The Denton Public School Foundation named Katherine Quinones as its new executive director, according to a district news release.

Some context: Quinones will head the nonprofit organization, which raises funds and provides support to Denton ISD students and teachers. Quinones, a Denton native who went to Denton High School, has more than a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations and community engagement, according to the news release.

“The Denton Public School Foundation plays a vital role in enriching the educational experience for our students and supporting our teachers and staff,” Denton ISD Superintendent Susannah O’Bara. “As a Denton High School alumna, Katherine knows firsthand the difference that scholarships, strong educators, and community support can make in a student’s life."

Quinones graduated from Texas Woman’s University and currently is the senior development manager at the United Way of Denton County. She has also served in stewardship roles at House of Shine Inc. and at Texas Woman’s University.

Looking ahead: Quinones will begin her new role July 6.

After years of teaching art classes in Northwest ISD and at her kitchen table, Texas Woman’s University alumna, artist and former art teacher Emile Stewart started Wildflower Art Studio in 2017 in the heart of Denton as a way to give adults a creative outlet.

What is there to do? Wildflower Art Studio hosts 20-30 art events each month. Stewart said the most popular events are the pottery, watercolor and lettering workshops, where guests make their own pottery and artwork under the guidance of an artist.

Some background: Before starting the studio, Stewart taught art in Northwest ISD, and painting and calligraphy classes at her kitchen table. Stewart received invitations to teach art classes in other places, but as a new mom at the time, she was unable to travel.

“I was teaching classes at my dining table and I started getting invitations to go and teach all over,” Stewart said. “I had a 2-week old baby so it wasn't feasible to hop on a plane.”

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Texas education officials gave preliminary approval June 23 to the state’s first mandatory reading list, which includes nearly 200 literary works that public school students would begin reading as soon as 2030.

The overview: The proposed list incorporates about a dozen stories from the Bible, including the tale of David and Goliath in second grade and direct biblical excerpts beginning in fourth grade. In total, students would be required to read more than two dozen texts in early elementary grades and about 10 literary works per year from sixth grade through high school.

What's happening: Members of the Republican-led State Board of Education voted 9-5 to cut several titles from the reading list June 23, following nearly eight hours of public testimony a day earlier.

More than half of those who testified June 22 asked the board to shorten the list, include more diverse authors and remove religious references. Others praised the SBOE for creating a list that they said would teach students about “American exceptionalism” and prioritize classical literature.