We Are MPVA Spotlights
đļđđž MEET MR. Ođžđđļ
From martial arts in Connecticut to teaching overseas in Taiwan, and now leading the incredible MPVA Band Program, Mr. O's journey is one worth sharing! đēđĨ
We're shining the spotlight on Christopher Orloske, better known as Mr. O, our Director of Bands at MPVA since 2018!
đĩ A Lifelong Passion for Teaching
Believe it or not, Mr. O's teaching journey didn't begin in a music classroom. It started at just 15 years old while studying Tae Kwon Do in his home state of Connecticut!
His martial arts master recognized his potential and empowered him to begin instructing students of all ages, from children to adults. He eventually earned his black belt alongside his older brother, an experience that helped shape his character and passion for helping others grow.
Combining his love of teaching with his love of music made pursuing a career in music education a natural fit!
đ A Little Detour Across the World...
Before making his way to MPVA, Mr. O spent seven years (2009–2016) teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Taiwan!
Teaching overseas gave him the opportunity to experience a different educational environment, connect with students from another culture, and expand his perspective as an educator.
But why Taiwan, of all places? â¤ī¸
Well, his girlfriend at the time happened to live there! That girlfriend became his wife, and today they have been married for approximately 15 years and are proud parents to two beautiful daughters, ages 13 and 7.
Sometimes life's greatest adventures lead you exactly where you're meant to be!
đē Finding His Home at MPVA
In the summer of 2018, Mr. O applied for a position at Meyerland, and former principal Mr. Sarabia gave him the opportunity to join the MPVA family.
Since then, he has spent the past eight years helping shape our Band Program, working alongside passionate educators, talented students, supportive families, private instructors, and members of the HISD community.
Mr. O is especially grateful for the band parents who have played such an important role in the program's success over the years. Their dedication and involvement help make so many memorable experiences possible for our young musicians!
He also gives a special shoutout to former Assistant Band Director Ms. Candace Jordan, whom he credits with helping shape the educator and person he is today. đ
And now, with Mr. Jacob Ward joining him, Mr. O is excited about the future of MPVA Band and the endless possibilities ahead!
đļ More Than Music
Behind every great school program is an educator who believes in the potential of their students.
For Mr. O, teaching has always been about more than the subject itself. Whether instructing martial arts, teaching English overseas, or directing a room full of young musicians, his journey reflects a lifelong commitment to helping others learn, grow, and discover what they're capable of achieving.
And that's exactly the kind of passion that makes MPVA such a special place!
đ THIS IS WHY WE ARE MPVA!
Our magnet programs are made extraordinary by educators who bring their unique experiences, talents, and dedication into our classrooms every single day.
Through our We Are MPVA fundraising campaign, we're celebrating the teachers and programs that create meaningful opportunities for our Greyhounds to explore their passions, develop their talents, and make memories that last well beyond middle school.
Thank you, Mr. O, for sharing your journey with us and for eight years of dedication to our students and the MPVA Band Program! We can't wait to see what you and Mr. Ward have in store for our Greyhounds! đēđĨđļ
đŽđđž CLUB SPOTLIGHT — GREYHOUND GAMERS! đžđđŽ
Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came! đļ
For the past 15 years, MPVA's Gamers Club, also known as Greyhound Gamers, has been a small but special community for students who share a love of video games, nostalgia, and all things geeky! And proudly leading the way is Mr. Mathis, whose passion for gaming history has created something much bigger than just an after-school club. đ
đšī¸ A Living Museum of Video Game History!
Gamers Club takes students on a journey through the evolution of video games, from PONG and the earliest home consoles of the 1970s to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360!
Each week, students travel to a different year in gaming history, exploring consoles in the order they were released. Through hands-on gaming stations, they experience the excitement and innovation that defined generations of gamers.
đŽ More Than Just Video Games
What makes this club truly special isn't the consoles or the games. It's the friendships, acceptance, and sense of belonging students find along the way.
There are no competitions, no pressure, and no expectations to be anyone other than yourself. Just students coming together over their shared love of gaming.
Mr. Mathis has watched students who struggled to make friends walk into Gamers Club and find connections within minutes. He's witnessed incredible kindness and empathy, especially among sixth graders who naturally step up to help one another.
đŦ As Mr. Mathis describes it, the club is a place where everybody knows your name and is always glad you came.
đ A Passion That Came Full Circle
Mr. Mathis's connection to MPVA runs deep. After completing his master's degree at the University of Houston, he was offered the opportunity to teach at what was then Johnston Middle School, one of the three schools he attended as a child!
Returning to his childhood school fulfilled a lifelong dream, and he wanted to share another passion with his students: the history of video games.
And just like that, Gamers Club was born!
Today, Mr. Mathis sees himself as the curator of his own gaming collection, giving classic consoles a new life by sharing them with a new generation.
đž Want to Join Greyhound Gamers?
đ Room 119
đ
Fridays | 4:00–5:30 PM
đŽ Open to 6th graders by application
đŠ See Mr. Mathis for more information!
This is what makes MPVA special! đ
Our teachers don't just teach. They share their passions, create opportunities, and build spaces where students can discover their interests and find their people.
Through We Are MPVA, we're celebrating the incredible teachers, programs, and experiences that make our school community so unique.
Thank you, Mr. Mathis, for 15 years of creating a place where our Greyhounds can be themselves, build friendships, and experience the magic of gaming history! đŽđ
đģđđž MEET MR. MAYNARD! đžđđģ
From the MPVA classroom to one of the largest music education conferences in the world, our Greyhound musicians are making some serious noise! đļ
We're shining the spotlight on Mr. Maynard, our incredible Orchestra Director, who is celebrating his 10th year at Meyerland!
But his connection to MPVA goes back even further. Before joining our faculty, Mr. Maynard was a Meyerland/Johnston parent for three years. He experienced the magic of MPVA firsthand as a parent before becoming one of the educators helping create that magic for the next generation.
đŧ A Legacy of Musical Excellence
The MPVA Orchestra has a long-standing tradition of excellence dating back to the 1980s under the direction of Dr. Brown.
What makes our program so special? It's the incredible range of talent that comes together in one classroom!
Some students arrive at MPVA having never picked up an instrument, while others enter with five or six years of playing experience. Mr. Maynard embraces the challenge of helping every student grow, from introducing beginners to their first notes to pushing experienced musicians toward extraordinary opportunities.
One of the program's most unique traditions is the Sinfonia Orchestra's annual 8th Grade Concerto Performance, an experience Mr. Maynard says he has never seen offered at another middle school!
đģ More Than an Orchestra — A Community Within a Community
Our orchestra students don't just learn to play music. They build friendships, develop discipline, challenge themselves, and become part of a community with its own special culture.
As students advance, they learn to hold themselves to high standards, something Mr. Maynard sees carry over into their other classes and throughout their MPVA experience.
Students also have opportunities to participate in UIL competitions, Solo & Ensemble, and All-Region Orchestra.
And one of the things Mr. Maynard loves most about Meyerland? Students don't have to choose just one passion! A Greyhound can be dedicated to orchestra while also pursuing another magnet art area, allowing them to explore multiple talents and interests throughout middle school. đ
đ NEXT STOP: CHICAGO!
Did you know our MPVA Orchestra is headed to Chicago to perform at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and Convention?! đ
This is one of the largest music educator conferences in the WORLD, and our Greyhounds have been selected as featured performers!
This is an incredible opportunity for our young musicians to showcase their talent on a major stage, surrounded by music educators, composers, and performers from around the world.
Even more exciting? Half of the pieces our students will perform were composed within the last one to two years, and several of those composers will actually be in attendance!
Imagine being just 11–14 years old and having the opportunity to perform music in front of the very people who created it. What an unforgettable experience for our Greyhounds! đļ
đ What Makes Mr. Maynard Proud?
For Mr. Maynard, it's the extraordinary diversity of talent that fills the halls of Meyerland.
One of his favorite events each year is the Fall Advanced Ensemble Concert, an event that left him absolutely blown away when he first attended as a prospective parent.
Now, ten years into teaching at MPVA, he gets to be part of creating those same experiences for other families.
He also wishes more people could experience our orchestra firsthand. While many know that MPVA has an outstanding orchestra program, hearing these students perform is something entirely different.
The level of musical intention, expression, and artistry coming from students as young as 11 years old is truly something you have to witness to appreciate!
đž THIS IS WHY WE ARE MPVA!
Behind every exceptional program is a passionate educator who sees the potential in our students and helps them achieve things they may have never imagined possible.
Our magnet programs aren't just extracurricular opportunities. They're communities where students discover their talents, develop confidence, build lasting friendships, and experience opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
Thank you, Mr. Maynard, for ten years of dedication to our Greyhounds, for continuing MPVA's incredible legacy of musical excellence, and for showing our students just how far their talents can take them!
Chicago, get ready! Our Greyhounds are coming! đģâī¸đ
Donate to Orchestra so they can get to Chicago: https://givebutter.com/sinfonia-orchestra-goes-to-the-midwest-clinic-8grlon
đž WE ARE MPVA: STAFF SPOTLIGHT — MEET MS. SENDEJAS! đž
22 years of dedication, two generations of family ties, and a passion for helping every Greyhound find their place! đ
We're shining the spotlight on Ms. Leticia Sendejas, MPVA's Magnet Coordinator, Title I Coordinator, and Gifted & Talented (G/T) Coordinator!
This December marks an incredible milestone for Ms. Sendejas — 22 YEARS at Meyerland! đ
But her MPVA story actually began before she ever became an employee. She first served our school community as a PTO member and VIPS volunteer, giving her time to support the very school she would eventually call her professional home.
đ A Journey Rooted in Meyerland
Over the years, Ms. Sendejas has worn many hats at MPVA! She began her career as the Special Education Clerk and Finance Clerk before moving into the classroom to teach 6th Grade World Cultures.
Today, she leads our Magnet Department, helping coordinate MPVA's incredible fine arts programs while guiding prospective families through one of the most exciting chapters of their children's educational journeys.
From their very first school tour to auditions and enrollment, Ms. Sendejas is there to help families navigate the magnet process, answer questions, and feel welcomed into our Greyhound community.
For her, it's about so much more than enrollment. It's about helping every student find where they belong.
đ¨đđļ A PLACE FOR EVERY STUDENT TO SHINE!
One of the things Ms. Sendejas loves most about Meyerland is that students never have to fit into just one box.
Yes, MPVA is known for its outstanding performing and visual arts programs, but there's SO much more to the Meyerland experience!
Our students have opportunities to explore:
đ Performing & Visual Arts
đ Gifted & Talented Programs
đ Athletics
đž Student Clubs & Activities
đ Leadership Opportunities
âī¸ Academic Enrichment
At MPVA, a student can be an artist AND an athlete. A musician AND a scholar. A performer AND a leader!
As Ms. Sendejas beautifully puts it: "At Meyerland, students can find their passion, find their people, and find their place." đ
đ More Than a School, It's a Community
When asked what she wishes more people knew about MPVA, Ms. Sendejas points to something that makes our school truly special: our diversity.
Meyerland is a community where students from different backgrounds, with different interests and abilities, come together and are encouraged to discover who they are.
It's a place where academic achievement, creativity, personal growth, and individuality are all celebrated. For Ms. Sendejas, getting to watch that growth firsthand is one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
From welcoming a nervous prospective student on their first tour to watching that same student confidently take the stage years later, she gets to witness the transformation that makes the MPVA experience so meaningful.
Whether she's attending a concert, watching a school play, or simply walking past the MPVA art gallery, she feels an incredible sense of pride seeing what our Greyhounds accomplish. đļđ¨
đž A FAMILY LEGACY AT MEYERLAND
Ms. Sendejas's connection to MPVA isn't just professional — it's personal!
Both of her children are proud Meyerland/Johnston alumni, and today, they've followed a path into education themselves, serving as teachers at Parker Elementary!
From PTO volunteer and MPVA parent to educator and Magnet Coordinator, her family's story is woven into the history of our school.
And after nearly 22 years, she continues to help new generations of families begin their own Meyerland journeys.
đ THIS IS WHY WE ARE MPVA!
Behind every incredible school are people who believe deeply in its students, its programs, and its community.
Ms. Sendejas represents so much of what makes Meyerland special: dedication, opportunity, diversity, and a genuine desire to see every child succeed.
Thank you, Ms. Sendejas, for nearly 22 years of service, for welcoming countless families into our Greyhound community, and for helping our students discover their passions and find their place at MPVA!
Your impact extends far beyond the Magnet Office, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our MPVA family! đđž
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đž WE ARE MPVA. WE ARE THE ARTS. WE ARE GREYHOUNDS!
đ Through our We Are MPVA 26–27 fundraising campaign, we're celebrating the incredible teachers, programs, and experiences that make our school so special.
Help us continue supporting opportunities that allow our students to learn, grow, and shine!
