Working on the Work

Navasota ISD principals and teachers "Designing Work
for Students" this spring.  

Navasota ISD teachers and principals participated in "Designing Work for Students" before spring break as part of the district's participation in the Standard Bearer School District Network. The Standard-Bearer School District Network is a national network of public school districts that use the Schlechty Center's System Capacity Standards to assess district and school-level capacity to support instructional innovation.  This week, teachers and principals studied ways to connect the curriculum to experiences that appeal to the various needs and interests of students. The goal is to increase student engagement in academic learning.

In February, a presentation was made to the Board of Trustees regarding progress on a two-year plan to upgrade the school district's technology infrastructure to support innovative instructional approaches. In the fall of 2013, a cohort of teachers at Navasota High School and Navasota Junior High School will collaborate with Engage2Learn to integrate some project-based learning (PBL) into the schools' instructional programs. There is considerable research that suggests that the protocols that characterize discovery approach learning or PBL models can help facilitate greater long-term comprehension and application, more opportunities for creativity, greater achievement motivation, enhanced bonding to school, and better scores on standardized tests. Click here to see Navasota students discuss their experiences with project-based learning in 2012.

Design & Discovery: A presentation to the NISD Board of Trustees

Eight Headed to State, One to International Science and Engineering Fair

Austin Espinoza, Kyle Ramsey, and Courtney Maynard
advanced to the ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering
Fair (not shown Alex McLain and Courtney Finke)

Navasota High School Sophomore Kyle Ramsey took first place overall at this year's East Texas Regional Science Fair held March 1 at Kilgore College. Ramsey is among eight Navasota students who have advanced to the ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair to be held in San Antonio later this month. Ramsey also earned a trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to be held in May in Phoenix, Arizona. Also advancing to the state fair are Austin Espinoza (1st place, senior physical science), Courtney Maynard and Alex McLain (2nd place, senior physical science), Courtney Finke (3rd place, senior physical science), Sebastian Penaloza and Jonathan Acosta (1st place, junior physical science), and Clayton Ramsey (5th place, junior biological science).

Special award winners included:

Clayton Ramsey, Sebastian Penaloza, and Jonathan 

Acosta advanced to the ExxonMobil Texas Science 

and Engineering Fair. 

• Austin Espinoza (National Society of Professional Engineers - Innovative Engineering Award)
• Diego Regalado (American Psychological Award for Achievement in Psychological Science)
• Sebastian Penaloza & Jonathan Acosta (ASM Materials Education Foundation - Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science)
• Trey Stegint (WEAT/TWUA Sciece Award)
• Alex McLain & Courtney Maynard (United States Army Certificate of Achievement)
• Kyle Ramsey (United States Airforce Certificate of Achievement)
• Jackson Fultz and Austin Espinoza (United States Navy - Naval Science Award)