San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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Special to the News-Times

Dr. Bryan TaultonDALLAS — SMU Institute for Leadership Impact welcomed 32 school district leaders into the 2022-2023 cohort of District Leadership Fellows, a hybrid in-person and online leadership training program for school district superintendents and executive district leaders run by the Institute for Leadership Impact at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

The 2022-2023 cohort, the largest since the program was founded in 2016, includes leaders from school districts in Arkansas and across Texas. It includes Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents, along with Executive Directors and other district leaders. School districts of many different sizes are represented, from rural schools with less than two hundred students,to urban districts with over sixty thousand students.

Locally, Dr. Bryan Taulton of Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD was among the leaders.

Of the program, 2021-2022 participant Dr. Angela Herron, Chief Teaching & Learning Officer, Grand Prairie ISD, said “SMU’s District Leadership Fellows program is a wonderful program that enhanced my ability to lead with a more laser focus on my desired goals for my district. Through complex, relevant, and engaging activities, the program equipped me with the tools to have a more strategic approach to problem-solving, which allowed me to lead more efficiently and systematically. I appreciate my time in the program and found each session beneficial to increasing outcomes for my district.”

The District Leadership Fellows program is a strengths-based leadership development program that enhances the leadership abilities of established and emerging school district leaders through an intensive year-long cohort. 

Through collaboration with peers and recognized education experts, Fellows are empowered to solve hard problems in their districts, build their leadership skills, and develop lasting educational leadership networks. The program is hosted by the Institute for Leadership Impact in the Simmons School of Education & Human Development at SMU in Dallas.

School leaders in the upcoming cohort of the District Leadership Fellows program include Dr. Dana Arreola (Executive Director of Leadership Development, Aldine ISD), Dr. Stephanie Bonneau (Principal, Mansfield ISD), Dr. Keena Bradley (Executive Director of Employee Services and Experience, Aldine ISD), Onjaleke Brown (Superintendent, St. Anthony Academy), Brett Bunch (Superintendent, Brookland Public Schools), Shenikwa Cager (Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, A W Brown Leadership Academy), Dr. Sedric Clark (Superintendent, Gladewater ISD), Dr. Michelle Cline (Superintendent, Throckmorton Collegiate ISD), Dr. Kristin Craft (Associate Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD), Dr. Denver Crum (Superintendent, Springlake-Earth ISD), Dr. Carnelius Gilder (Superintendent, West Sabine ISD), Dr. Winnifred Goodman (Chief of Schools, Duncanville ISD), Tellauance Graham (Assistant Superintendent, Cedar Hill ISD), Ron Holmgreen (Superintendent, Brock ISD), Dr. Brad Hunt (Superintendent, Coppell ISD), Gaya Jefferson (Executive Director of Professional Learning, Richardson ISD), George Kennedy (Assistant Superintendent, Brookland Public Schools), Dr. Tonya Knowlton (Superintendent, Community ISD), Jaema Krier (Director of Administration, UT Tyler University Academy), Dr. Donny Lee (Superintendent, Wichita Falls ISD), Dr. Sandra Moore (Executive Director Human Resources, Richardson ISD), Karalei Nunn (Founder & COO, Meridian World School), Dr. Jeremy Owoh (Superintendent, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District), Dr. Veronica Perkins (Superintendent, Blytheville School District), Dr. Brenda Poole (Superintendent, Brinkley Public Schools), Dr. Mike Rockwood (Superintendent, Lake Dallas ISD), Dr. Darwin Spiller (Executive Director of Title IX Compliance & Investigations, Richardson ISD), Jeremy Strickland (Superintendent, Trenton ISD), Dr. Bryan Taulton (Superintendent of Schools, Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD), Cindy Trevino (Chief of Human Resources and Student Services, Edgewood ISD), Amanda Wallace (Assistant Superintendent of Personnel & Policy, Henderson ISD), and Taylor Williams (Superintendent, Slidell ISD). 

Bunch, and Drs. Cline and Poole are returning Fellows.

The Institute for Leadership Impact at Southern Methodist University works with emerging and established leaders in education, health, and social enterprise to help them develop the skills they need to be more effective in leading organizations and solving real-world problems.

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Coldspring Intermediate Principal Paula McClendon was proud to introduce this month's school board meeting pledge leaders, CIS students Evelyn Sanchez and Peyton Sudderth.

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Board of Trustees discussed moving to a 4-day school week, possibly to start next year.

At its regular monthly meeting on Sept. 26, Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton informed the board about the process the district is undertaking to explore the option for the 2023-24 school year. 

Taulton said the switch would be in an effort to recruit and retain teachers in a highly competitive job market due to the statewide teacher shortage. 

He also said that the results of surveys that were sent to parents and guardians, employees, and high school students were in the majority favorable to the change. 

The calendar would be part of a three-year pilot program during which data would be reviewed to monitor the results in order to gauge its effectiveness and impact on student learning, he said. 

More information can be found on the COCISD website at https://www.cocisd.org/Domain/706. There will be a Town Hall meeting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Jones Educational Complex to present draft calendars and discuss the plan.

Before the meeting began, the Board and district staff and administrators were treated to a delicious meal prepared and served by Coldspring-Oakhurst High School Instructor Chef Joel Casiday’s Advanced Culinary Arts students. Chicken fettucine alfredo was paired with a tossed Italian vinaigrette salad, oven-roasted garlic broccoli, focaccia bread, and tiramisu for dessert. 

To start the meeting, Board President Paul Buchanan led the Invocation and Principal Paula McClendon introduced this month’s pledge leaders, Coldspring Intermediate students Evelyn Sanchez and Peyton Sudderth.

In other business, the board:

•approved the Local Investment Policy and Strategies; and

•approved amendments to the 2022-27 District of Innovation Plan.

The next regular meeting of the COCISD Board of Trustees will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the Jones Educational Complex, 125 FM 1514, in Coldspring.

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More than 400 students from the area participated in a wildlife event on Wednesday. Students learned how to identify wildlife among other things. Courtesy photos

Special to the News-Times

Coldspring-Oakhurst High School students joined more than 400 other students from across the state at Livingston State Park for the Ducks Unlimited Field Day on Wednesday. 

Students from the COHS Wildlife Class and the Coldspring FFA Wildlife Career Development Event Team participated in the event. 

The students engaged in hands-on learning taught by wildlife biologists, Texas game wardens, and Agricultural Science teachers from several schools. 

“Students were involved in multiple activities,” said COHS Agriculture Science Instructor Beldon Rudloff. “They identified native plants that are useful to wildlife and learned how to evaluate habitats for different wildlife based on the food, shelter, and water needs of the animals. They also learned how to identify wildlife species by their tracks, scat, wings, pelts, or skulls, and they aged white-tailed deer based on the growth and wear of the deer’s teeth.”

They watched a demonstration on the training of a Labrador retriever to help retrieve waterfowl while hunting and engaged in a discussion with local game wardens about laws and regulations relating to outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and boating.

Rudloff said that students from the Coldspring FFA Wildlife CDE team will be competing at the District Wildlife Contest using many of the skills that were learned.

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Ribbon cutting for SanJac Promotions by Coldspring Chamber of Commerce. COURTESY PHOTO

It was the 75th year for the SJC Rodeo & Fair. The weather was good, and it looked like everyone enjoyed themselves. 

We have a lot of events coming up starting with Coldspring Garden Club’s fundraiser on Oct. 1 in the Coldspring Community Center. If you are looking to buy home grown plants for the house or garden, do not miss this event. Be early, it starts at 9 a.m.

•SanJac Promotions had a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday Sept. 23. This new member of the Coldspring Chamber has created a delightful reception area in their office, and they show their T-shirt collection outside under a canopy so you can see what you could design for your business or event. They can provide any and all promotional goods, pens, mugs, doozies or signs, just ask and see what is available. 

Located in Suite B at 15160 State Highway 150 West in Coldspring, you can call the owners of this new business, Rachel Erwin and Marsha Strickland, at (936) 653-3200. Go to their website at www.sanjacpromotions.com.

•Coldspring Chamber held its quarterly lunch at COISD High School this week. Chef Joel Casidy and his students from the Culinary Arts program provided a delicious three-course meal and we had Mayor John Benestante give us a talk on his plans for the future of Coldspring. 

He was followed by Sheriff Greg Capers who told us he needs more recruits for the police in our county. If you are interested, call the Sheriff’s Department and ask for more information. 

After the meal, President of the Chamber Barbara Justice talked about the Wolf Creek Car Show on Oct. 15-16. She also mentioned the Christmas event in Coldspring, the theme this year is “A Gingerbread Christmas.” 

Door prizes had been donated by many businesses in town and one in particular from People’s State Bank went to Cindy Chapman of Edward Jones Financial Investments. I wondered if she would get this enormous plant into the car. Camille Landry of Fullscope Pest Control and Kari Duggar, also of Edward Jones, talked about the ‘Rock N Ride’ on Nov. 12.

Kari said this is the 5th Annual ‘Rock N Ride’ and all cyclists are welcome, single, tandem or team. There is a choice of either a 28- or 52-mile route which goes through the Sam Houston National Forest. This is a great tourist draw, bringing many people into our area. 

For more information go to the Cleveland Chamber web page. Edward Jones has a Facebook page or call them at (281) 761-6687.

•Welcome to Jeri Bailey and Darryl Davis and his son to Coldspring Chamber. Jeri Bailey is a well-known realtor but is new in Coldspring. Go to JLArealtylivingston.com or call (281) 659-5492.

Darryl Davis and his son own Darryl Davis & Son Electric LLC are based in Coldspring and you can connect with them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (281) 622-1879. Ribbon cuttings for these new members will be announced soon.

•Trinity River Food Bank is working to meet the needs of the community and need community partners to join them. Wanda Campbell is the local director and she has several ideas for those who want to help in this community drive. You can hold a fundraiser for the Food Bank or donate to it. They really need volunteers so if you want to know more, give Wanda a call at (936) 653-3151.

•Friends of Hopewell located at 166 Perry Dr., Coldspring had their Banquet last week, celebrating their 25th anniversary. Esther Wynn says they will have a Community Fest on Nov. 12, and vendors are welcome to call (832) 401-4350. There will lots to do and a hayride for those who want to enjoy the fun.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber at (936) 628-3890 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184. 

Yvonne Cones is president of the Greater Shepherd Chamber of Commerce, and secretary of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.