Jackie Blagg has been with Klein ISD as a secondary math teacher since 1990. She taught at Klein Forest High School for 14 years and transferred to Alternative Classes commencing the 2004-2005 school year. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, has taught for 28 years, loves to travel and knit. She is active in the Klein community.

Of his military service, James Blankenship says, “I was in the best branch, The US Navy, from 81-84 on USS Constellation and USS Ranger aircraft carriers.” He adds, “Even though Marines are one up on the army and air force since they are part of the Navy, Sailors and Marines generally have a mutual condescension for each other. Haze Gray and Underway!” – Now, how’s that for Navy pride!

Deborah Cathey received a bachelor of science in professional writing (with a minor in English) from the University of Houston. She has been employed as a professional writer for Compaq and American Express in the past. Her desire to work with children drew her to Alternative Classes where she served as a special education teacher assistant with co-teach responsibilities from January 1999 through May 2006. Mrs. Cathey is currently enrolled in the Region IV Teacher Certification Program, seeking certification in special education, generalist, and English. She has a motto: "Respect yourself, your teacher, and your fellow students."

Greetings and welcome to Mr. Crooks' ELA class at the Annex! I strive weekly to engage the students' minds in the vast world of literature. I also strive to nurture an affectionate appreciation for the art of writing and incorporate grammar. On entering my classroom, there is more to view than students working from textbooks. Students also work in groups cooperatively to reach a common goal. Sometimes, students can "surf" the world wide web to extend their research about a particular topic. Students can also be observed creating projects to learn in a more interesting way. Learning presents endless possibilities. That is what I attempt to teach to students.

Steven Combs has this to say about his military service:

I graduated from high school in 1970 and went on to complete a year of college. The war in Vietnam was de-escalating, but the draft board was still calling young men to active duty. I remember that my draft number was 13, and I had no intention in this world or any other to receive a draft notice, like so many of my friends did.

So I enlisted in the Air Force and went on to become a "fire-fighter." My duty assignments took me to many places, though I had already seen much of the known world since my father spent 30 years in the military himself.

The early part of my four-year enlistment was spent stateside in (SAC) Strategic Air Command. My job was to keep the aircraft, mostly B-52's, KC-135's, and a blend of command T-39's, safe from the threat of fire. A year after we began bombing North Vietnam, and unofficially crossing the border into Laos and Cambodia, our aircraft was sent TDY (temporary duty) to a lovely little Island called Guam. It’s an island out in the Pacific, east of the Philippines, but close enough to fly daily missions.

My six-month stay was over and I was excited about spending the last year of my enlistment at a remote post in southwestern Alaska - a place not easy found on any map - called King Salmon. I was transferred to TAC (Tactical Air Command), and assigned to protect F-4's - part of the early warning system in the artic region to stay off Russian MIG's. These aircraft don't require long runways, so military installations that supported these aircraft could be constructed on just about any location, and there were many in Alaska at the time. I enjoyed the fishing and hunting trips during my stay, and was sad to leave the only place that really gave me pleasure – after all, I spent the first four years of my early "twenties" in the service of my country during a time of confusion and chaos in the 1970's.

I saw a lot of things while on duty, and I think that I would not hesitate to do them over again for God and country.

Sgt. Steve Combs
U.S.A.F.
1972-1975.

I was born in Galveston, Texas.
Married with three children: one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren.
Graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BA in Spanish and History and minors in English and Government.
And an MEd in Spanish and Supervision in Education.
38 years teaching experience.
I have taught 1 year at New Caney High School.
14 years at Conroe High School (10 years as Department Chair).
2 years at McAllen High School.
21 years at Klein Oak High School (6 years as Department Chair).
Second year at Alternative School.

Mrs. Drumwright teaches Spanish courses and she is the campus certified bilingual instructor.

Here's John Fink's military experience and a history lesson too!

Specialist 4th Class Fink was a US Army, Tactical Wiring Operations Specialist attached to HHC, 9th Engineer Battalion (Combat), Aschaffenburg, West Germany from 79-81. It was part of the 7th Engineer Brigade in Kornwesthiem, W Germany (outside of Stuttgart) and the 7th Corps. The unit started as a mounted Engineer unit in 1917 in El Paso, proudly serving at Camp Stewart, TX. (Hence the Gila monster on its unit crest.) The unit has a storied history including a key roll in The Battle of the Bulge.

Following the outbreak of World War II, the battalion was activated as the 9th Armored Engineer Battalion as part of the newly formed 9th Armored Division. Landing in France in September from their staging base in England, the 9th Armored Engineers supported the division's movement across France, making first contact with the enemy in the Schoenfels-Wilwerdange-Bissen area. The battalion fought in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, with C Company figuring prominently in the holding of Bastogne, for which the company was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

On 7 March 1945, during the allied offensive to the Rhine River, Combat Command B of the 9th Armored Division arrived at the town of Remagen only to discover that the Ludendorf Bridge over the Rhine was still intact. A small detachment from B Company braved enemy fire to cut wires and dismantle charges set to destroy the bridge. Although several charges were detonated, the enemy failed to destroy the bridge, and B Company moved to secure the far side of the bridgehead. The following day, C Company successfully kept the bridge open despite a continuous and intense attack by artillery and aircraft that scored 24 hits on the structure. When the smoke of the battle had cleared, the 9th Armored Engineers had been instrumental in the establishment of the first bridgehead across the Rhine River since the Napoleonic Campaigns.

The 9th Engineers participated in the final sweep into Germany and after the surrender, established its occupation headquarters in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth, with A Company at Coburg, B Company at Kulmbach, and C Company at Hof. Occupation duty ended in late 1945, so the battalion departed West Germany and was deactivated on 13 October 1945.

The 9th Engineers were reactivated as the 9th Engineer Combat Battalion (Army) in 1952. In the fall of 1956, the 9th Engineer Battalion replaced the 35th Engineers at Kitzingen, Germany and moved to Aschaffcnburg within the year. The 9th Engineer Battalion served proudly in the Gulf War by leading the 1st Infantry Division through the Desert Breach and assisting in the liberation of Kuwait. The battalion subsequently returned to Aschaffenburg, Germany where it deactivated in 1991. The battalion reactivated as part of the 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany on 5 April 1996. In October of that year, it deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team as part of the covering force for Operation Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard. The battalion returned to Schweinfurt in April of 1997. The battalion later deployed to Kosovo in June of 1999 as part of Task Force Falcon. The battalion returned to Schweinfurt in December of 1999 and remains there to this day as it proudly supports the 2nd Dagger Brigade by living its motto, Asisteremos--We will assist.

You can find out more about this honored unit at www.schweinfurt.army.mil/9eng/

Joanne Fiore has a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Art from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts. Prior to moving to Texas in 2000, she worked for Pedlar Publishing as a graphic artist. She designed ads and pages for two monthly publications: "The Horseman's Yankee Pedlar" and "Today's Parent". She also worked as a free-lance artist creating logos, menus, newsletters and monthly calendars for a local restaurant. She began substituting in Klein ISD in 2001. Mrs. Fiore instructs secondary students enrolled in art elective courses.

I have been teaching and coaching for almost 40 years, including head basketball coach at Westbury High School in HISD for 12 years and Joshua High School for 3 years. I coached Michael Clayton at Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge. Mike now is the #1 receiver for Tampa Bay in the NFL. I have one son who teaches math at Klein High School. He is also the Junior Varsity basketball coach.

A brief bio: B.S. in Speech with a minor in Language Arts from Jackson State University; 33 years in education; taught in Mississippi, Michigan, and Texas; I teach speech, reading, and writing in the KISD Alternative Education Program.

Michael Robertson received an Associate Degree from Cisco Junior College in Cisco, Texas. He then graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & P.E./Recreation. He is enrolled in the Kingwood College Teacher Certification Program. Mr. Robertson has substituted in Klein ISD since 2003. He is a Children’s Church Youth leader at Lakewood Church, a Youth Pastor at New Covenant, and active in Children’s Church Ministries at Harvest. He has coached baseball with East Houston Baseball Association (ages 6-10, 13 and 17), where his team advanced to national competition. He enjoys reading and playing sports. Mr. Robertson instructs students enrolled in physical education and health courses.