Lamar CISD Dedicates Slawinski Elementary, Honoring Longtime Educator

For 35 years, Alma Lemon Slawinski inspired generations of Lamar CISD students through her passion for theatre, storytelling, and education. On Wednesday, October 14, the district celebrated her lasting impact by formally dedicating one of its newest elementary schools in her honor. Located in Fulshear, Alma Lemon Slawinski Elementary School opened in August as part of the district's Purple Track, providing additional capacity to serve Lamar CISD's rapidly growing community. 

Following a brief ribbon-cutting outside the school, guests were welcomed inside by students for a dedication ceremony featuring student performers and remarks from family members and special guests, Slawinski Principal Steffenie Horelica, Board of Trustees President Jacci Hotzel, and Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens. 

“A school dedication represents so much more than the opening of a new building – it represents growth, vision, and possibility,” Hotzel said during her remarks. “As Lamar CISD continues to expand, each new campus reinforces our promise to provide exceptional learning environments where students can thrive.”

Among those attending to celebrate the occasion were friends, former students, and members of the Slawinski family, including Slawinski’s daughter, Becky Pustejovsky, who shared remarks about her mother and the impact she had on her own family, but also on the community and the students she served.

“For 35 years, my mom taught theatre and speech at Lamar Consolidated High School,” Pustejovsky said. “Her students knew her as ‘Mrs. S,’ and if you knew Mrs. S., you knew she was unforgettable. She loved theatre. She loved telling stories. She loved people. But most of all, she loved her students.” 

Following the dedication ceremony, attendees had the chance to take a campus tour led by Slawinski students. For Principal Horelica, it was a chance to honor the legacy of Alma Lemon Slawinski while establishing a new campus dedicated in her honor that will serve Lamar CISD students for generations to come.

“Opening a new school is something incredibly special,” Horelica said. “From the very beginning, we have had the opportunity to build more than classrooms and routines. We have been building a culture, creating traditions, and establishing what it means to be part of the Slawinski Elementary family.”