Goose Creek CISD proudly welcomes Victoria Allen back to the district as the new principal of Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School.

A heart-led educator with over two decades of experience under her belt, she is eager to return to the district where she began her career. The first four years of her educational career were spent as a first grade teacher at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School. An avid learner, she has taught all core subjects throughout the first to fourth grade curriculum, including Gifted and Talented, bilingual, and project-based learning at an International Baccalaureate campus. She also has vast experience educating students in varied socio-economic settings. She left the classroom and began her administrative career as part of a successful turn-around administration in Brazosport ISD, where she served as a middle school assistant principal for six years. She most recently served as a campus principal in Angleton ISD.

She is a Louisiana transplant from a small town called Eunice where her family still resides. She has been in Texas for over 30 years, but it’s not uncommon to hear a little Creole twang when she gets excited! When not working, her eight-year old daughter, Kennedy Grace, keeps her on her toes. They enjoy exploring their creative sides together through painting and drawing as well as watching movies and belting out the latest tunes during their daily car rides. Victoria describes Kennedy as, “The literal example of God's grace in her life.”

Victoria Allen is a graduate of the University of Houston Clear Lake, where she majored in Early Childhood Education (EC-4) . She later earned her Master of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University, before securing her mid-management certificate for principalship.

“As I begin this new exciting journey as principal of Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary, I’m looking forward to building relationships with faculty, staff and the community as we develop scholars. Planting seeds, uncovering talents and refining passions is a teacher's specialty. Educators are honored with the awesome task of engaging a spark of infinite potential within each child. Our goal is to prepare children to be good citizens, critical thinkers, and leaders that reverberate generational impact for years to come.”

Photo by Carrie Pryor-Newman

“I Love U Guys” Foundation John-Michael Keyes, presents to audience during the first day of reunification training.

GCCISD employees prepare for the second day of the reunification training.

Attendees participated in a reunification exercise at Stallworth Stadium during the second day of the training.

GCCISD and HCDE Hosted Standard Reunification Method - Reunification Exercise (SRM-REx)

By: Kristyn Hunt Cathey, GCCISD Director of Communications

Nearly every day, organizations worldwide experience some kind of incident requiring evacuation from their facilities. When these events occur at a school, staff must ensure efficient and accurate parent/guardian reunification with their students.

The Standard Reunification Method (SRM) provides schools with proven methods to conduct a successful reunification. In order to help schools plan and practice, The "I Love U Guys" Foundation has developed the Standard Reunification Method - Reunification Exercise (SRM-REx).

The Harris County Department of Education partnered with Goose Creek CISD to host the two-day training, held June 6-7th. Dr. Anthony Price, GCCISD Chief Operations Officer and Robert Marquez, Director of Safe and Secure Schools, took lead roles during the training.

Over 100 guests from districts within regions four and five as well as local law enforcement who have a role in reunification, ensuring a common understanding of the process, establishing the use of common language, and strengthening the relationships with our community partners, attended the event. The process included focused classroom training, tabletop exercises, and functional demonstrations and exercises to prepare attendees to conduct an actual reunification of students with their parents or guardians.

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation was started in 2006 by Ellen and John-Michael Keyes following a school shooting that took the life of their daughter, Emily. On that day, Emily sent two text messages... One to her mother, Ellen, "I love u guys. K" and to her father, John-Michael, "I love you guys." Today, the Foundation is led and supported by survivors, family members, first responders and community members with a vested interest in safety, preparedness and reunification in schools.

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s programs for crisis response, the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and post-crisis reunification, the Standard Reunification Method (SRM) are used in more than 30,000 schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations and communities around the world. They are created through the research-based best practices of school administrators, psychologists, public space safety experts, families, and first responders.

Davis Smith, Chief of Police for GCCISD, attended the two-day event and walked away with a wealth of knowledge. “This is information that we all need to know,” he said. “It’s not just for law enforcement. As district leaders, we have to be as prepared as possible and this training has provided us with those tools.”

Goose Creek CISD is looking for auxiliary staff to join our giant team. Join us on June 28th, 2022 from 9 am to noon at the Ross S. Sterling HS cafeteria (300 West Baker Rd, Baytown, TX 77521).

Job opportunities include:

• Transportation
• Food Service
• Grounds
• Custodial
• Maintenance
• Manual Trades

If you have questions, please contact our HR Department at hr@gccisd.net.

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SJE principal and staff, GCCISD Superintendent, Board members and former students and employees of the campus gather together to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new San Jacinto Elementary School.

JLP principal and staff, GCCISD Superintendent, Board members, Pumphrey family members and former students and employees of the campus gather together to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Jessie Lee Pumphrey Elementary School.

District Celebrates Opening of Two Newest Facilities with Ribbon Cuttings

By: Kristyn Hunt Cathey

Goose Creek CISD is on the fast track to growth. With 30 campuses and counting, the district is looking forward to servicing the needs of its 24,000 students for many years to come.

The district celebrated the ribbon cuttings of their two newest elementary campuses, Jessie Lee Pumphrey and San Jacinto Elementary Schools, on May 25th. Former and current student and staff members, members of the community, GCCISD Board members, Baytown City Council members, and district representatives were eager to tour the new facilities, including the Early Learning Academy wings.

The campuses have been staples in the Goose Creek community for many years. Pumphrey, which opened in June 1970, was the first campus named after a local individual. Ms. Pumphrey was the district’s first woman principal who began her career at De Zavala Elementary in 1928. The campus was closed on March 30, 2009. Members of the Baytown community spoke in favor of naming Elementary School #17 after Pumphrey, and May 17, 2021, the Board unanimously approved that decision. The campus is located in the middle of the newly-developed Ashbel Cove community. “I am so thankful that the Superintendent and Board saw fit to allow me to lead this campus,” Renee Meyer, Principal of Pumphrey, said. “Ms. Pumphrey’s legacy will live on in the students the campus will educate for years to come.”

San Jacinto Elementary School was built in 1930. The school was destroyed by fire in December of 1979 and rebuilt in 1982. Principal Luis Munoz was overwhelmed with emotion. “I am so grateful that I am able to lead the school where I once walked the halls as a student,” he said. “So many of us share the same sentiment and I know this campus will be a beacon of light for many years to come.”

Members of the Goose Creek Masonic Lodge #1192 performed dedication ceremonies for each campus and provided them with cornerstones that will be prominently fixed on the facility’s exterior.

San Jacinto and Pumphrey Elementary Schools will officially open their doors to students for the 2022-2023 school year.

Photos by Carrie Pryor-Newman