 Honorees included Mary Anastas, Margaret Ballard, Sheri Barber, Lisa Barcak, Selena Ellis, Maribel Griffon, Barsa Harclerode, Lynda Harris, CiCi Newkirk, Mary Perroni and Grace Townsend.
FISD Superintendent Trish Hanks welcomed the honorees, introduced them to those attending the luncheon, and thanked them for their contributions which are legacies for thousands of students.
A style show by Style Junkie was given during the luncheon. Moderator was Style Junkie owner Kim Hamby. Modeling the current summer fashions were Ann Whitaker, Lorna Zeitler, Eileen Mehnert, Donna Oliver, Rebecca Hillenburg, Lynn Hobratschk and Susan Cox.
This is the third year Style Junkie has presented a style show for the Hats luncheon.
The following are biographies of the women honored:
Baseball is currently the hat Mary Anastas is wearing. She has been the Baseball VP of the Friendswood Mustang Booster Club for three years and a fan for as long as her son has played. She has served on the Parent Key Communicator group as well as the Junior High and High School Teacher Appreciation Committee. She has assisted with Bales fundraiser, serving on the committee and the Cline Christmas Bazaar Committee. For eight years, Anastas has been involved in PTOs at Cline, Westwood, Bales, FJH and FHS. Also for 8 years she has been a “folder stuffing mom.” She attended Sam Houston State University and then University of Texas Dental Branch in the Dental Assistant Program in Houston. She and her husband Tedd own a failure analysis laboratory in Clear Lake. She is active at Mary Queen Catholic Church and volunteers at Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen with fellow honoree Sheri Barber. Anastas and her husband have been married 27 years. They have a daughter, Paula (20) and son Alex (18).
Margaret Ballard started her FISD experience as the PTA president in the late 1950s. She held various positions in the PTA until 1965 when she started working in FISD as an elementary secretary for one year, then she went to the junior high and then the high school’s secretary in 1967. She was there through May 1980. In 1993 she returned to FISD and became the Ice Cream Lady at Cline until 2006 when she was 88 years old. Ballard moved to Friendswood in 1953 when son Kent was a year old. She worked at Baker's Grocery Store and then Brown's Pharmacy. Besides all the years in the schools, she also was a Sunday School teacher at the Friends Church for 20 years and worked Vacation Bible School for several years. Ballard has worked concession stands at her children's ball games and provided home baked pies and was involved in Meals on Wheels and the Friendswood Garden Club. She is still involved in the Missionary Women's group at her church. She has made quilts for her 9 grand children and 7 of her 10 great-grand children. She attended numerous ball games for her children and grand children, even college ball games. Ballard is 91 years old and proud of it! Married to Thomas Ballard for 69 years, she has 4 children, has 9 grand children, and 10 great-grand children. All 4 of their children graduated from Friendswood Schools.
Sheri Barber has worn both the hat of a teacher and the hat of a busy volunteer. She has taught second grade, kindergarten and returned as a substitute teacher. Barber was an asset to the FISD Bond Committee when it needed an active volunteer to spread the word. Barber was an active part of the FISD Building the Future Bond Committee. She also served several years on the FHS Athletic Booster Club as Vice President. She was active in the FHS PTO in the membership division and behind the scenes. She was a basket chair for Clinefest and worked with skate night and cafeteria sales at Windsong Intermediate. Barber works with Meals on Wheels as the coordinator at Mary Queen Catholic Church. She has served on the Life Teen Core Team and worked as both historian and president-elect on the Aggie Moms group. She volunteers for Loaves and Fishes and is a CCE teacher at Mary Queen. Barber is also the Family Share chairperson on Mary Queen Women’s Council. Barber and her husband Dennis have celebrated 25 years of marriage and have three children: two Aggies: Jared (23), Class of 2008, and Chad (21), Class of 2006 and Kendall, a sixth grade student at Windsong Intermediate.
Being active in FISD is an understatement for Lisa Barcak. With four sons, she was busy as elementary room mom, Carnival mom, PTO officer and committee chair and parent volunteer. She served on the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Board and credits Westwood Principal Mary Ward for giving her the ability to speak in front of large crowds. It was Ward who asked her to be PTO President, following the successful footsteps of Rhonda Guzzetta. At the secondary level, Barcak was a parent volunteer, PTO chair and officer, Mustang Athletic Booster Club officer and Vice President for Sports Medicine (trainers). She was the decorating committee chair for musicals and Project Prom committee officer. She served as a substitute teacher for three years before becoming the receptionist, yearbook coordinator, and photographer at Westwood and the secretary to FJH principal (and cheerleading sponsor). Lisa won a Making a Difference Award in 2002 and a Golden Horseshoe Award in 2004. While in FISD, she earned a five-year pin. Barcak currently works for Crain Zamora, LLC, a commercial contracting, design and construction management firm. She is the personal/executive assistant to the owner. She is member of Clear Creek Community Church and active in City Official Campaigns and School Board Campaigns. She has served as an Assistant Den Leader for Cub Scouts, a Friendswood Little League Team and Soccer Team Mom and Sunday School teacher. In the American Cancer Society, Lisa has served as volunteer and chair of Bunko for Relay for Life Team. Barcak and her husband have four sons and one daughter-in-law. Eric (28) is married, lives in Ft. Worth and is in his third year of medical school. Evan (25) is an EMT/Paramedic for Windsor EMS in Webster. Elliot (24) is Vice President of Belboards, a web marketing and advertising firm in Belton and Temple. Ethan (22) is president of Barcak Productions and Production Coordinator at Video Perspective in Friendswood.
Selena Ellis served as a PTO member and on various committees through the years at: Cline, Westwood, Bales, FJH and FHS. She was a member of the Superintendent’s Key Communicators and continues to serve as an FISD Education Foundation Board Member. There she serves on multiple committees including Gents and Gems, Go Vegas, Rising Star Teacher Luncheon, Teacher of the Year, True Blue Gala and other special events. She served as a co-chair with CiCi Newkirk on this year’s True Blue Evening, the Education Foundation’s annual fundraiser/ gala/distinguished alumni recognition. On the Friendswood Mustang Booster Club, Ellis has served as the Second Vice President for 3 years. Ellis was instrumental as a member of the Schoolhouse Bond Steering Committee. Ellis graduated in 1983 from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. While at the university, she was in Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She was employed by Arthur Andersen & Co. – Oil & Gas Division, then Intercon Gas, Inc. as Manager of Natural Gas Transportation & Exchange. She has volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House in Houston, is a member of Baylor University Women’s Association, and Houston Bay Area Alumnae – Kappa Kappa Gamma. She has taught Sunday School for 15 years at First Baptist Church Pearland, and served as Vacation Bible School Teacher. She is a current member of First Baptist Friendswood. Ellis has been married for 25 years to childhood friend and high school sweetheart Randy. The two have three children: Erin (19) University of Notre Dame, Matt (18) and Shannon (14).
Maribel Griffon has worn both the teacher’s hat as well as the outstanding parent volunteer hat. She taught 16 years in grades nine through twelve. She taught five years in Alief ISD and 11 in FISD teaching regular, low level and Gifted and Talented (GT) English classes. She has lately been a TAKS tutor and is proud of the fact that all seniors with whom she has worked have passed the test. She has worked with AP testing for several years as well as served as a substitute teacher. PTO work has been done by Maribel for 11 years and at each campus. She has been room mom, project and fundraiser mom, head of Bales Nutcracker Market and member of the Mustang Booster Club. Griffon is a charter member of Mu Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a Women’s Honorary Education Sorority. She has served as charter president for two terms. She volunteers at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church where she has served on Vestery for three years, Altar Guild member and server for many years, acolyte master for two years and on various committees and projects throughout the years. She is a Sports Team mom for soccer, baseball and basketball. Griffon is married to FHS Principal Mark Griffon and the two have two sons, Jackson (16) and Lane (14).
In 2007 Barsa Harclerode was a member of the FISD Facilities Advisory Committee and then worked to help pass the District's largest bond election ever. She was one of a group that started ClineFest at Cline in 2002 and served as its treasurer for two years, co-chair in 2004 and advisor in 2005. Prior to that, she was treasurer for the Westwood/Cline Carnival in 1999, 2000 and 2001. And for the past 13 years, she have been a Class Room Mom, Class Room helper, and member of Cline, Windsong, FJH and FHS PTO. This year, she served on the Academic Banquet Committee and for the past two years has served as one of the swim booster parents for FMBC. Harclerode has a BBA in Actuarial Science from The University of Texas and worked in employee benefits consulting and investor relations for 10 years. She currently owns a software development . She is and has been the guardian and trustee for her grandparents for the past 5 years. She recently joined Hope Lutheran Church and prior to that was a member of Faith Lutheran Church for 42 years, where she served in various capacities on the church council, mother's day out board of directors, assisted with church financials, and served as confirmation and high school youth leaders. She also served as treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 445 for 3 years. Harclerode is married for 25 years to her husband, Marty, who works for BP. She has three children: Bryan, a 2008 graduate of FHS, is currently a McDermott Scholar at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), where he is studying computer science and software engineering. McKenna, will be a Senior at FHS and is a State Champion in swimming and an accomplished artist. Katherine, will be a 7th grader at FJH and keeps her mom busy with all her extra curricular activities.
Lynda Harris was an exemplary member of the School Bond Election Committee and worked on the School Board Campaign committee. She has worked on a variety of fundraisers at Friendswood High School and earlier served as a weekly library volunteer at the High School library. Harris has worked as an executive secretary and office manager in energy and public utility industries. She has served as Patient Services and Education chairman in the Alamo Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. She worked in the City of Friendswood City Secretary’s office. Community Appearance Board is one of several City of Friendswood Volunteer committees on which Harris has served. She has worked with Planning and Zoning, Charter Review, and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Harris is a member of Friendswood Church of Christ and currently serves as adult education committee chair, member of the women’s ministry steering committee, volunteer with visitation and nursing home ministries, and member of the finance committee. Harris and her husband Gary have been married 52 years. Gary retired from Valero Energy Corporation after 30 years of service in 1996. Their daughter, Sally Harris Branson, and husband, Jon, reside in Friendswood and their children, Harris, Mary Lisbeth and Driskill, all FISD graduates. Harris, 25, has an Edward Jones Investment office in Friendswood. Mary Lisbeth, 23, is a senior geology major at the University of Wyoming. Driskill, 17, is Stephen F. Austin University bound this fall. Their son, Gary Graham Harris. is retired from a career in gas marketing and he and his wife Gretchen live in Hunt, Texas in the hill country. Gary's eldest child, Joseph Graham Harris, who would have been 22 on May 26, was killed in Afghanistan May 3, 2007 while proudly serving in the U.S. Army. His daughter, Amy, 20, is a sophomore at the UH, and his step-daughter, Kelsey, 19, is a junior at SFAU.
CiCi Newkirk and her husband chose Friendswood as a perfect home to raise children. Not only did FISD get four great students, they also got a mom who has been a great volunteer! She has served on the Cline, Westwood, Bales and Friendswood Junior High PTOs. Newkirk has served as a director on the FISD Education Foundation for three years and last year was a co-chair for their True Blue gala. She also assisted Nona Landers with the FISD Rising Star New Employee Luncheon for two years. After moving from Cline to Westwood, Newkirk joined Janet Wegner to bring back Breakfast with Santa Program at Westwood. Newkirk has already begun working as co-chair with Leslie Dibello on this year’s Education Foundation gala, Love Ya Blue. After getting her degree from University of Texas in Austin, Newkirk continued her education at the Neuhaus Education Center where she was trained to teach children with dyslexia to read. She worked in this endeavor at a private school in Galveston. She and a peer started their own practice until her “baby boom.” She and her husband Kevin have four children ranging from 6 to 18. They celebrated two graduations this year, an FHS graduation and a kindergarten graduation. Her eldest daughter Madison will be attending college in Charleston, South Carolina.
Mary Perroni was involved in PTO at Cline, Westwood, Bales, FJH, and FHS beginning in 1987- 2000. She helped organize the Book Sale at Cline and was a party room mother beginning 1985 until she figured out Carnival room mother didn’t have to come up with games and decorations! She then became Carnival room mother for several years. Perroni was a member of the Planning Committee for Bales and was on the Naming Committee for that school. She helped with Project Prom and was in charge of games from 1996-1998. She prepared bylaws for the first PTOs at Bales, Jr. High and Friendswood High School in the mid 90s. She served as softball rep to FHS Athletic Booster Club 1995-97, was a committee chair for Athletic banquet and maintained computerized records of membership. Perroni remembers fondly many sporting events throughout the years, swimming, soccer, basketball, softball, baseball. She was a cheering parent when FHS Girls Volleyball won the State Championship in 1994. Perroni began working at Friendswood Public Library part-time in 1985 when her youngest child was 18 months old. She always says that she has been so lucky to have the best of both worlds: to continue with her career while still having all the joys of motherhood and volunteerism. She was responsible for implementing the library’s first automated system in April 1990. For years she cataloged every book or other item that went into the library collection. In June 1995 she became the full-time Library Director. Under her direction, the library has expanded its hours and programming, started a monthly book club and restarted the Friends of the Library group. Library circulation has increased 55%. Offering Internet access to the public in 1998 has increased usage by 70% since 2001. Perroni has also been active in the Texas Library Association on both a State and regional level holding several positions and serving on numerous committees. Most recently she was elected as Chair of the Public Library Division of the State Association. Her husband, Joe, works as a software engineer for an oil and gas company in Houston. They moved to Friendswood in 1985 and have 3 children: Chrissy is married, has a master’s degree from Yale and is a math teacher at Kinkaid High School in Houston. Danielle (Dani) is married and lives in Bellaire with children Colin, 3, and Sullivan who is 8 mos old. Paul is 25 and graduated from UT in 2007. He stayed in Austin and now works for Apple.
Grace Townsend was a familiar face at Cline for many years when she worked as a library aide with Carolyn Knight. Yet, science is her career choice. With BS and Masters degrees in Chemistry and Physics, she felt a need to help at Cline and put other jobs on the back burner. In FISD, she also served on the Facilities Committee working in preparation for a bond. She served on the Principal Selection Committee for Bales, the FHS Band Board, the FHS Choir Board, and helped run the concessions at the FHS musicals. She served as a chaperone for many FHS events and was an FISD Science Fair judge. If it involved her daughters, she was there. Currently, Townsend is on the faculty at Texas A&M University at Galveston where she teaches and serves on various committees. She has also be an adjunct professor at University of Houston Clear Lake, a chemist for the EPA, and a chemist at University of Texas Medical School in Houston. She also served as a Galveston County Science Fair judge and the event coordinator for the Regional Science Olympiad. Townsend and her husband have three daughters: Sarah and her husband Richard and new baby; Mary Beth and her husband Russell Hillenburg; and Emily who is a 2009 FHS graduate. |
