Bethany Elementary School, Plano, Texas

Meet Mrs. Bleggi

Deni Bleggi has enjoyed being the principal and instructional leader at Bethany Elementary since 2002. She considers her role a privilege and honor and appreciates the supportive school community for joining together to comprise the “Bethany Bunch”. Mrs. Bleggi has enjoyed serving in and learning from the field of education for eighteen years. After teaching for nine years, she decided to move into administration in order to facilitate active goal and strategy setting to promote and achieve student success. She embraces the Plano I.S.D. mission for providing every learner with an excellent education. Most importantly, she celebrates how the Bethany community partners daily to plan for and develop best strategies so that the students learn to care about learning and learn about caring.

Mrs. Bleggi feels that her experience as a student in Plano schools awarded her a balanced educational experience so that she graduated seeking continued growth as a student and leader. Life long learning continues to be a strong passion for her. In college, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with both Kindergarten and Early Childhood endorsements from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. In completing a Master of Education degree with a specialization in Special Education at Texas A & M University in Commerce, she graduated Summa Cum Laude. In addition, she holds certification as an educational diagnostician as well as an endorsement in Gifted and Talented Education. Following that, she obtained a Mid-Management Certification from the University of North Texas.

Her honors include being selected Beginning Teacher of the Year when starting her teaching career in Garland I.S.D. Then in Plano I.S.D., she was recognized as Teacher of the Year and received an Excellence in Teaching award at both Gulledge Elementary, 1995-1996, and Bettye Haun Elementary, 1997-1998. She also holds a PTA Lifetime Membership Award in Texas. However, she cherishes the honor of being a mother most of all and considers this role the most important factor helping her serve children.

She and her husband take pride in and enjoy parenting their daughter. As a family they enjoy spending time together with friends, family and any chance they get to be outdoors. It is important to her that every decision made be based on the needs of the children and stresses that, “Every time our school makes a decision, I stop and think about how I would want a decision like the one we are making to affect my own child. At Bethany, we consistently ask ourselves how each decision we make will help all of our Bethany students achieve academic success.” Mrs. Bleggi’s purpose in leading the Bethany community forward stems from a strong belief in the life-changing power of education.

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Meet Ms. Bonner

Deborah Bonner is very proud to serve as the Assistant Principal at Bethany Elementary! She will be the Assistant Principal at Bethany and Saigling Elementary this year, and will be working at Bethany Monday, Tuesday, and every other Wednesday.

She has been a professional educator since 1985 staring out as a History and Government teacher. Ms. Bonner spent 14 years as an Elementary or Early Childhood School Counselor. She worked for several neighboring districts, including Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, and Carrollton-Farmers Branch, before coming to Plano ISD in 2001. Prior to coming to Bethany, she served as the Assistant Principal at Andrews Elementary in Plano ISD. Ms. Bonner received her Mid-Management/Principal Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from UTA in 1985, and her M.Ed. in counseling from the University of North Texas in 1990. Currently Ms. Bonner is a PhD candidate in Psychological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Ms. Bonner is a native Texan and spent most of her life living in Arlington. She moved to the Plano area in 1999. Her family is originally from East Texas. Even as a young child she dreamed of teaching and working with children. Her mentor is her Aunt, Myrle Cariker, who was a teacher and principal for many years. Ms. Bonner has many hobbies and interests including reading, going to movies, traveling, and walking for exercise. She has two cats, Timmy and Macy, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

“I am so thrilled to be the Assistant Principal at Bethany. I have already been touched by the warmth and friendliness of the staff, parents, and students! Education is a true passion for me and I look forward to learning something new each day from the children at Bethany. I strive to help all students reach their full potential. If there is ever anything I can do to help you or your children please do not hesitate to contact me!”

Email Deborah.Bonner@pisd.edu
Telephone: 469-752-0311

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Principal's Vision

I envision Bethany Elementary as a motivating and supportive environment for all children. Children will wake up daily excited to venture through the doors of their school, to discover the wonderment of the day’s learning encounters and to put forth their personal best. Our motto, “Caring about learning and learning about caring,” will set the tone of our school climate. Bethany students will be energized for learning in a positive environment that enhances learning.

Bethany will always be a school that moves towards excellence knowing that effective schools result from continuous school improvement plans that promote student achievement. You get what you expect of people, so staff, students and parents will be held to high standards and expectations. We are a unified staff. Genuine teamwork is constantly in practice among staff and students. Our team promotes respect, responsibility, and being ready to learn each and every day.

Bethany’s master teachers have the necessary knowledge, support and passion to facilitate learning while coaching each child to discover their unique strengths and talents. Our teaching staff will work collaboratively to teach the children in order that they master the rigorous district, state and national standards. Children will be set up for success and capable of leaving elementary school with the skills and drive necessary to impact their society in powerful ways. Teachers will utilize effective teaching strategies and we will provide the tools necessary to do this. We will only hire and retain the best of the best.

I see today’s classrooms supporting individual needs and building the skills children need to face an ever-changing society of the twenty first century: respect, responsibility and resiliency. Children will develop strong character traits by receiving praise and recognition for the character qualities that they demonstrate. Students will be given opportunities to make decisions and to understand their outcomes. Bethany students will be prepared for the real world.

Along the way adults who love children will support them. Together we are a strong, cohesive, dynamic and caring team.

I see Bethany adults developing personal connections with students. Our efforts and school will be organized around the children. We will remember all children are in the process of life-long learning and continuous development. We will remember that all people change and keep in mind that we are to reach every child at Bethany. The underlying belief of all of us will be that the students we teach, support and work with are most important. Bethany Elementary is comprised of a community of learners.

Our school works for the purpose of developing and nurturing children via joint efforts of staff, parents and community members; a team. Together we serve children as a learning community. Our team will work towards building a community where every child belongs; all adults are positive role models; parents and guardians will actively team with our staff as partners in their children’s education; and where all of our voices will be heard as we share in the decision making for our school. “It takes a village to raise a child” is quoted on a framed poster in my office because I truly believe Bethany is a place where everyone is responsible for every child. Together we will dream large and reach our goals!

Behaviorally, children will learn to be self-directed life-long learners who demonstrate being respectful, responsible and ready to learn.

I see Bethany developing students. Students will understand that work is a purposeful activity and their most important job. The adults in their lives will affirm that their work and personal best is significant and necessary. Students will care about their education. Each will learn that they are only asked to do useful work and to apply themselves the best they can do. They will be asked to do their own work, apply their own thinking as a necessary part of group work and individually to learn how to improve their work. Quality work always feels good; it is never destructive.

Classrooms today engage children in the rigorous standards and learning matter. Technology has become a necessary and embedded tool for learning. Our standards are clearly articulated so the standard is set and everybody knows what it is and will work towards attaining it.

Our school exuberates quality in everything we do. Bethany will be a learning community where students and staff are nurtured. We will embrace learning and taking risks. Everyone who touches Bethany will leave behind their mark so that there is a legacy of learning, knowing our influence will last and last and last! I will close with one of my favorite quotes stated by Bill Page, “Each child is living the only life he has-the only one he will ever have. The least we can do is not diminish it.”

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Principal's Notes

Dear Bethany Families,

Happy springtime to everyone! The sights and sounds of spring surround us and our Bethany Bunch certainly is in full bloom at school! Never would I have imagined that our school would have faced the horrendous weather conditions that it did on Thursday, April 10th. Our staff continues to keep those of you whose homes faced damage in our thoughts. As for the damage at Bethany, our Facilities Service department went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our school could safely “have school” while the crews worked to correct structural damage.

We TREASURE our Volunteers and would not be the quality school we are without the myriad of you who spend time at Bethany making a difference. Daily, I see how the efforts of volunteerism are far reaching and unite our school community. We look forward to showing our appreciation at our Volunteer Celebration and Appreciation Brunch.

Our PTA invites your families to join us at a Spring Fling Family Event on Saturday, May 3rd for a night of fun and fellowship. Bring your dancing shoes! In addition, I urge you to consider how you can support our PTA with your leadership, passion for kids and time as the 2008-2009 PTA Board fills the few remaining positions. We need YOU!

Thank you for helping our building focus on a rigorous and strong curricular program. With the arrival and implementation of the Raptor visitor/volunteer system, we have been able to preserve the classroom instruction by preventing interruptions during instructional time during the hours of 7:45 AM and 2:45 PM daily.

The Plano ISD will ask district voters to consider a $490 million bond proposal on May 10, 2008. I am eager to answer any questions you may have about this bond election. Please join me following the April 28th Monday Morning Assembly to learn more about the bond election as well as to get questions addressed. Please take the time to become informed or to ask questions if you want to learn more. You can go to the PISD Website where there is a link right on the home page, or you can call the bond hotline at 469-752-8010. If you would like to schedule a speaker for a PTA, a church, homeowners association, a club or an organization, please call Nancy Long at 469-752-8147.

It is the time of year when preparations begin for next school year. Hard to imagine isn’t it? Our projected enrollment for next year is 440 students, and we were pleased to register our incoming kindergartners on April 4th. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to register their children for kindergarten. Early registration is a significant help as we plan for the number of teachers, classroom space, and instructional supplies.
Teachers and administration also begin to think about compiling class lists for the next year in the spring. This process s is extremely complex. As we attempt to balance each class, we give consideration to gender, achievement levels, and social/behavioral needs and other issues. Your child’s current teachers spend a great deal of time forming these lists and providing input to administrators regarding the leaning styles and needs of children. The final assignment of teachers once class lists have been formed is the responsibility of the principal. I would like to let you know that you may write a letter to me if you are concerned about specific learning needs your child has that you want us to consider in placing your child next year. Please do not request a teacher by name. Requests for specific teachers will not be considered. We appreciate your insights into your child’s learning needs and will certainly take those into account when placing your child with a teacher. Our goal is that each of our children at Bethany has a rewarding and positive learning experience at Bethany.

Our building-wide focus continues on supporting our children as they learn and grow each day into the unique and special child each one is. Thanks for sharing your children with us.

–Deni Bleggi, principal