November 1997

Greeting to our Grads!

I thought our last school year was exciting--it really was--but the '97-'98 year has begun with a BANG! It began in August when the new buildings were dedicated. Some of you were there when the men unveiled the VIRGINIA ALLRED STACEY JR.-SR.-HIGH SCHOOL sign. It was a very exciting event.

Most of us moved into our new rooms in August, and by now we nave all relocated in our new facilities. If you have not been by, we invite you to visit. We have a new look'. You will be impressed by the size of the science labs, the home economics if suite," and my room. We have a lovely new library, our own cafeteria--with separate lunch periods for junior high and high school--a drama room with a stage, a band hall with practice rooms, a counselor's suite, and a "commons" area for picnic tables and goody machines. You get the idea. We have purchased trophy cases (yes!) that will someday hold those trophies and plaques yet to be refurbished. There's been so much to do. The track field is almost finished, all portables are gone, and very small bodies inhabit all corners of the 1200 building! Yes, it is very different; however, we are still there doing what we love to do--working with young people.

We have added a second computer lab so that Mr. DeGeus and Mr. madden each have one. My room will be transformed into a computer lab in the near future, now that I am situated permanently. We added a new math teacher and English teacher and a couple of aides to our staff. Mrs. Rue is the counselor, and Stephen Spoor took her place in Special Ed. Mrs. Zook is the counselor's secretary, and Mrs. Southwell is in the front office. Ms. Ryan is now Mrs. Spielman as of the end of May.

You may remember that the address changed last year. Please notice that now the telephone is new. Every teacher has his/her, own phone and phone number of the classroom; yet, we can all be reached by calling the main office.

I hope you'll have begun to think about Homecoming '98. The student council is hard at work these days preparing for the big event. Details are as follows:

Basketball games
Friday night, January 23, 1998
5:00 boys junior varsity
6:30 girls' varsity
8:00 boys' varsity
Opponent: Sabinal

Dance - Saturday, January 24, 1998
Lackland Officers Club (it's new, too!)
8 p.m. to midnight
Photographer available

We all hope that you are as proud of Stacey High School as we are. Yes, some of our seniors are having a tough time with the name change. Their rings say one thing (their choice), and their graduation announcements are about to say another. However, after you read the enclosed article from THE ADVOCATE (the Texas State Teachers Association newsletter), you will understand why our faculty, many students, and most exes wholeheartedly support this dedication and new name.

Come visit and see the school. You will be proud to be associated with it--just as we are! It will always be YOUR school and OUR school, no matter what kind of face lift it receives. The Lackland I.S.D. served you well and continues to work toward excellence for its students.

Cordially yours,

Mrs. Cynthia Lyon
Senior Co-sponsor

Enclosure

TEACHERS HELP
DESIGN NEW
VIRGINIA STACEY
SCHOOL

Imagine the superintendent insisting that the architects for your new school meet with each individual teacher on his or her classroom needs prior to starting work.

Those TSTA members who know Virginia Stacey, former state president of TSTA and longtime political activist, won’t find it hard to believe when they hear she’s the superintendent in question.

The former science teacher is widely recognized as the reason the new school exists. "Those of us who have been teaching at Lackland for a substantial number of years realize that this school would not have been possible if it were not for the love, dedication, determination, political knowledge , and tenacity of one particular person, Virginia Allred Stacey," the faculty and staff wrote in a November 1995 letter to the school board, asking that the school, located on the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, be named in her honor. The board concurred.

What would move an entire faculty to ask that their school be named in the superintendent’s honor? Retired Major General Billy McCoy, who was base commander at the time Stacey began her crusade, provided part of the answer.

"Anybody who walks into your office when you're the commander of the base and doesn't knock, you know she means business," McCoy said at the August 8 dedication ceremony for Virginia Allred Stacey Junior/Senior High School, which drew a standing-room-only crowd of military, education, and community leaders from throughout Texas. "We're going to build a school," he remembers her telling him.

"She has the tenacity of a bulldog," McCoy said. "There was no way this was not going to happen. She is a friend and the best superintendent I've ever worked with and for."

Stacey spent weekdays in school and weekends in Washington, pushing for funding, At the opening ceremony, she explained why it was so important to her.. "Military children need special care," she said. 'They are moved around from post to post. I want us to have fun learning."

When funding was approved and it was time to build the school, Stacey made sure every teacher had input..

"She pulled each of the teachers in with the architects sitting there and we gave them our wish list: how we wanted our room designed, the features we wanted in it. The architects incorporated what we said into their plans," faculty member Carol Frawley said.

"Each teacher had a dream to he able to teach the way they want to teach," she said. 'We are seeing the realization of all of our dreams. I don't know of another place on earth where the teachers have had that opportunity. My chemistry lab is to die for."

Stacey was state TSTA president in 1978 but her influence in the organization was strong for decades, primarily in the area of political action and legislative affairs. The daughter of former Texas Governor James Allred, Stacey has always been outspoken in her beliefs and may be remembered as the small woman with the strong voice who stood before many conventions and other gatherings to ask for TSTA Political Action Committee contributions.

Never one to rest on her laurels, Stacey is already looking for money for an addition to the gymnasium, a track that could be used by the school and community, and an auditorium.