Cates, Sanford among Tiger leaders moving on
employees that will be honored on Thursday, June 24, as they
leave the district. (Photo by John Krueger)
In a bittersweet ceremony next Thursday, June 24, the Tiger Family is invited to join us at the TISD Cafeteria for a 2 p.m. ceremony to celebrate the service and excellence of the contributions of four departing employees.
Refreshments will be available and all stakeholders in the Maroon Army are invited to attend. We are sad to see these superstars depart, but we know they are each taking opportunities to further themselves because of their successes here at TISD.
Credited with one of the most remarkable rises to prominence in any endeavor in Tenaha ISD history, Rhonda Cates leaves the Roarin’ Band from Tigerland for Class 3A Gladewater.
Taking over a virtually defunct program in 2005, Cates immediately turned the fortunes of the Tiger Band around. In her five years of service to the district, Cates qualified the Tiger Band twice at the State Marching Contest (including a 4th place finish in 2009) and recorded three Sweepstakes Bands in the last 4 years.
Without question, Cates’ work has made the Tenaha band one of the most powerful in the state in any classification. Her legacy is firmly planted in the Tiger Program and her impact on so many students is not to be forgotten.
Also, an unsung hero in the Roarin’ Band from Tigerland’s rise to state-wide prominence, assistant Eric Sanford, is getting the opportunity to take over his own program as the Head Band Director at Cushing ISD. In his 3 years at TISD, Sanford has been an integral force in helping Tenaha become the power it is as well as help create the Tiger Jazz Band.
Another honorees next week, Tom Jones a long time staple and cornerstone of the TISD rise to “Recognized Status”. Jones is retiring as TISD’s Assistant Superintendent, and will retire as one of the most respected and loyal employees to Tenaha Schools in its history.
Jones began his service to TISD as the Agriculture instructor, and has been the stabilizing force in enduring the highs and lows of TISD’s rise to state-wide prominence. As his career at TISD developed, Jones served as High School Principal and District-wide Principal. His leadership paved the way for TISD to recover from academic low achievement to the current “Recognized” status that we now enjoy.
Mr. Jones, departs for the green pastures of retirement, he leaves having served the last two years as our Assistant Superintendent who was instrumental in helping oversee the construction project that has resulted in the finest small school facility in Texas.
Another loyal and accomplished member of the TISD team, Dana Evans (TISD’s Director of Special Services) has been lured away by Shelby County rival, Timpson ISD.
Evans came to Tenaha in 2000, and during her ten years of service to our district, she has been instrumental in ensuring that all of Tenaha’s students with special needs receive services. Evans’ greatest quality is her professional approach to compliance with state law and mandates for instruction in the areas of special services, which is an invaluable and precious commodity to any district.
While she is not moving far away, we wish her continued success in her service to Timpson ISD.
TISD is sad to see all of these employees go, but wishes each of them well as they pursue future endeavors. We welcome all in the Tiger Nation to join us at the Farewell reception next week and look forward to the next chapter for TISD.