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Two Facilities Named for Outstanding Houstonians
Board of Education policy permits the naming of schools and other facilities for deceased persons who have made a significant contribution to Houston, to Texas, or to the entire nation, and living people can be honored if the board waives that policy. On May 14, 2009, the board accepted the recommendations of faculty and staff members, community members, and other stakeholders and named two facilities after two great friends of education, Leonel Castillo and the late Linda Balkin.
The new building at 220 North Milby that will house the East Early College High School will be called the Leonel Castillo Academic Center. Castillo has served the Houston community for many years in a variety of ways. A former supervisor within the Human Resources Development Program of the Neighborhood Centers Day Care Association in Houston, he became the first Mexican-American to be elected to a citywide office in Houston when he became the city’s controller in 1970. That year he also helped to establish Houston International University, which provided an alternative postsecondary education for Mexican-American students. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Castillo as commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Department of Justice, making him the first Hispanic to direct that office. Since leaving public office, Castillo has served as a senior vice president of Asia Houston Network, an advisory-board member for Houston A+ Challenge, Mayor Bill White’s education liaison to HISD’s Board of Education, and a board member of the HISD Public Facility Corporation. Joining Castillo and his daughter, attorney Avalyn Langemeier, at the board meeting to honor their friend and colleague were Harris County Constable Victor Treviño, Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sánchez, Houston City Council member Gordon Quan, Houston Community College trustee Abel Dávila, former Houston City Council member John Castillo (who is also Leonel Castillo’s brother-in-law), and former HISD trustee and Houston City Council member Felix Fraga.
The board also approved the naming of the baseball field at Johnston Middle School the Linda H. Balkin Field. Balkin, who died in February, was the school’s former principal and helped to oversee the completion of the field. Under her leadership, Johnston was recognized by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the best middle schools in the state. A West Region Secondary Principal of the Year and Region 4 Secondary Principal of the Year, Balkin served as a coach for the New Visions in Leadership Academy for Houston A+ Challenge and the director of middle schools in HISD’s Curriculum Department. Her husband Barry, sister Wendy, daughter Heather, and stepdaughter Malory; her parents, Walter and Florence Dubov; and a delegation from Johnston Middle School came to the board meeting to voice their support for the naming.
“I want to thank the committees that made these outstanding naming recommendations for their time and commitment, and for encouraging HISD to honor two distinguished Houstonians,” said Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra.
