Spring ISD held its third Central Office Staff Meetings for 2023-24 on Feb. 28. Along with updates on state education funding, the revised accountability rating system, and the district’s budget planning process for next year, Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa presented recognitions honoring employees whose work exemplifies the Spring ISD Leadership Definition and supports the success of students and the district.

• Unieka Smith, Human Resource Services, was recognized for modeling the leadership definition of “Service-Oriented” in all of the ways she supports others in her department and throughout the district. Hinojosa praised Smith’s open communication and team-focused approach, “empowering others and celebrating success.” She noted that Smith is the kind of person who, “when they say they will do something, they hold themselves to it, making sure it’s done as promised.” From first-class follow-through to innovative problem solving, to doing it all with a smile, Smith has “become a go-to person for any and all questions, or to help address things needed by the department,” including training and coaching others.
• Samba Goddard, Academics, was singled out by Hinojosa in her remarks as “someone who truly stands out, yet who often prefers to be behind the scenes, working diligently to shine a spotlight on the achievements and potential of our students.” The superintendent thanked Goddard for his servant leadership, and for embodying the values of Spring ISD, in particular through his work on the district’s Multicultural Coalition committee, “championing the cause of diversity and inclusion, ensuring every voice is heard and valued.” Goddard’s “unwavering support to our teachers, staff, and most importantly, to our students” was grounded, Hinojosa said, in humility and service, in always placing the needs of others above his own, and in setting a high bar for excellence that inspires others.
• Michael Melville, Energy Management, was introduced as “an individual who works to ensure that every student’s day is better, that they are comfortable, and that they are able to perform at their highest level.” Without fail, Hinojosa noted, Melville and his team are out every day, solving problems and making sure that learning environments support learning while also effectively managing district resources. From departments to schools, from weekdays to weekends, Melville has risen to whatever challenges arise. And although the department has been short on critical technical staff for over a year, “the needs of the district have not been overlooked,” Hinojosa said, “so that Spring ISD can continue to operate successfully and serve students.”
• Nathaniel Flamiano, Technology Department, was recognized for going above and beyond in fulfilling an important Central Office role while also working with campus faculty to provide learning opportunities for students. Hinojosa noted that Flamiano had “a win/win mentality that sees the possibilities for students when they are given access to hands-on learning and the chance to put their learning into action.” Flamiano has been working with his former Wunsche CTE teacher Lisa Evans to give current Wunsche students real-world experience in computer repair, committing his time and know-how to ensure the maximum positive impact on students. “This awesome partnership between the Spring ISD Technology Department and the CTE program at Wunsche High School is not just helping repair broken Chromebooks,” Hinojosa said, “it’s giving students a valuable opportunity for growth and learning.”
• Manuel Sanchez, Child Nutrition Department, was honored as “an employee who exemplifies accountability through their strong work ethic, leadership, and attention to detail.” In his role, Sanchez is responsible for assisting with the oversight of equipment repair and installation projects, including managing the work of district technicians. “When emergency call-outs come in, they spring into action,” Hinojosa said. “The nature of some of these call-outs might mean working in challenging physical conditions that go well beyond what many of us encounter day-to-day, including sometimes working in the dark, or in inclement weather. It’s not your typical desk job!” Nevertheless, Hinojosa praised Sanchez for his keen ability to diagnose and address complex issues and keep things running smoothly throughout the district.

The two meeting sessions, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon, also allowed employees to receive updates on school funding and the district’s ongoing planning for Spring ISD’s 2024-25 Budget, when the district – like many others across the state – faces the need to trim costs to work toward a balanced budget. The situation is driven in part by lower enrollment and average daily attendance numbers, but is also strongly impacted by the overall economy combined with the lack of additional school funding at the state level.

“We have not received any increase in our per-student allocation since 2019, and we also know that we’ve had – from 2019 to now – a huge increase in inflation,” Hinojosa said. “Eight out of 10 districts in the state are experiencing deficits, and in Spring ISD we are experiencing a deficit, too.”

The meetings also included a brief update on the current legal challenges to the rollout of the revised state accountability system, including Spring ISD’s ongoing involvement in a statewide lawsuit affecting the release of the new accountability system letter grades.

Throughout her presentation, Hinojosa also shared several stories of student success, emphasizing that students at every level in Spring ISD are achieving impressive results, both in the classroom and beyond.

“There are some very serious updates and some very serious work that we’re doing in the district,” Hinojosa said, “but I also want you to know, and leave today, celebrating the accomplishments that are happening every single day in our district that you all play a part in. We may not be in the schools every day, but the work that we do is making such an impact.” 

One spotlight Hinojosa shared was of Dekaney High School senior and football player Christian Nwosu, who has received more than 30 college acceptances and will be attending Harvard University and playing football there on an academic scholarship in the fall.

“Wherever our students go, as long as the doors are open for them, that’s all our kids need,” Hinojosa said. “That’s what we do. We give them the knowledge, we stand them up, we make them strong, we open doors for them, and that’s all they need – for the door to be open – and once they get in there, they are successful.”