[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6076195,"mediaKeyId","2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1","parentId",2972521,"title","Board approves calendar, TEA certification and several personnel and procurement actions","audioSeconds",164,"startMs",3813000,"endMs",3977000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1&start=3813&end=3977","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1/thumbnail_3813000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076195/Texas/Board-approves-calendar-TEA-certification-and-several-personnel-and-procurement-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076195-7da3c3e33c0757bc0b7855bd1a970abf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909180&Signature=FMHF7l-5slHU8wu-hlz9HllRpTPyu6SFkQgHMsy99ejjaV4pvBK2kp0tp7yU0uM-WtPjictHpzdrzvEvlTOHjwMACGJJ0nWzSXVw-s34oMbAoMPEMluTpRc3mcS60ophYP5SsUTC0Z4501NkfSSSfmzF8e8RlnhKhyxzsbLjn2Yap8JAmW7UeV6HRwrKzOWf4YAflDX9SRbSKJkcmAmOKfAcQk43Mj91wLLP1MD9fMWG4Rs1LqFgJTyhnJ~4G7X9dKM8NqCIhEMeg6-LzE~8h5NCe2vwtJbsSR5A4v8UZORKQiM5IkmhEHSzAeDJ8c1BAbaEFt0ynn9CG8lqr-RhBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","La Joya ISD","date","2025-04-12T16:51:30.587Z","article","At the meeting’s action portion, the La Joya ISD board recorded votes on multiple agenda items. The motions and publicly announced outcomes were:

• Emergency responder communications enhancement system (CSP-2025-32): The board voted to rescind a prior action and approve a new award for the emergency responder communications enhancement system (agenda item 11.1). A board member moved to approve item 11.1, it was seconded, and the chair called the vote; the public transcript records \"All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Motion carries.\"

• 2025–26 La Joya ISD school calendar (agenda item 11.2): A motion to approve item 11.2 passed with the vote recorded as \"Aye\" and the chair announcing the motion carries.

• Texas teacher evaluation and support system (T-TESS) certification (agenda item 11.3): The board moved and seconded approval; the vote was recorded as \"Aye\" and the motion carries. The item implements the district certification step related to educator evaluation and the broader Strong Foundations/TEA processes.

• Proposal of nonrenewal of Chapter 21 term contracts (agenda item 11.4): The board moved to propose nonrenewal of Chapter 21 term contracts for certified employees, including administrators at Zapata, Seguin and Garza elementary schools, citing programmatic changes affecting the campuses. The motion authorized the superintendent or designee to provide notices and to retain attorneys to represent the board in any resulting hearings. The board passed the motion (recorded as \"Aye\" and motion carries).

• Findings of fact and adoption of hearing examiner recommendations — Roxanna Pena (agenda item 11.5): After noting a recusal for the item, the board moved to adopt the independent hearing examiner’s findings of fact and conclusions of law in LA Jolla ISD v. Roxanna Pena (TA docket 052‑LHD‑12‑2024) and to terminate the term contract of Roxanna Pena effective immediately. The motion was seconded and recorded as passed with the public announcement \"Aye\" and \"Motion carries.\"

• Findings of fact and adoption of hearing examiner recommendations — Jose Vasquez (agenda item 11.6): The board moved to adopt the independent hearing examiner’s findings and to terminate Jose Vasquez’s term contract effective immediately (TA docket 069‑LHD‑12‑2024). The motion was seconded and recorded as passed with the announcement \"Aye\" and \"Motion carries.\"

• Consent agenda (earlier in the meeting): A motion to approve the consent agenda was moved, seconded and approved with the board announcement \"Aye\" and \"Motion carries.\" The transcript does not list the consent agenda line items in the public excerpt; the board vote was recorded as in favor.

The public transcript logs the motions, seconds and the chair’s verbal tallies (\"Aye\") and statements that motions carried; no roll-call vote counts with member-by-member 'yes'/'no' strings were recorded in the portion of the transcript provided. Where individual board members recused or announced recusals, the transcript records those statements (for example, a recusal was noted before action on item 11.5).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LJISD Board Meeting 4-9-25","oneSentenceSummary","The La Joya ISD board approved the 2025–26 school calendar, certified T‑TESS, approved a procurement award for an emergency responder communications enhancement system, proposed several Chapter 21 nonrenewals, and adopted independent hearing examiner findings that terminated two employees.","taxTitle","LA JOYA ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14173,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076200,"District recommends Texas Bluebonnet K–5 (English and Spanish) and Amplify for middle grades after stakeholder review",656,1598000,2254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1&start=1598&end=2254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1/thumbnail_1598000.jpg","/articles/6076200/Texas/District-recommends-Texas-Bluebonnet-K5-English-and-Spanish-and-Amplify-for-middle-grades-after-stakeholder-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076200-c54de2558cf5d04e7fc2cd99f7686fe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909180&Signature=Uqx50dh7UJqtluP7Wo7mmpAq668b4Vvq7QfRYgrbaNV4J2cJghtmi91SUdboHk4TVEhFhFFK~mz0a1gptgT21hpcJSQk-tBHUlAwls4hCxeINLncnXxLBjHBIfi-n32yciiOHkCWKNpOJMMZi6gwTCeqNMqs4-s1veQTgPedzFpg9KYGLFUGqtSECzV30Dt8ikskdRt8sdc3IOD55V7qX2P4a-zvqZx8deB5R9rGp4nUHYNWmEquBoy~cUksYJUYBXTX8Fv2tZD0XBDkXWoVLGALt-ZmzWCr5O1qhSMAmKhI4GuUvqRhw5iM8ZrhydTyPLq0IPrjZ7YKNWghQWpBRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a formal recommendation for K–8 reading instructional materials after a multi-month review and stakeholder engagement. The recommendation: adopt Texas Bluebonnet Learning (K–5) in English and Spanish and use Texas Amplify for middle school (grades 6–8) while awaiting a Bluebonnet middle-school suite from the state.

Miss Lozano described the selection process: La Joya ISD participated in the Strong Foundations Planning Grant work, formed a literacy framework committee and engaged principals, teachers and parents in material showcases beginning in February. Staff said current elementary materials are not on the state’s approved instructional materials list (the instructional materials review process, IMRP), creating a need to select a state‑vetted curriculum rooted in the science of reading.

Staff presented stakeholder feedback numbers: they reported 100% of campus leadership recommended Bluebonnet for K–5; more than three-quarters of educators preferred Bluebonnet; and parents/community feedback favored Bluebonnet at 89% in the district showcases. Staff also displayed counts of lessons referencing religious texts across grade-level units and explained the family notification and opt‑out process: families will receive advance notice when a unit includes religious text, and a family may submit an opt‑out request; the school will provide alternate instruction so the student does not miss the covered standard.

Miss Lozano clarified curricular details presented earlier in community sessions: kinder shows 107 lessons with 4 lessons referencing religious text; first grade 102 lessons with 1 referencing religious text; third grade 45 lessons with 1 referencing religious text; fourth grade 35 lessons with 1 referencing religious text; fifth grade 41 lessons with 2 referencing religious text. (Staff language for second grade in the presentation was recorded as “a 15 lessons with 3 4 lessons within 3 distinct units”; staff indicated those counts in the slide presentation.)

Staff emphasized that parents and teachers had multiple opportunities to review materials, that Bluebonnet materials are accessible online for families once ordered, and that the formal TEA (TEEX) certification step on the agenda is part of the process required to access Strong Foundations grant funding and to proceed with ordering.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the rationale for Bluebonnet vs. Amplify, the visibility of materials for families, and how opt‑out lessons would be handled; board members who reviewed the materials reported attending showcases and expressed support for the transparency and the opt‑out process. The board was asked later in the agenda to approve the TEEX certification step as part of the adoption process.","La Joya ISD staff recommended adopting Texas Bluebonnet Learning K–5 in English and Spanish for foundational literacy and Texas Amplify for grades 6–8; staff presented stakeholder feedback and explained limited instances of religious texts with an opt‑out process for families.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076205,"La Joya ISD reports early gains in pre-K letter and math assessments; vocabulary growth uneven in pre-K4",524,688000,1212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1&start=688&end=1212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1/thumbnail_688000.jpg","/articles/6076205/Texas/La-Joya-ISD-reports-early-gains-in-pre-K-letter-and-math-assessments-vocabulary-growth-uneven-in-pre-K4","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076205-6b1b7f048c6a3c22f7dffe614439a43d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909180&Signature=cufloID7gAOodzjoekIJngsHRv~-jwhGkyfXHrUJzYTClZ7Rs0pOBXSVttXSkpGj63SpjLCY2S~zOZCGaQz8DJcZkD7Sz40Q2Y1uoEpU5pojfBUYBGeKJ3lY0w9ZxXuJ15zFrcZpXdx11WrtYD~XOSs5pyx61eCupUEas~gHsjz1VmPTX85cZvII~LnLUrcRttDDFNjhs47masu4NXhw8UmNvy0Ns2T6oPwsJ7qdk18vto2l8RKRCGKAW98Nsk885y0Nz4Ql-V3TsfAUG-JG-jp9RN36Fu46azAO~6Zcm-Z1tUZGTTMOvm4sM91ysOcEznoClTv4cYz9pEmaB6~vLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Joya ISD district staff presented an update on pre-K assessment and early learning implementation, reporting progress in early literacy and math measured with the Circle progress monitoring assessment and the district’s Creative Curriculum.

Myra Ramos, who leads early learning, outlined the district’s use of the Circle assessment for pre-K 3 and pre-K 4 students. The district assesses five domains (rapid vocabulary naming, rapid letter naming, early writing, mathematics and social-emotional/health and wellness) three times per year (beginning, middle and end). Teachers use the assessment data to plan small-group instruction, learning centers and other classroom activities tied to the Creative Curriculum.

District presenters reported a roughly 20-point increase from beginning to middle of year on rapid letter naming for some grade cohorts and more than 20 points of growth in math for pre-K3. For rapid vocabulary, staff reported a 16-point growth for pre-K3 (noting that actual percentages remain below proficiency for many students and there is room to grow), while pre-K4 showed less growth in rapid vocabulary compared with pre-K3. Dr. Little and Ms. Ramos explained one likely contributing factor: children in two-way dual-language classrooms spend substantial instructional time in Spanish at this stage and are assessed in both languages; the district said many dual-language students are assessed in both Spanish and English to inform instruction, which can initially depress single-language vocabulary measures but often leads to stronger bilingual growth over time.

The district linked pre-K outcomes to its broader literacy work, saying foundational skills developed in pre-K support later K–2 reading outcomes. Officials said registration and recruitment began April 1 and encouraged families to enroll; they also listed instructional supports including coaching, professional learning, and planned classroom allocations for dual-language and English-only options.

No formal board action was taken on the pre-K update; staff opened the floor to board questions about testing language and comparative results across monolingual and dual-language classrooms.","District staff reported progress from Circle progress monitoring and Creative Curriculum in pre-K, noting large beginning-to-midyear gains in rapid letter naming and math for pre-K3 students, slower vocabulary progress for pre-K4, and that dual‑language students are assessed in both Spanish and English.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076210,"La Joya ISD names new principals for Garza and Seguin ACE campuses",340,77000,417000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1&start=77&end=417","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972521-4111fa0cc500f343c3f20cf9100671f1/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6076210/Texas/La-Joya-ISD-names-new-principals-for-Garza-and-Seguin-ACE-campuses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076210-b7bfbf49878a00d9bee90aafe8db2a24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909180&Signature=X7eatPJ4LvjIVVci18y7a2oNG-mSR9bywLjc6H135jyJKcE---3AiK2jxeGpFE3tLlz7qvPiCeTqaJiGyv9ReBy87yTNNFr~-R2tNqGuX2GobbDKQMHE4u39s-PObmR0MaiJ7CNnQekI-FZzit-i5X2DP8u~D4~vjk4R6J6-j71dYyy0hM-daKV7TlxYUPWK8UwGJcc7DmtOdaH6Z~ZaKXWj44HMhJwOEWflP7G-ki4-V8vtAz4QzAys7Pruj8uFCw~y4ud7K6jOwMDWWUQia1fOAWlKchX7~h6o5n4hyCJDd7xAp6ihUjuhaSp9tWSZbRbQKQTYaRqw2RoJ7fBUBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Joya Independent School District announced two principal appointments for its Accelerated Campus Excellence (ACE) campuses, naming Rosa Gonzalez Vela principal of Evangelina Garza Elementary and Eliamar Lopez principal of Seguin Elementary.

The district introduced the appointments during the superintendent's updates. Dr. Little presented Gonzalez Vela’s biography, saying she has 25 years of service in the district, including teaching and supervisory roles at Escandon Elementary, nine years as principal at Emiliano Zapata Elementary, and two years as principal of Lloyd Fenton Elementary. Gonzalez Vela spoke briefly to the board and community, saying she is honored to lead Evangelina Garza Elementary and looks forward to working with students, families and staff.

Dr. Little then introduced Eliamar Lopez, who was described as having 24 years in public education with experience as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional supervisor, assistant principal and principal. Lopez was noted for contributing to a campus that earned a 2019 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon designation. Lopez addressed the board and community saying she is “thrilled” for the opportunity to lead Seguin Elementary and emphasized student safety and partnership with families and staff.

Superintendent Dr. Sorensen described the selection process as “rigorous,” consisting of three rounds including community interviews, demonstration/performance tasks before an academic and leadership committee, and cabinet interviews. Sorensen highlighted candidates’ personal histories and ties to their communities as important factors in the selections.

The district announced a follow-up parent engagement session for families of Zapata, Garza and Seguin at Juarez Lincoln High School on Tuesday the 15th at 8:30 a.m., where families can meet the new principals and learn more about the ACE campuses’ schedules and programs.

No formal board vote on the individual appointments was recorded in the public transcript; the introductions and district remarks were presented as administrative announcements.","The La Joya ISD board and administration announced Rosa Gonzalez Vela as principal of Evangelina Garza Elementary and Eliamar Lopez as principal of Seguin Elementary; both appointments follow multi-stage interviews and include upcoming parent engagement opportunities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves calendar, TEA certification and several personnel and procurement actions

District recommends Texas Bluebonnet K–5 (English and Spanish) and Amplify for middle grades after stakeholder review

La Joya ISD reports early gains in pre-K letter and math assessments; vocabulary growth uneven in pre-K4

La Joya ISD names new principals for Garza and Seguin ACE campuses