New superintendent? Desoto has decided to add on another superintendent to the DISD staff. The reason for this is because school needs another member to show more instruction towards the school.  Dr. Kathy Augustine is the current associate superintendent of instruction for the Atlanta Public Schools in Georgia. Searching for a new superintendent began in January after current Lloyd Treadwell had announced his retirement for next month in June.  She served as deputy super. of  curriculum and instruction for Atlanta Public Schools since year 2001.

She has also served as special assistant to the super. of high  schools for Newark Public Schools and  was a principal for elementary and high schools. Graduating from Harvard University and earned her M.E.D Administration Planning and Social Policy as part of the Urban Superintendents Program. So by seeing how she is very intelligent and successful at what she does, it sounds like she can put some order into this school, therefore she has enough potential to bring something to the table.

Written By: Tiesha Robinson

By Beth Trimble, director of communications

SMU senior and President’s Scholar Jordan Johansen has received an internationally respected 2011-2012 Fulbright Fellowship, which will allow her to work as an English teaching assistant and study Greek at Cypriot University on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus next year. At SMU, the DeSoto, Texas, native is pursuing majors in anthropology, history and music, and a minor in human rights. She is president of SMU’s chapter of Amnesty International and has earned numerous awards for academic achievement and community service. She will graduate Summa Cum Laude May 14 with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology with Distinction, a Bachelor of Science in History with Distinction, a Bachelor of Science in Music and a Minor in Human Rights.

Johansen is one of an estimated 1,600 students out of more than 9,000 applicants to be honored with the Fulbright grant, which is made possible by the U.S. Congress and U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Fulbright grants allow U.S. and foreign students to travel and work abroad, promoting cultural awareness while achieving educational and vocational advancement. Upon returning to the U.S., Johansen plans to pursue a Ph.D. in anthropology and become a professor.

“Being awarded a Fulbright Fellowship is a great honor,” Johansen says. “I’m very much looking forward to my time in Cyprus and the great experiences that are sure to come with it.”

While at SMU, Johansen studied in Germany and Copenhagen, where she learned about migration, nationalism and international human rights. She also has worked with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in this country and in Denmark. Johansen’s many honors include the William K. McElvaney Peace and Justice Award, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society membership, Henry S. Jacobus Junior Paper Prize in History, Lambda Alpha Iota Chapter Distinguished Achievement Award, Outstanding Senior Student in Anthropology, Stanton Sharp Award for Outstanding Service and Academic Achievement, Robert Stewart Hyer Society membership, University Award for Outstanding Scholar and a nomination for Outstanding Senior Woman.