Dear Hart Families,
It was great to see so many families checking out books yesterday. You still have plenty of time to log those reading minutes! The library will be open one last time before school starts on August 7 from 1:00-3:00.
I am happy to announce that Hart is fully staffed and ready for the new school year. I am excited to introduce the following new teammates! Please help me welcome:
Josue Romero - Assistant Principal
I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Josue Romero to Hart as our new Assistant Principal! He was born and raised in California, but has lived in Texas most of his life. He attended the University of North Dallas and received his Master's in Educational Administration from the University of Texas in Arlington. This is his 11th
year in education, spending 7 years as an elementary teacher in Dallas ISD and Richardson ISD, and the past 4 years as an assistant principal in Richardson ISD. Josue is engaged to Madison and getting married in October. He has two dogs, and enjoys cooking and teaching dance. We are looking forward to the experience and leadership Mr. Romero brings to Hart Elementary!
Brooke Grall - Music Specialist
Brooke Grall is the new Music Specialist at Hart! Most recently, she served in Lovejoy as the Fifth Grade General Music Specialist and Sixth Grade Choir Director at Sloan Creek. She comes to us with a variety of teaching experience with her background primarily in elementary music and choral education. In addition to working with our PreK - 4th grade students at Hart, she will also co-direct the Lovejoy Children's Choir. Mrs. Grall lives in Lucas with her husband Jay and children Zoe and Lincoln. She loves teaching music and we are excited she is joining the Hart team!
Courtney Anderson - 1st Grade Teacher
We are excited Mrs. Courtney Anderson is joining the
Hart
family and the first grade team! Courtney
graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Elementary Education. While this will be her first year at
Hart
, she has been teaching 12 years with
ten of those
years teaching first graders. She spent the last 7 years in Frisco. Courtney and her family moved to Lovejoy last year. Her son, Dane will be a 4th grader at Hart, and her daughters Cooper and Darby will be in 6th and 7th grade at SCIS and WSMS. Mrs. Anderson brings a wealth of experience and we are blessed she chose Hart Elementary as her new home!
Stephanie Cunningham - 1st Grade Teacher
We are excited to welcome Stephanie Cunningham home to Lovejoy ISD. She is a Lovejoy graduate and graduated from Harding University in Arkansas. This might be her first year teaching, but to hear her references speak about her, she is anything but a first a year teacher. She has already met with her first grade team and is excited to start her education career in the very district that provided her amazing opportunities. With graduating from Lovejoy High School and her sister and mom working in Lovejoy ISD, there is no one that knows this district and it's high expectations for students and teachers better than Miss. Cunningham!
Makenzi Grant - 2nd Grade Teacher
Makenzi Grant is a familiar face at Hart Elementary. During
the 2017-2018 school year she completed her student teaching with Mrs. Morris in 1st grade and Mrs. Goff in 3rd grade. She was so amazing, we hired her during 2nd semester of that year to long term sub. During this past school year, while working on achieving her Teaching Certificate, she worked as a Paraprofessional in the SPED department at LoveJoy Elementary.
Miss. Grant graduated from Texas A&M Commerce - College of Education - with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree. She is a proud mother of a beautiful little girl, Kinzlee, who will be in 2nd grade at Hart next year. We always knew that Miss. Grant belonged at Hart and we are thrilled we had the opportunity to steal her to teach 2nd grade!
Brittney Crews - 3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Brittney Crews is another familiar face. She completed her student teaching at Hart last year working in Mrs. Gill's 2nd grade classroom and Mrs. Smith's 4th grade classroom. She lives in Plano with her husband, Eric, and her step-son, Elijah. Mrs. Crews graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2019. Her family loves all things sports, and they love to be outside as much as possible. She grew up in a small town with a strong community, which is why she chose Lovejoy ISD for her student teaching and why we are thrilled to have her start her teaching career in 3rd grade at Hart.
Ellen Gintautas - Special Education Teacher
Mrs. Ellen Gintautas, better known as Mrs. G, joins the special education team at Hart. She grew up outside of Minneapolis, MN and loves going back to visit with family and friends. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa to attend college and graduated from Drake University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Early Childhood Special Education and Reading. She previously taught Kindergarten in Chicago. Mrs. G just got married this summer to her husband, Arnas who she met in college. They have a French Bulldog named Duke who has more energy than a room full of Kindergarteners! She also loves baking - yum!
Andrew Blom - Physical Education Teacher
Mr. Andrew Blom joins Mr. Hill and the Hart team to teach PE and is starting his 5th year of teaching and coaching in Lovejoy ISD. After graduating from Sam Houston State University, Andrew left Houston to begin a new journey, heading to the Dallas area to begin his teaching career. Along with teaching PE, Mr. Blom also coaches Football, Basketball, and Soccer at WSMS. His
goal for PE is to create a fun, safe, learning environment that allows students to enjoy participating in physical activity while at the same time, understanding the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle!
Regan Aguirre - School Marshal/Officer
Mr. Regan Aguirre worked at Lovejoy HS last year and is moving to Hart as our new Marshal/Officer. He is from
Silver City, NM and has lived in the great state of Texas since November of 2017. He is blessed to be married to his beautiful wife Faythe of 11 years and they have four beautiful children. His oldest Daisha is 22, his daughter Keira is 12, his daughter Isis is 7, and his son Iden is 5. His two youngest will attend Lovejoy Elementary this school year. He has served in Law Enforcement for 12 years and became a DARE Instructor in 2015.
Mr. Aguirre is
excited to further his Lovejoy journey here at Hart Elementary. He is committed to the safety and security of the staff,
students, and community at Hart and Lovejoy ISD
Hart Instructional Teams for the 2019-2020 school year:
Kindergarten
Brittany Bright
Brittany Buaas
Marie Cloud
Ashleigh Papania
1st Grade
Courtney Anderson
Cindy Balmer
Stephanie Cunningham
Sarah Moody
2nd Grade
Caitlin Gill
Makenzi Grant
Jessica Laurence
Catherine Philley
Muryum Saleem
3rd Grade
Brittney Crews
Melanie DeBord
Tori Dodd
Hilary Morris
Amy Scott
4th Grade
Molly Baker - ELAR & SS
Erin Goff - Math
Nicole Mills - Math
Amy Smith - ELAR & SS
Lauren Hayes - Science
Specials
Sharon Courtenay - Art
Brooke Grall - Music
Andrew Blom - PE
Eric Hill - PE
Special Education and Student Supports
Alice Hanks - Special Education Teacher
Ellen Gintautas - Special Education Teacher
Terri Cunningham - Special Education Aide
Yasmine Topchik - Dyslexia Teacher
Jessica Ackerman - Reading Interventionist
Eva Pearl - Speech
Gifted and Talented
Kandice Ramos - ELAR & SS
Danielle Nelson - Math
Office Team
Josue Romero - Assistant Principal
Suzanne Hart - Librarian
Chelsea Scoville - Counselor
Jeanette Mervicker - Administrative Assistant
Heather Bouska - Receptionist
Alis Brantl - PIEMS/Attendance Secretary
Allison Wright - Nurse
Regan Aguirre - Marshal/Officer
Michele Fox - Library Tech Aide
Hart is gearing up to have our best year yet! I can't wait to welcome all staff to Learning @ Lovejoy on July 24, and I definitely can't wait for the classrooms and halls to be filled with our amazing students. Don't worry, there is still plenty of summer left, and I hope you are enjoying it to the fullest. I am back at school, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or needs.
With a Full HeART,
