GISD expanding opportunities for students

Dear Gonzales ISD School and Community Family,

Happy New Year 2018! We wish you a wonderful year ahead filled with many blessings. Our early days back have been super busy, productive and enjoyable. Students are working hard on school studies, participating as a member of a team in their organizations or athletic games and engaged in many goal-setting opportunities.

Naviance is a wonderful assist in this area as we work to provide effective support for students as they plan the most conducive path of courses toward their career goals. Naviance uses an interest report and connection feature that provides suggestions of career based on student response to activities and questionnaires. The program incorporates a Family Connection portal offering access to activities helping students choose career pathways and even connects students to vocational schools, colleges or universities that support their interests. Importantly, parents can log in and advise their child along the way. This additional support system will roll out next year beginning in grade five aligns student information through graduation and promotes college and career readiness expertly.

Promoting preparedness involves vocational career advancement for many students. This year and for many years, GISD has outperformed the state two to one in Career Technology Education (CTE) offering more vocational opportunities than many districts. These course offerings align with at least one of the five graduation endorsement areas. In the coming year, GISD expands the opportunities for our students by offering additional certifications in the areas of agriculture, public service and technology. Included are the following: Transportation, ASE, Agriculture, OSHA, Floral Design, Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Inventor, Adobe, and CNA. We also have the fortunate circumstance to offer Cosmetology (with certification upon graduation) for the first time at GHS. Adding to the ability to not only take more CTE courses and receive new certifications students will also benefit from the opportunity to take additional advance coursework prior to graduation from high school. In the near future, Gonzales Junior High will offer eighth graders increased opportunities to earn high school credit toward graduation prior to entering high school. This opens the door to younger high school students taking advanced course work as well as advanced expectations and opportunities in literature, science and mathematics.

We have worked diligently to learn the expectations of a new and still changing accountability system and expect excellent results. We look forward to our partnerships along the way and appreciate our community support! The Gonzales ISD Education Foundation recently awarded campus teachers and teams with nearly $30,000 in teacher grants that directly affects classroom instruction. We thank you! The GISD Education Foundation hosted the second

annual Casino Night Fundraiser on Jan. 20. We are so fortunate to have the commitment of this board of service-oriented individuals working for GISD students and their future!

Thank you to our community for supporting Gonzales ISD Education Foundation and Gonzales ISD. Thank you for helping support students and staff of GISD. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you as you visit your child’s school.

Warm regards,

Kimberly A. Strozier, Ed. D.

Gonzales ISD Superintendent of Schools