! Be a part of something bigger by joining the Alief Alumni Influencer Association—a network of proud graduates making a difference! Whether you want to reconnect with old classmates, mentor current students, share your success story, or give back to the community that shaped you, this is your chance to stay involved. Join today and continue making an impact!