"Texas Afterschool Centers on Education™ (ACE), administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and funded by the 21st CCLC Program administered by the US Department of Education, is a structured, safe, and supervised place for learning and social interaction.

ACE provides extended learning opportunities for children and their families and offers innovative, hands-on activities that reinforce and complement students’ regular academic programs. These before and afterschool activities are based on research and best practices and include academic enrichment, challenging curriculum, and tutorial services.

ACE strives to increase promotion and graduation rates and helps students prepare for college and the workplace..." (TexasAce21.org)  
                                         • English - PDF 
                                                   • Spanish - PDF 
                                                   • Website - http://www.texasace21.org/ 
                                                   • Website for Educators - http://www.mytexasace.org/

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A.C.E. AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Parents and Students,

The Fall A.C.E. program is scheduled to end on December 14th.  Busing and snacks will end on Thursday, December 13th. 

The Spring program will begin on January 14, 2013.  Please consult the campus web page where your child attends for additional information.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

The ACE Staff.

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Schools and Coordinators

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ACE Program Director:

Prior to his position as ACE Program Director, Michael Twigg held positions as a teacher and administrative intern for Waller I.S.D. and E.G.S.D. Most recently, he served as the ACE Site Coordinator for Waller Junior High School. During his tenure there, he designed and implemented the new ACE 21^st Century After School Program for his campus. He developed programs and classes to bridge the gap between school and extra-curricular pursuits for students: and worked with his staff to “Make learning fun!” His technology pursuits have led to increased productivity and utilization of technology by staff and students alike.

Waller High School:

Derrick Kellam joined Team Waller ISD in July of 2012 as Site Coordinator at Waller High School. Prior to coming to Waller Mr. Kellam served as High School assistant principal in Dayton ISD and was a high school Teacher and coach at Cleveland HS, Kingwood HS and Splendora JH. Mr. Kellam graduated from Sam Houston State University with an undergraduate degree in 2004 and earned his Masters of Education from Lamar University in 2009. As the After School Coordinator at WHS, Mr. Kellam will seek to promote student academic growth and development as well as incorporating a concept of teamwork and cooperation. The WHS After School Program will focus its resources on the needs of students, parents and other stakeholders to ensure all needs are met. Mr. Kellam is married to Gena Kellam, a Waller High School Counselor, and they have 4 children. Cherish is a Junior at Sam Houston State University studying Elementary Education, Rebecca is a 4th grader at Holloman Elementary, Mason is a 2nd grader at Holloman Elementary and Raelyn attends pre-school in Waller. The Kellam family feels blessed to call Waller home and look forward to many wonderful years in Waller ISD.

W.C. Schultz Junior High School:

Rachel Peterson joined Schultz Junior High School in August, 2012 as the Site Coordinator for the campus. Rachel Peterson graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors of Science in Academic Studies.  She also received a Masters of Education in Administration from Sam Houston State University with Principal Certification. For the past nine years, she worked as an educator in Tomball Independent School District. She currently serves as the ACE Site Coordinator for the 21st Century After School Program at Schultz Junior High. Mrs. Peterson’s vision for the ACE program includes encouraging student creativity, fostering academic growth, and promoting life-long learning. She is committed to working with teachers, staff, parents, and the community to build a strong relationship that promotes student success. Mrs. Peterson resides in Hockley with her husband, Matt. They have three children, Will and a set of twins, Lila and Nate.

Fields Store Elementary School:

Kathryn Flukinger-French graduated from Waller High School some years ago. She attended Texas Woman's University and received a B.S. in Education. Kathryn also earned her M.Ed. In Education from Lamar University. She has taught in Waller ISD schools, at various grade level teaching positions, and is currently located at Fields Store Elementary School as the ACE Site Coordinator. She's got that "BOOM Boom POW!"

H. T. Jones Elementary School:

Andrea Herrera Fry, M. Ed.

Andrea is a lifelong resident of the Waller Independent School District.  She was fortunate enough to join the district as an employee in 1998 at H.T. Jones Elementary.

It is her belief that education should provide an environment that fosters interdependence, accepts mistakes, nurtures independence, and celebrates differences.  Children need more than direct instruction and direction to succeed in school.

She believe children need educational opportunities to discuss what they are learning.  They should be allowed to disagree with one another about facts.  Resources should be provided for them to check their own understanding.
Children's differences are vast:  they include more than the obvious but also encompass their intellectual capacity.  It is my belief that when children work together for a single purpose they are learning to accept one another for their uniqueness and tolerate one another for their differences.

As the ACE Site Coordinator for H.T. Jones Elementary, She can reassure that each child has the opportunity to explore, embrace, and challenge the knowledge they acquire in a safe and nurturing environment.

Roberts Road Elementary School:

Yolanda Saldana has been teaching in Waller I.S.D. for twelve years. She currently serves as Site Coordinator for the ACE Afterschool Program and is am very excited to have this opportunity to create a super program for Roberts Road Elementary.

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Turlington Elementary School:

As her second year as an ACE Site Coordinator, she is looking forward to another year enriching all of the students, kindergarten through the fifth grade at Turlington Elementary through hands on experiences.  Within the ACE program, students are more likely to attend school, improve their academeic skills, develop better social skills and learn to handle conflicts, and build self-esteem and confidence in their academic abilities.

When Ashley is away from work she enjoys spending time with her husband Randy and with their two dogs they rescued, Riley and Brody.

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Family Engagement Specialist: 

Maria Herrera and her family came from Mexico to Waller, Texas in 1980.  She attended Waller ISD from elementary through high school and graduated in 1990.  Maria and her husband, Hector “Adam”, are the parents of two children.  She is currently attending Western Governors University in pursuit of her Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources. 

 

Maria has worked for WISD in the Human Resources Department since 2006.  Her experience in HR and community involvement has amplified her desires to assist the community.  For this reason, in August of 2011, Maria accepted the position of Family Engagement Specialist.

(visit page)

21st Century Afterschool Program Secretary:

Lynda Petrash is the Secretary for the After School Centers on Education (ACE) program.  She has been with Waller Independent School District for four years and, before that, was with Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District for fifteen years.  If you should ask her if she is from here, she would reply “no, but I got here as fast as I could!"