SUPERHERO PEP RALLY CELEBRATES NEW, RETURNING BISD STAFF
The BHS Cheerleaders, Star Steppers and Drum Line performed at the BISD Staff Pep Rally with a Super Hero theme. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
The BHS Cheerleaders flew in the guise of super heroes to welcome the BISD staff back to the new school year. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
The Drum Cafe got the BISD staff energized to start the new school year. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
BISD Board President Brittany Hicks greeted the BISD at their Back to School festivities. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
The teachers and staff of Bandera Independent School District (BISD) returned to a new school year greeted by a superhero-themed pep rally and a performance by The Drum Café.
All of the district’s employees gathered in the Competition Gym at Bandera High to start the 2022-2023 school year off with a spectacular start. The MC was Dr. Ken Vogel, BHS Principal.
The BHS Cheerleaders, BHS Star Steppers Dance Squad and the BHS Band Drum Line provided spirit for the staff.
BISD Board President Brittany Hicks started off the event with a back-to-school address to welcome the teachers. She worked her magic as Superintendent Gary Bitzkie walked on his hands across the gym floor to the delight of the staff.
Superintendent Bitzkie also recognized Bandera VIPs invited to the program. Bandera Marshall Will Dietrich, Silver Sage Executive Director Art Crawford, Bandera County Sheriff’s Deputy Louis Moreno, Bandera Visitor Bureau Executive Director Patricia Moore, and Bandera Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Gibson all attended the back-to-school program.
As the pep rally wound down in the gym, the staff moved to the BHS Auditorium to hear The Drum Café, a team building performance group, present their message of collaboration and inspired teamwork.
The Bandera United Methodist Church (BUMC) provided a barbeque sandwich luncheon to new hires to Bandera ISD on Thursday, July 28.
Pastor Kyle Toomire greeted BISD’s new teachers and their mentors as they entered the Fellowship Hall. The BUMC has sponsored a welcome luncheon for BISD new hires for the past 10 years.
The Bandera County Retired Teachers provided gift cards and goodies for the new group.
The following are new staff hired at Alkek Elementary School. Joining the Kindergarten Team will be Shellie Runnels. The First Grade Team will welcome Magali Franco and Rachel Horgan. Heather Derrick will join the Second Grade Team. The Third Grade Team will add Kit Davis and Shannon Vossos to their group.
At Hill Country Elementary, Amy Jauer will be joining the Special Education Team, Brandy Ates will be joining the Third Grade Team, and Martha McCullough will be joining the Fourth Grade Team.
Bandera Middle School will welcome new teachers: Charlie Boling, Raymond Hartsfield (teacher/coach), Cheri Springer, Lauren Brandon, Juan Acevedo, Karrie Taplin, Erin Sizemore, and Amanda Nelson Green (teacher/ coach).
Lucas Ward will replace former Assistant Principal Ray Blanco at Bandera High School. Eddie Byrom will join the Career and Technology Department as the Coordinator and an Agriculture teacher. Bonnie Powell and Michelle Henderson will also join the CTE Team as Agriculture teachers. David Snelgrove will join the Special Education Team. Christopher Pappas, Jules Duval, and Zachary Cihal will join the staff at Bandera High School as a teacher/coaches. Vanessa Ward will join the BHS staff as a teacher.
The Back to School Nights for Alkek and Hill Country Elementary schools will be on Thursday, August 11, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. The Sixth Grade Open House at Bandera Middle School will be from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11.