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Jake Duncan is excited about technology in schools and even more excited about teachers and students working together, in order to create innovative technology projects that can teach real life skills.

Duncan, the technology integration specialist for Texas Region 6 Educational Service Center in Huntsville, recently staged a video contest designed to motivate teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms, and to get the students to "show off their technology skills" in the process.

The contest asked for videos in three categories: Technology as a Teaching Tool, Morning Announcement and My School is the Best. Each category had two levels – one for grades K-5 and one for grades 6-12. Up to three videos could be submitted per school.

Magnolia High AV Production Instructor Kathrina Martin won the category of My School is the Best with the video "The Magnolia Style," a fast-paced parody of the popular Gangnam Style video by the South Korean musician PSY. The video involved a huge cast of Magnolia High staff members and students, but above all, it shows a sense of accomplishment and pride that the students have for their school, Duncan said.

Texas Region 6 comprises more than 12,000 square miles across 15 counties in southeast Texas, including Montgomery County. Region 6 has 57 school districts, including Magnolia ISD, and a number of private and charter schools. More than 30 videos were submitted for consideration in this first video contest, and winners were announced this month.

"This is an example of how we want technology to work in the schools – classroom transformation with digital learning," said Duncan.

"We actually created the video before we heard about the contest," Martin said. "When I heard about the contest I knew the video would be perfect for that."

Martin sent the idea she had for the parody to former student Jeremy Fowler – now a college student in Austin – and he wrote the lyrics. Fowler and another former Magnolia student Austin Clark then put the song together, which the students lip sync in the video.

Martin said the students and faculty members that participated in the making of the video spent countless hours meticulously matching every movement and shot in the original video.

"The kids had to do research on getting the shots and framing just right," she said.

Martin's students and Magnolia High had already received some fame for a past video, in which they lip synced to Katy Perry's song "Fireworks." Perry then got word of the video and shared it with her Twitter and Facebook followers, with the video now having received almost 400,000 views on YouTube.

"Our students work extremely hard and are very creative," Martin said. "I am really proud of what they did."

Duncan is optimistic that the next contest will have more entries.

"The next contest is on the subject of teaching others to become good digital citizens," he said. "The videos will be due May 13. These contests are about collaboration and creativity, not just about who can produce the fanciest video. I hope more teachers and students get involved in the next one – they can learn a lot and it's fun."

Each video must be submitted by a teacher sponsor, but students are invited to get involved. The Magnolia Style can be viewed here.

Tribune Reporter Caleb Harris contributed to this report.

The Magnolia City Council is moving ahead with ordinances that will allow for expansion of the city limits while trying to preserve the attractiveness and charm of the town.

At the city council meeting on Feb. 12, they passed ordinances to help control building codes for new construction, improve the placement and type of business signs and provide the groundwork for subdivision and land development regulations. They agreed to increase fees for city services to make them more in line with comparable cities.

The ordinance regarding building regulations was developed as an interim building, subdivision and land development ordinance that would be in place to ensure all future development is consistent with the comprehensive plan, until the plan becomes fully effective. It applies to new properties within the city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of Magnolia. Officials said its purpose is to promote the character and charm of Magnolia through architectural design, construction practices, landscaping guidelines, nuisance regulation, resource protection and adjacency protection, among other items.

The new sign ordinance will regulate or prohibit any signage that is placed on public property or right-of-way, private property signs and billboards. It will assure that permanent signs adhere to an annual inspection schedule and that applicable fees are paid to the city. It was also set in place to ensure attractive roadways in the city.

Council members agreed to rehabilitate the elevated water storage tank along the railroad tracks and to permit the purchase of two replacement police patrol vehicles.

In the business of elections, three council positions will be up for election, during a general election to be held May 11. Council agreed to conduct joint elections between Magnolia ISD and the city and to authorize an election services agreement between Montgomery County and the city.

Magnolia Police Chief Domingo Ibarra reported that for the last ten months the city has collected more warrants than it has issued and that officers are proceeding to impound vehicles of people without insurance or drivers' licenses who commit traffic or other violations in the city. He also stated that the department is working to report crime statistics that occur only within the city limits, not for crimes outside the limits, so that the statistics more accurately reflect the crime situation within Magnolia itself.

City Administrator Paul Mendes stated the comprehensive plan for the city is on schedule for completion in March. The Public Works Department is working on repairing pipes, sewers and ditches that need to be improved so the expansion of the city can stay on track.

"The infrastructure needs repair -- some water is not being accounted for due to leaks and improper construction that was completed long before city regulations were put in place," he explained.

He went on to say that city codes are being enforced and monthly building permits are up.

"These are good signs that Magnolia is moving forward," said Mendes.

Several presentations were given during the meeting. Auditor Robert VanWassehnova reported that "Magnolia had a good financial year in 2012 and the Council is making good use of the taxpayers' money" with its careful spending.

Juan Carreon, Union Pacific Railroad Vice President, presented commemorative gifts to the city in honor of its designation as an "Official Union Pacific Train Town," which occurred on the same day as the council meeting. Also, Matt Dillon, owner of Dillon's Gunsmoke in Magnolia, presented a Blackhawk Tactical Backpack Kit to the Magnolia Police Department. The military-style gear will help officers safely enter a dangerous building in the event of an active shooter incident.

In a separate presentation, Ibarra was awarded a plaque from the Fraternal Order of Police of Harris County for his recent help in diffusing a sensitive law enforcement situation.

Magnolia and Tomball have long enjoyed a small-town feel and friendliness that many area residents find comfortable. At least two area residents found inspiration living in the friendly, country environment that led them to successful writing ventures.

Author Terri Kelley lived in Tomball for several years, after she came to know the town because her mother came there for therapy.

"I had three kids and it seemed like a perfect place to raise a family," she said.

While she was employed in sales, she saw a billboard about becoming a teacher. The idea appealed to her and she became certified and taught first grade in the Cy Fair district. Soon she moved to Tomball ISD's Rosehill Elementary as a second grade teacher and later served as reading specialist and gifted and talented specialist for Northpointe Intermediate School. After two of her three children graduated from Tomball High, her husband was sent to work in Oregon, and the family moved there in 2009.
Kelley was working on her graduate degree and expecting to go into school administration when a travel trailer accident made it impossible for her to stand for any length of time and caused her to abandon those plans.

"I was depressed and really needed a new life goal," she said. "I had always enjoyed writing children's books and wrote one called Gingerly, which brought in many of my experiences working in Tomball with the students. My husband talked me into publishing the book last December. I am happy to say that it is already selling well. I have several more children's books in the works and can't wait to publish those, too."

Kelley is creating a series of textbooks for elementary children called Writing is a Process. She hopes the books will help children develop a passion for writing down their thoughts and ideas, just like she has.

"I believe I have found my true life's work."

Kelley's books are available on her website: terrikelleybooks.com, or through Amazon.com.

"I welcome comments or questions from children who have read my books. My email is right on the site," she said.

Another author, Rick Fontes, enjoys the peaceful life in Magnolia while he lets his imagination take him into all types of stories that he has turned into books in several genres. Fontes spent more than 20 years as a noted photographer of babies and toddlers in day care centers around the country. He wrote down his tips and techniques as a how-to manual for others who might be interested in a baby photography career, and found he liked writing. He retired from the photography business and moved to Magnolia from Houston "because I liked the country life," and started writing.

"I have all these ideas in my head," he said. "I don't want to confine my writing to any particular genre. I'd rather have something that will appeal to everyone. I like my books to be short enough, maybe 200-250 pages, so someone could read one during a plane flight."

So far Fontes has written eight books that include a poetry book, a book of short stories, a tale about the future, a western novel and several action-adventure stories that feature one hero character, Rick Moreno.

"I have a sci-fi idea that I want to work on next," he adds.

Fontes explained how his ideas took root. "I thought of my characters while I was driving all over as a photographer. Dreaming up their adventures occupied my mind while I was traveling alone. Now I have time to write them down." Fontes' books are available on Amazon.com and on lulu.com.

Magnolia began as a tiny sawmill town in the 1800’s, and its population had barely reached 25 by the time 1900 rolled around. A new railroad soon brought a steady stream of new residents and businesses into the town.

Today Magnolia is a progressive community that offers families small-town ambiance, peacefulness and friendliness. But, once again, improved transportation is expected to bring in more people and some residents are asking themselves, "How much longer will we be able to enjoy our quiet town?"

TxDOT is finalizing plans to complete several new roads around the Magnolia area that will move more vehicles easier and faster than ever before. Over the next three years, road improvements are expected to enhance traffic flow in and around the town.  FM 1774 will be widened from The Lakes of Magnolia to 10th Street. This project has already started. As part of the widening of FM 1488 to the Waller County Line, two fly-overs at Spur 149 near Magnolia High School and over 1774 at 10th Street will ease congestion at already busy intersections.

In addition, the construction of the Grand Parkway south of Magnolia will offer an easy pathway from Katy to east of The Woodlands, which will bring visitors into the area. The planned SH 249 toll expressway will improve traffic flow not just between Tomball and Magnolia, but all the way up to Bryan/College Station. 

Facing an easier commute, more families are sure to move into the area. With an increased population, Magnolia is expected to become a business and shopping destination.
Magnolia is less than 35 miles from the burgeoning metropolis of Houston, and the area's current population of 138,000 (as of 2011) seems small compared to a growth movement that has already started to engulf the entire northwest Houston area. But the Magnolia city government and chamber of commerce are working hard "to help this growth work for us rather than against us," as Economic Development Coordinator Deborah Rose Miller put it.

City leaders say they are planning ahead to ensure that the charm of Magnolia remains, even after the new roads are built and the people keep coming.

Paul Mendes, city administrator, says he has tried to make sure the infrastructure keeps up with the expected population growth.

"The developers already have purchased large tracts of land," said Mendes. "We are preparing now for the water and sewage capacity we will need. We hope to have zoning laws in place to protect Magnolia residents and to manage the growth."

Mendes helped Miller create a comprehensive plan to help Magnolia grow as effectively and painlessly as possible.

"The plan, to be completed in March, will be a starting point that will be continually modified as we go along. We believe improving the roads will improve our city's lifestyle in the end," he said.

Updates, such as "Magnolia on the Move," are being provided to the city council each month.

"The city of Magnolia is being proactive, and we've already started our planning and zoning commission," said Miller. "The comprehensive plan we have developed is pivotal to our city's future."

Barry Tate, Chairman of the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce, feels the anticipated population growth will help businesses that are already here to expand, and will bring new ones to the area.

"Business is good for the town," Tate said. "We will have a larger tax base, so that will enable us to provide more and better services. Any road improvements will ultimately make it easier to live out here. People will want to put their businesses in our community because their customers can get to them easily."

Tate feels the growth of the western side of Montgomery County will be compared to the growth of the eastern side of the county in a few years. He believes current businesses will welcome the road improvements, although there will likely be challenges during the construction phase. He hopes planning ahead can help businesses overcome difficulties during that time.

"The Chamber wants to keep our members as informed as possible. Our goal is to maintain Magnolia's small-town feel and still allow for growth," he said.

The new roads are coming. The growth of Magnolia, along with the growth of the entire eastern half of Montgomery County, is inevitable. But the small-town way of life may remain for future generations to enjoy, if the current city leadership has anything to do with it.

Two teams of Magnolia ISD students, one from Magnolia West High School and one from Magnolia Junior High, received a top "Best of Show" prize for their projects at the district's annual science fair, Jan. 12.
Magnolia West High students Samantha Gerthe and Dakota Stormer won for their entry: Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome: Simple! Magnolia Junior High students Aubrey Frank and Brynn Reynolds won for their project: Feasibility of Pneumatic and Hydraulic Lenses. 
More than 100 projects were entered in the district science fair, and several entries are going to the next level – which means exhibiting their projects in the Science and Engineering Fair in Houston Feb. 28 through Mar. 1 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Projects are divided into junior high, ninth grade and senior high divisions. It is an honor that 13 high school entries will be represented by Magnolia students at the Houston fair.
Gregory Corradino, the science department chair and campus science fair coordinator at Magnolia High School, explained that most of the MISD students exhibiting in the Houston show are pre-advanced placement (AP) students.
Their projects took months of research, data collection and analysis, and covered several science disciplines. They included experiments on the energy density of different types of fuels, a behavioral study about the accuracy of eyewitness identification, the preference of ants to different types of sugar, effective techniques for oil absorption and an experiment on the effects of music on bacteria growth.
"These students worked hard on their projects and had to maintain their grades as well. The large number of students going to the next level represents the commitment of both the students and their teachers in promoting the highest standards of science education," said Corradino. "This demonstrates to the community why Magnolia ISD is dedicated to being the best district in the State of Texas."
Dakota Stormer, senior high school Best of Show winner, agreed the science fair is hard work, but rewarding.
"Samantha and I worked on our project two hours a day for more than a year," he said. "We showed how a simple colored overlay used for people diagnosed with the visual perception problem Irlen Syndrome can help reduce the harmful effects of fluorescent lighting on the eyes for a high percentage of non-diagnosed students."
Stormer said the project also turned into a benefit for several students.
"The overlay also increased their focus, reading comfort and reading proficiency," he said. "We tested 72 fifth graders, who were all enthusiastic subjects and interested in our results. This took time and dedication on our part, but this research could actually be useful in the future. We not only enjoyed doing it, but the project could help us stand out among other college applicants for acceptance into school. It was a great way to learn how to work on something constructive with real relevance."