BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HIRES NEW JR HIGH PRINCIPAL
Brenham ISD
The Brenham School Board hired a new principal for the Junior High at their meeting Monday night. Jamie Lamar Rochell is coming from Fort Bend ISD, where he has served as associate principal, assistant principal, team lead, teacher, math curriculum specialist and social studies liaison. Brenham Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin thanked the many people who served on the hiring committee saying “We are thrilled to welcome him to Brenham ISD”. Mr. Rochell will begin his duties at the start of the summer recess.
Brenham ISD
The school board also hired an Assistant Superintendent of Administatave Services. Clayton Gillentine will begin his duties at the beginning of summer. Mr. Gillentine has 22 years of experience in the K-12 school system serving in different capacities. He began his career in education as a teacher and principal at Pine Tree ISD. He has served as an assistant principal, principal, director of administrative services, and director of student services.
In other action, the board:
- Performed the annual appraisal of the Superintendent. After the executive session, the board extended Dr. Tylor Chaplin's contract through June 30, 2024.
- Heard four people speak against racism in the district during the audience participation portion of the meeting.
- Heard an update on the district sick leave bank. Retiring teachers and administrators can donate up to 2 days of sick leave to the sick leave bank.
- Approved May 6th at 12:00 noon at the Central Office as the time and location of the canvassing of the May 1st School Board Election.
- Approved the adoption of 2021 Pre-K Curriculum Materials.
Brenham ISD Press Release - Rochell
Tonight, the Brenham ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Jamie Lamar Rochell as the new principal for Brenham Junior High. Mr. Rochell will assume the new leadership role beginning early this summer.
The road to selecting a finalist for the Brenham Junior High principal position has been an extensive process that included gathering input from Brenham Junior High staff and district leadership. Principals play a vital role in laying the foundation for student success and with that in mind, we wanted to ensure Brenham Junior High students and staff had the right leader to help them succeed.
"We are confident Mr. Rochell can help our Brenham Junior High students and staff flourish and make a life-long positive impact in the lives of our students and staff. His actions and leadership skills have demonstrated his commitment to high standards and the success of all students. He has been able to pinpoint challenges, view the data and implement processes for growth. We are thrilled to welcome him to Brenham ISD" said Dr. Tylor Chaplin, Superintendent of Brenham ISD.
Rochell is coming from Fort Bend ISD, where he has served as associate principal, assistant principal, team lead, teacher, math curriculum specialist and social studies liaison. Before that, he led the Westbury Christian School choir department as the director of show and has also worked as a teacher and math specialist in Fresno, TX and teacher in Pasadena ISD.
"I am honored and excited to join the Brenham ISD family and community. I am looking forward to learning and growing with this team!" said Jamie Rochell.
Brenham ISD Press Release - Gillentine
Tonight, the Brenham ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Clayton Gillentine as the new assistant superintendent for administrative services for Brenham ISD. Mr. Gillentine will assume the new leadership role beginning early this summer.
Mr. Gillentine has 22 years of experience in the K-12 school system serving in different capacities. He has a proven ability to create and monitor policies and procedures that promote a safe learning environment; ensure a school culture that encourages continuous improvements for teachers and students. This visionary leader joins us from New Braunfels ISD and has worked at the executive leadership level within the superintendent's cabinet for seven years, working as the designee for all student, parent, and community concerns.
"His proven leadership skills combined with his passion for inspiring and encouraging excellence for ALL makes him the right fit for the assistant superintendent for administrative services position. He is a visionary leader that can lead the team and bring a fresh perspective and approach to the district. We are thrilled to welcome him at Brenham ISD" said Dr. Tylor Chaplin, Superintendent of Brenham ISD.
Gillentine began his career in education as a teacher and principal at Pine Tree ISD. Throughout his educational journey, he has served as an assistant principal, principal, director of administrative services, and director of student services.
"I am honored to have been chosen for this position. I know there are many great things going on in the Brenham ISD, and I am excited to join the team. I will work collaboratively, with an emphasis on teamwork and a “students first” mindset, to continue moving the Brenham ISD in a positive direction." said Clayton Gillentine.
Mr. Gillentine completed his Master's of Education in May of 2004, completed his superintendent certification in May of 2008, and is currently in the process of completing his dissertation Ph.D. in school improvement.
From my experience in BISD, you’re students are not denied testing. Anyone can take the test. Whether you qualify or not, is what determines if you are accepted or not.
My personal congratulations to Mr. Rochell and Mr. Gillentine, I wish them the best in their new roles.
My comments going forward have nothing to do with these two individuals however I would like to know exactly what a Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services does? It seems like our central office staff over the last several years has continue to get larger and more costly while classroom support of teachers and students have not improved at all. These large salaried positions are very expensive to us, the taxpayers and I would like to know what we are getting for our money. Will this position make things more efficient, will it save us money, will something be better managed? Please justify this cost to the taxpayers?
Would like to know this as well….
First of all, I want to say congratulations to Mr. Rochell on his hiring as Junior High Principal. It is my hope that a man of color will be a great inspiration and positive role model for the students at that campus.
With that being said, it all starts at home. It is exhausting to hear about more African American students needing to be included in and qualified for AP and/or GT classes – like it is the school district’s fault this is happening. It all starts at home. Maybe if these children had father figures, or parents in general who cared and worked with them at home, they would be able to succeed and qualify for these classes. The administrators and teachers cannot be at home with these children. They need help from the parents and guardians. Quit blaming the district and shouting out accusations of racism when the responsibility falls on the parents of these kids. It all starts at home. This applies to all races, ethnicities, and all income levels. Be responsible parents and quit blaming others!
Hello, as a former Black Brenham ISD student I can attest to this. You are absolutely right about one point —it starts at home—but it can’t continue without the school doing their part. I was denied testing for the GT program at Krause Elementary when I was in the 1st grade. My 2nd grade year I moved to Alton Elementary. I had to have a principal from another school intercede on my behalf to get me tested. I of course passed and was able to enjoy the GT program and AP classes eventually graduating in the top 5%. From there, I went on to a tier 1 law school. Just think what would have happened if I didn’t have someone advocating for me. I was more than capable of doing the work as I taught myself to read at 3, was reading and doing math at a higher level, and had developed a voracious appetite for learning. I probably would have been ignored and not where I am today.
Reply to Former Black BISD Student:
Well my kid was also denied testing to the GT program her first year she applied for it, and she’s white. And made straight A’s. She eventually got into the program the following year. Not saying you are, but I wish people would stop make everything about race.
Doesn’t matter there is no more GT program starting next year. And yes parents never take responsibility for anything. Teachers are not the legal guardians of ur kids. They are ur responsibility and if u don’t agree with public schools then take them out.
Race, gender and ethnicity is and ALWAYS will be a major factor when it comes to privilege and rights And that is because people are raised to be biased and racist. Part of what is wrong with most adults is the way they were raised. Racism is a two way street and it affects all cultures. We fool ourselves to think we are not biased. Life is not always fair because people are not fair. WIt is not an accident or oversight when you enter a bank or business and only see “white” employees or certain enterprises only have “white” supervisors or managers. This is implicit bias; a planned outcome because the ones responsible in HR are biased or the community is biases. Perhaps we all should reflect on how to change this evil for the better. What we are experiencing across our nation will only get worse and more violent for our children and grandchildren. I promise. Do them a favor and let us try to resolve these conflicts. It starts with listening to each other. That really does “hurt” some people as they think some cultures should shut up and suffer in silence. The problem began with the way they were raised!
Per “It starts at home”, it is almost always the parents that are pushing GT. Its not the school. It is almost always parents that believe in and want the best for their children. Your situation is an exception in that your accomplishment occurred without parents based on your response, it has nothing to do with your skin pigment.
Based on your accomplishments starting at age 3, you are more than a GT mind. You have that and a built in drive at minimum , all naturally it seems.
For most of the rest of us, your level of success is by design.
Nothing is more valuable to a child than the parent, and nothing is more valuable a parent than the child, they are “like arrows” to a bow. This is textbook Christian culture, even Abrahamic in age. Where the disconnect has occurred for many modern family I’m not sure. I do know that in the US black culture seems to want to take an approach that is the opposite of the mainstream, even if it detrimental to itself and the future. In a short study of Ebonics I did once, I learned that rebellion is the source of the dialect. I don’t understand this as the black family was just as strong as any white family up until the Great Society rewarded (intentional or not) the self destruction of the black family. We have hindsight now and nothing has changed.
Our schools were never intended to replace the family and what it does, and never can. Like all things on the left, everyone is required to play pretend for the sake of mass sentiment. The schools are their to teach the reading writing and math and not much more. That’s what the budget is only designed to do and its obviously diluted to near water at this point.
From the story back in December, and the photograph posted on the KWHI story, Bryan Bryant appears to have been a man of color. Was he not willing to do his job, or was he incapable of understanding the needs of the minority students at the school and in the district? If he had been hired to place a “person of color” in that role as campus leader, was that the reason for the hiring, or was it based on his qualifications? Since his disappearance seems to have been something like a small town Jimmy Hoffa drama, maybe we’ll never know.
As to discrepancies that might still exist, those could only be blamed upon administrators; any student who is 60 years old or younger has gone to the same schools, used the same books, had the same teachers, ridden the same buses, played on the same sports teams, and eaten in the same cafeteria as the rest of the students.