Flour Bluff ISD’s Hornet Aviation Program is a unique program at Flour Bluff High School. The students learn a broad curriculum that is intended to introduce them to many possible careers in aviation. The most striking feature of the Hornet Aviation Program is the construction of a Vans RV-12iS aircraft through a partnership with the Tango Flight organization. Their build project is supported by generous volunteers from the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) and several individuals in the community who volunteer their time and expertise to help our students. The Tango Flight partnership gives our students an industry-based curriculum in Aircraft Maintenance. The knowledge and skill they learn covers the basics of engines, aviation hardware, cutting, forming and drilling sheet metal, electronics and wiring.

When asked how students feel when they reach a big milestone in building the plane, Mr. Harris stated, “Students feel a huge sense of accomplishment when even their small part of the plane they are working on is finished and then set aside to wait for final assembly. When each wing was finished, students were able to look at the wing and say, ‘I built that.’” By learning how to follow directions carefully, keep their workstations clean and organized, and value precision and accuracy, students will be taking away much more from this course than just building a plane. They learn to value themselves, their team, and how to reach a goal that was set.

The Hornet Aviation Program also uses a second curriculum from Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) that is targeted at basic pilot knowledge and skills. This includes knowledge of how airplanes fly, how to read aeronautical charts, understanding air space classifications, weather information and services, and even how to read basic airplane instrumentation such as Altimeters, VORs, Attitude indicators, and much more. The Hornet Aviation Program also received the generous donation of two flight simulators from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

To support the curriculum, the students take field trips to Corpus Christi Army Depot, Corpus Christi International Airport, Corpus Christi Air Traffic Control and several local aviation businesses such as Halo Flight, Sterling Air, and Splendid Aviation.

At Flour Bluff ISD, we are committed to ensuring that every student has the tools they need to succeed, including those with dyslexia. Under the leadership of Jaime Woodard, Dyslexia Coordinator/Instructional Coach, our district-wide Dyslexia Program utilizes Wilson Language Training, a research-based approach aligned with the Science of Reading. This program provides structured literacy instruction to support students who need more intensive interventions to become confident, capable readers.

A Multi-Tiered Approach to Dyslexia Support

Flour Bluff ISD implements three key components of the Wilson Language Training program:
Fundations – Provides foundational reading and spelling skills for younger students.
Wilson Reading System – A comprehensive program designed for students with significant reading challenges.
Just Words – A targeted intervention for students who need additional literacy support.

Through direct, explicit, systematic, and sequential instruction, our program engages students using a multisensory approach—integrating visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning strategies to reinforce reading comprehension, spelling, and self-monitoring skills.

As Jaime Woodard explains:
“A strong dyslexia program is not just teaching students to read. It is teaching them how to find their strengths to support their struggles, how to become confident in their abilities, and how to overcome obstacles that may be put in front of them. A strong dyslexia program coupled with passionate Dyslexia teachers like we have in Flour Bluff, is key to lifelong success for so many students.”

A Passion for Helping Students Succeed

For many of our educators, supporting students with dyslexia is more than just a job—it’s a deeply personal mission. Claudia Lizcano, Dyslexia Teacher at the Primary Campus, shared her journey:

“My inspiration for working with students with dyslexia stems from a deeply personal journey—my daughter’s diagnosis in the second grade. When we discovered she had dyslexia, I became determined to learn everything I could to support her. Every day, I am driven by the opportunity to empower students like my daughter, ensuring they receive the guidance, encouragement, and strategies they need to unlock their full potential.”

The Most Rewarding Part of Teaching in the Dyslexia Program

The impact of a strong dyslexia program goes beyond academic progress—it transforms students’ lives.

Claudia Lizcano explains:
“The most rewarding aspect of teaching in this program is witnessing the incredible transformation of my students—not just in their academic abilities, but in their confidence and self-belief. Seeing them blossom as they develop their skills and watching their self-assurance grow is nothing short of inspiring. They don’t just become better readers; they become more resilient, self-assured individuals. In turn, they push me to become a better teacher. Their progress fuels my passion, and I feel truly privileged to be a part of their journey. I absolutely love what I do because of these amazing kids.”

Overcoming Challenges with Support & Encouragement

Students with dyslexia face significant challenges, particularly in reading, writing, and comprehension. However, one of the greatest struggles is a lack of self-confidence.

Claudia Lizcano shares how she supports her students:
“They often compare themselves to their peers and feel as though they are falling behind. My mission is to ensure they understand that their struggles do not define their intelligence or potential. Every day, I remind them how incredibly bright, capable, and unique they are. While they may face difficulties, they also possess extraordinary strengths, and with the right support, they will not only catch up but thrive. My role is to provide them with learning tools, encouragement, and unwavering belief that they are just as remarkable as any of their peers.”

Building a Stronger Future for Dyslexia Support

The future of our dyslexia program is filled with promise and possibility.

Jaime Woodard expresses her vision for the program:
“My greatest hope for the future of the dyslexia program is broader awareness, deeper understanding, and stronger support for students with dyslexia. These students have so much potential, and with the right resources, they can achieve incredible things. I want to see their abilities recognized and celebrated, where they are given every opportunity to succeed, and where the stigma surrounding dyslexia is replaced with empowerment and possibility.”

How Parents & the Community Can Help

Believe in the potential of all students – Every child can learn to read with the right support.
Practice patience and consistency – Students with dyslexia need encouragement and structured interventions.
Celebrate successes, big and small – Recognizing achievements helps build confidence and motivation.
Identify strengths beyond reading – Help students discover and develop their passions outside of school.

As Sally Shaywitz, author of Overcoming Dyslexia, states:
“Self-confidence is probably the most important ingredient in ensuring that a child is setting out on a good path.”

At Flour Bluff ISD, we are proud to provide a dyslexia program that not only teaches students to read but also equips them with the confidence and skills to succeed in all aspects of life.

Want to learn more? Contact our Dyslexia Program team to see how we are making a difference for students across our district!

Books have a way of transporting you into a whole other world. They fill you with knowledge, growth, imagination, awareness, adventures and more. You never know what lies beyond the cover of book waiting for someone to take it off the shelf.

Over at our Junior High campus Karen Chouinard the campus librarian is instilling a love of reading into our 7^th and 8^th grade Hornets. She hosts a monthly reading challenge that encourages students to become a part of the reading community. In doing so they gain many skills such as higher test scores, vocabulary, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and more. Each month they have a chance to earn a different colored duck. Mrs. Chouinard said

The Flour Bluff ISD 2024 Homecoming Parade was truly buzzing with excitement!
On September 23rd, the spirit of the Hornet Swarm came alive as our district and community united for this cherished tradition. The parade once again embodied the heart of Hornet pride, bringing us together to celebrate our students and the strong bond that makes Flour Bluff ISD so special. In Hornet Country, we uphold Class, take Pride in everything we do, and pour our Heart into all that defines who we are.

This year’s parade was a tremendous success, thanks to the incredible turnout from both our District and Community entries. Each entry left a lasting impression on the spectators, and we deeply appreciate the friendships and partnerships that have been built over the years. A special shout-out goes to our amazing community members who cheered on our students, showing support and admiration for every participant in this year’s Homecoming Parade.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the staff and community partners who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event happen. A special thank you to H-E-B for generously donating drinks, and to Pflueger Architecture for sponsoring pizza to keep our parade staff energized. This event wouldn’t have been possible without each of you.

Our Elementary has an outdoor classroom space that had three garden beds just falling a part with no use to them. Surely this could be turned into something of great use for our Hornets to be able to have a classroom without walls and learn about nature. Mrs. Biggerstaff teaches science at our Elementary campus and saw the need. She began to do research on how to bring life to this garden. For years she researched and asked around for donations to help get the gardens funded. With no leads she went out to price and buy lumber to rebuild the garden beds. She got 9 timbers and quickly realized this was going to be a more costly project and had to take a brief pause. Mrs. Biggerstaff attended CAST (Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers) and one of the sessions she attended was about school gardens and how to turn trash (tires, plastic containers, etc.) into gardening containers, what to plant, and how to involve students in the process. This gave so much insight that was needed to help drive this project. She then started calling businesses, nurseries, private members of our community and finally the Nueces County Agriculture Extension office. Where she learned about Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! Mrs. Biggerstaff, the ladies at the Agriculture Extension, and a couple parents came out during the summer of the 22-23 school year to build these beds before school started. Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!  paid for soil, plants, seeds, and tools.

Our Hornets are learning about gardening, the importance of healthy eating and exercise habits and in the words of Mrs. Biggerstaff “the fun part… trying new vegetables”! Our students keep journals where they log the needs of plants, healthy habits for humans, formulate strategies for creating the most efficient garden space, make hypothesis, test out their ideas and record plant growth progress, and finally “grade” the taste of new and exciting plants. Last year, they cooked up Swiss chard and broccoli in the science lab and made homemade bruschetta with the fresh basil grown in their garden. Parents were emailing Mrs. Biggerstaff and told her that their children were requesting Swiss chard for dinner and wanted to share the recipes they cooked in the classroom with their families.

Mrs. Biggerstaff said she has even bigger plans this year and for the future. This school year, she is working with Mrs. Tyler, who is an art teacher at our Elementary campus, to create a beautiful sign/mural on a board they have at the gardens. On the other side she wants to create a weather station where classes can observe and record the weather. She has even mapped out a space to till up the land and plant pumpkins for fall and has established bluebonnet patches for the spring. Her ultimate dream would be to one day create an outdoor cooking space with an outlet to cook outside with a wash up station!

These gardens impact almost every single student here at the Elementary Campus. These gardens have garden beds that are also wheelchair accessible. Every student that comes to the science lab gets to play some role in the gardens. They even encourage staff to harvest some vegetables to try as well. Recently, their janitor Mrs. Claudia got to harvest a watermelon that she cared for all summer.

The Flour Bluff Elementary Gardens provide more than just plant growth and nourishment. They are also giving our Hornets and staff members the growth and nourishment we need as well. There is so much potential that lies here in the gardens of the Elementary Campus and we would like to  thank our community partners and community members that are helping to shape the minds of our future. Together we can build real life experiences, inspire our students to reach beyond the classroom walls, foster the growth of knowledge and partnership, and empower our Hornets to be all that they can be.

Flour Bluff ISD is proud to announce the expansion of its wetlands preserve through the purchase of an additional 16 acres. The Flour Bluff ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the $760,000 purchase, which was fully funded from the district’s fund balance. This acquisition secures the northern border of the district’s existing 52-acre wetlands, ensuring the continued success of Texas’ longest-running outdoor education program and providing even greater opportunities for students to learn and explore in a real-world environment.

FBISD Oceans program provides hands-on learning experiences for students, allowing them to engage directly with the environment through fieldwork in ecology, marine science, and conservation. The newly acquired land will allow Flour Bluff ISD to further expand educational opportunities while preserving this vital ecosystem.

“This acquisition reflects our Board’s strong commitment to preserving the wetlands and providing our students with unique learning experiences that will shape their understanding of environmental science,” said Superintendent Chris Steinbruck. “We are thrilled that our district and community supports this initiative as it ensures its long-term sustainability for future generations.”

Exciting discoveries continue to emerge from the wetlands. Recently, students and professors from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) found six juvenile snook in the wetland pond, highlighting the ecological importance of the preserve as both a habitat and a research site.

FBISD would like to extend our sincere thanks to Charlie Knoll of Coldwell Banker Realty Padre Island for his invaluable assistance in helping us with this very important initiative. His support played a crucial role in making the wetlands acquisition a reality, and we are truly grateful for his help. Additionally, FBISD wants to thank Kamran Zarghouni and KM Premier Real Estate for working closely with Flour Bluff ISD and helping to see the educational value that the wetlandcome to fruition.

Flour Bluff ISD is proud of this milestone and looks forward to engaging even more students and community members in the protection and study of our wetlands. The best is yet to come!

In addition, Flour Bluff ISD has recently been awarded the Texas Clean School Bus Program grant, which will fund the purchase of five new buses. The total cost for these buses is $730,550. Thanks to the grant award of $633,080, the district will only need to cover the remaining $97,470. This grant comes at a crucial time, as the district’s current fleet has an average age of 18 years old, making the new buses a vital upgrade for safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation. Special thanks go to Dr. Ris Ford for her invaluable assistance in the grant application process and the Transportation Department for providing the essential information needed to secure this important funding. The wetlands and this recent funding not only underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship, but also reflects FBISD’s dedication to providing safe and reliable transportation for our students. As Flour Bluff ISD multitasks across these vital initiatives, we remain focused on fostering a sustainable future while ensuring our students have the resources they need to thrive.