Getting Started Early
Crowley ISD now offers full-day pre-kindergarten at all campuses
Also in this issue: College Prep From A College Rep Industry Skills In The Classroom Construction Projects Update
#CISDGameChangers Fall 2018
Highlights PAGE 7 | COLLEGE PREP FROM A COLLEGE REP Full-time TCU advisers in Crowley ISD high schools help make the college dream a reality.
PAGE 8 | GETTING STARTED EARLY Crowley ISD expanded its pre-kindergarten program to full day for four-year-olds at all campuses.
PAGE 10 | INDUSTRY SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM Career and tech teachers enjoy summer exertnships to stay on top of their game.
PAGE 12 | BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Pardon our construction, but Crowley ISD has many exciting projects in progress.
PAGE 14 | SUPPORTING INNOVATION The Chisholm Trail Education Foundation for Crowley ISD delivers nearly $30,000 in innovative teaching grants.
PAGE 19 | ADVANCED SCHOLARS Crowley ISD celebrates 73 Advanced Placement (AP) scholars from Crowley and North Crowley high schools.
North Crowley cheerleaders get the crowd on its feet as football, fight songs and fall weather fill up Friday nights.
Crowley ISD Board of Trustees June W. Davis, President Mia Hall, Vice President Lyndsae M. Benton, Secretary Gary Grassia, Assistant Secretary La Tonya Mayfield, Ph.D. Ryan Ray, J.D. Nedra Robinson Superintendent Michael D. McFarland, Ed.D. CISD Communications & Marketing Anthony Kirchner, Executive Director Jaime Handy, Director Megan Middleton, Multimedia Manager Matt Hoover, Webmaster/Digital Content Special thanks to Bell Flight, Safran, Texas Health Huguley Hospital, TCU College Advising Corps, STEM Center at the Univ. of Texas at Austin Crowley ISD Connections Design by CISD Communications Team Printing by MGM Printing Interested in Advertising? info@schoolrevenuepartners.com Send your story ideas to news@crowley.k12.tx.us
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 3 5 15 16 20
McFarland Message Board Spotlight Nationally Known #CISDGameChangers Ask CISD Kids
If you find this icon inside the magazine, we have a video for that story on the CISD YouTube page!
ON THE COVER
Pre-kindergartner Christian Wilson enjoys a book during his reading station.
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CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
superintendent message from Dr. McFarland I have had the privilege of being superintendent of Crowley ISD for one year now, and what a phenomenal year it has been. This community has welcomed me with support and encouragement, and I am so thankful to be part of this team. As I look back on these last 12 months, there are many accomplishments to celebrate. Students are making academic gains, and our staff is working diligently to reach our goal of making Crowley ISD the top educational choice in Tarrant County. One way we will meet this goal is by giving our youngest students a head start. The expansion of early childhood programming is already a success with more than 900 3- and 4-year-old students enrolled in new pre-kindergarten classes that you can read about in this magazine. College and career readiness for all students is also crucial. Be sure to check out the article about our partnership with TCU that is helping more students go to college, and learn about Crowley ISD’s College Fair happening on Oct. 30. We also have exciting updates on several construction projects throughout the district. More families are moving into the community, and our enrollment continues to grow. These new buildings will provide learning spaces for generations to come. You can be proud of the wonderful things happening across Crowley ISD. Visit our website, and follow us on social media to see more of the great things students and staff are accomplishing.
Thank you for supporting our schools,
Dr. Michael D. McFarland Superintendent, Crowley ISD
#CISDGameChangers Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 3
Download Today! THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF CROWLEY ISD
School Board Spotlight Gary Grassia, Assistant Secretary Place 6 Trustee Gary Grassia, a Crowley ISD parent and Fort Worth business owner, believes education is a crucial foundation in life — whether it leads to college or a different path. “There are a number of different avenues than just college,” Grassia said. “I want to make sure that Crowley ISD is preparing these kids for the real world. I think Crowley is doing a great job, especially with some of the new programs that are coming out and the CTE [Career and Technology Education] Center and not just having the traditional mindset of, if you don’t go to college, you’re not going to make it.” Grassia joined the Board of Trustees in 2015 because he had three daughters, two who have since graduated, in Crowley ISD schools and to ensure that all voices in the district are heard, he said. Currently the owner of Simply Fondue in the Sundance Square area of Fort Worth, Grassia and his wife previously owned The Little Gym locations in Arlington and Fort Worth for 15 years. In addition to owning the business, he helped teach the more than 25,000 children who attended The Little Gym. He taught gymnastics, swimming, piano and other activities.
“Children really are my passion,” he said. Grassia and his wife, Jennifer, have three daughters: Victoria, a North Crowley High graduate attending Stephen F. Austin University; Annaliese, a North Crowley High graduate attending the University of Texas in Austin; and Juliana, an 11th grader at North Crowley High. Grassia graduated from Southwest High School in Fort Worth in 1993 and attended East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University – Commerce, for one year, but ultimately he chose to pursue other career opportunities outside of a college setting. Hands-on learning opportunities for students, such as those offered at the CTE Center, are important for many students, and Grassia wants Crowley ISD’s efforts in that and other areas to stand out. “My hope for Crowley ISD is that other people outside of the district say, ‘Let’s go to Crowley. Have you seen what they’re doing?’” Grassia said. Fun Fact: Grassia has a musical family. He plays the trombone and all three of his children have been in band. His oldest and youngest daughters play the trombone, and his middle child and wife play the flute.
Alongside other men and father figures, Grassia welcomes students to school for Crowley ISD’s annual Million Father March event in September.
2018-19 Board of Trustees Back Row (L-R): Assistant Secretary Gary Grassia, Nedra Robinson, La Tonya Mayfield, Ph.D., Ryan Ray, J.D. Front Row: Secretary Lyndsae M. Benton, Superintendent Michael D. McFarland, Ph.D., President June W. Davis, Vice President Mia Hall Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 5
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CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
College Prep from A College Rep Full-time TCU advisers in Crowley ISD high schools help make college dream a reality Written by Megan Middleton It’s lunchtime at the North Crowley High School Go Center, and TCU grad Audrianna Ebel bounces from student to student, fielding questions about online college applications, financial aid and deadlines for college entrance exams. Helping students navigate the chaotic waters of life after high school is her full-time job, especially as it relates to college. “A lot of students, their parents might not have gone to college, or college isn’t necessarily a conversation at home,” Ebel said. “So many students here don’t even know where to begin, so I really try to serve as that resource to help them understand that college can be a possibility for them.” Ebel is one of 24 college advisers serving area high schools as part of the TCU College Advising Corps. Advisers also work in the Arlington, Birdville, Everman, Fort Worth, Lake Worth and White Settlement school districts. Based within the TCU College of Education’s Center for Public Education, the program aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education from the greater Fort Worth community, said Matt Burckhalter, director of the TCU College Advising Corps.
Participating districts contribute $10,000 toward each full-time adviser position, with TCU and other funding partners providing the bulk of the cost. Advisers were hired at Crowley and North Crowley high schools starting in the 2015-16 school year. “Crowley ISD has been an exceptional partner,” Burckhalter said. “Every year since partnering, more CISD students have met with a college adviser, applied to college and completed their financial aid applications.” In the last two years, the number of students who applied to college went from about 65 percent to 98 percent, Mike Mundt, advanced academics coordinator, said, noting the number of students who went on to actually attend college also increased. “The program absolutely works,” Mundt said. “The program has tangible goals and tangible benefits for our students. The students have responded tremendously.” Juan Cardoza, a North Crowley senior, wasn’t interested in pursuing college at first, but Ebel helped change his perspective. “She influenced me to look into college more, and honestly, that’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me in high school,” Cardoza said. “She’s taken me step by step and made me realize that college is the best thing for me.” Each adviser is a recent TCU graduate who has attended a six-week training program in addition to ongoing training activities, Burckhalter said. Being recent college graduates and only serving for two years helps support the “near-peer” advising model. “Our advisers are in a great position to advocate to high school seniors and share the message, ‘If I can do it, you can do it,’” Burckhalter said. Adaria Spears, Crowley High School college adviser, said she didn’t have a college adviser when she was in high school and relied on her mom for help. But many students are the first-generation in their families to attend college and need that outside assistance. “Being that person they can talk to about things they don’t understand and to be that support figure for them is just really important to me,” Spears said. “These kids deserve great opportunities they wouldn’t necessarily get if this role wasn’t established.” Advisers at CHS and NCHS said they enjoy making a difference in students’ lives. “Knowing that I helped a student pursue a dream they never even thought could be a possibility for them,” Ebel said, “it’s such an amazing feeling.”
Audrianna Ebel, a TCU graduate and college adviser at North Crowley High School, assists a student in the Go Center on campus. Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 7
Getting Started Early
Crowley ISD now offers full-day pre-kindergarten at all campuses Written by Megan Middleton Daarina Daughtry was a little apprehensive about enrolling her 4-year-old son in a full-day Pre-K program. Levi had never been in daycare, and she wondered how independent he would be away from her. “There are so many worries that you have because they are little,” Daughtry said. But those fears soon were eased when she picked up Levi from Parkway Elementary School for the first time. “On that first day, he jumped in the car and was like, ‘I had so much fun, it was really good,’” she said. “He was settled in definitely by the first few days.” Levi is among the more than 900 Pre-K students attending classes across Crowley ISD this school year. The district expanded its Pre-K program for the 2018-19 school year, making it possible to educate an additional 418 students this year. The district now offers half-day Pre-K for 3-year-olds, full-day Pre-K for 4-yearolds and partners with Head Start to offer additional Pre-K services for both ages at a limited number of campuses. “It is truly an exciting time in Crowley ISD,” Dr. Helena Mosely, executive director of elementary education, said. “With the Pre-K expansion, our Board of Trustees made a huge investment into the community.” The expansion makes it possible for more children to get a jumpstart on their educational journey. “We have the opportunity to allow them to experience school two years before their kindergarten age time,” Mosely said. “When we talk about being ‘kinder ready,’ we’re both talking about academically and socially. That’s a huge advantage for our students.”
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BY THE NUMBERS
Pre-K students last year Pre-K students this year (82% increase) Student:Teacher ratio
During Pre-K, students can begin developing their early literacy skills, which can set them up for greater success as they move through CISD schools. Research shows that if students are reading on their grade level, they are more likely to attend school regularly, more successful in their classes and more likely to graduate. “The investment we have made in the community has lasting dividends for us,” Mosely said. “Not only are we educating students to be on grade level so they are more successful as they go through school. We also know that we are providing them with lifelong, lasting skill sets that take them beyond our doors.” 8
CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
Levi (right) said painting is his favorite thing to do at school.
After just the first couple months of school, Daughtry sees changes in Levi’s skills. “I’ve seen him starting to use more application and comprehension,” she said. “Now he wants to sound out the words you’re saying. You can see his brain is constantly turning from things he’s learning in school and applying at home.” He even jumps in to help his sister when she practices her first-grade spelling words, she said. Before school began, Daughtry had worried about how tired Levi might get going to school for a full day as opposed to a half day, as her older daughter had done. “Now seeing him in a full day (class), it’s perfect,” she said. “It works for them. The way they have the curriculum set up, it’s not too much. It’s just enough for them to keep going, to not get exhausted, to not get tired out and to keep that interest burning.” Levi loves reading, painting and crafts — anything hands on, she said. “We’re not even fully home yet, and he’s already pulling out what he’s done for the day,” she said. “‘Look, I painted this,’ and, ‘Look, I wrote this. We learned the letter C today, and I was able to write my name.’ He likes to be able to show his work.” Daughtry said she would recommend the program to other parents who might have reservations like she had. “Actually having this opportunity, I would not be apprehensive again,” she said. “My other (children) — Pre-K, here we come!” Learn more about Crowley ISD’s Pre-K program and the eligibility requirements at www.crowleyisdtx.org/PreK
Watch some of our pre-kindergarten students learn on the Crowley ISD YouTube Channel.
Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 9
Industry Skills in the Classroom Career and tech teachers enjoy summer externships to stay on top of their game Written by Megan Middleton Quinton Barnes spent 40 hours this summer investigating the effect of space travel on immune cells. A biomedical science teacher at the B.R. Johnson Career & Tech Center, Barnes examined the immune cells of humans and mice, exposing them to gamma rays and simulating microgravity all during a teacher externship at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. The experience was not only a chance for him to reconnect with his biomedical industry background but also discover fresh ideas he could bring back to his classroom this school year. He hopes to recreate the experiment with his high school students and get their take on new ways to approach it. “I hope it enthuses them and drives them to want to do more in the biomedical science field,” he said. Barnes was one of 10 Crowley ISD CTE teachers who participated in 40-hour externships this summer as part of the Tex2 Texas Teachers Externships grant-funded program from the STEM Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
$15,000 Value of each grant 20 Grants given statewide 7 School districts received grants 10 Career and Tech externships created 10 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
TEACHER EXTERNSHIPS The goal of the program is to give educators a chance to connect the classroom with the workplace. “It’s a different professional development opportunity,” said Ellie Goldberg, teacher externships project manager with the STEM Center at UT Austin. “Teachers can really experience what they’re teaching in the real world.” Crowley ISD received one of 20 grants given statewide to school districts, education service centers, charter schools, a nonprofit and institutions of higher education. With the help of the $15,000 grant, teachers were compensated for their time working in the summer. For teachers with industry experience, it was a chance to stay current on workplace trends and skills, and for others without that background, it was a chance to see firsthand what is expected on the job. “It’s a dream we’ve always had, to let teachers have the time in industry to see updated skills, soft skills and technical skills to make sure our curriculum is relevant,” said Annette Duvall, CISD director of college and career readiness. “The teachers were so enthusiastic and just bubbling over with good things they had observed. It was affirming to teachers that they are teaching the right thing.” Throughout the school year, teachers are incorporating what they learned into lessons and working on project-based learning units to teach. They also presented their findings as professional development to other CTE teachers.
BELL FLIGHT Amanda Renfro, a CTE engineering teacher, plans to have her Intro to Engineering and Design students work on a real-world problem she saw engineers tackle at Bell Flight, formerly known as Bell Helicopter, where she did her externship. Renfro’s students will examine a design flaw, come up with solutions and possibly model and print them using 3D technology. While at Bell, she saw a range of skills her students can work on, including digital file organization, following specific processes, time management, collaboration and communication. “The whole 40 hours I was like, ‘I could use this, I could do this,’” she said, excited about the ideas sparked by her experience. Since her background is in education and not engineering, Renfro said the externship gave her greater insight into the field and has provided opportunities to draw connections in class. “I’ve been able to say OK, I can tell you this because when I was at Bell, this is what I saw, this is what I did,” Renfro said. “It just gives me that credibility when I am teaching. There are reasons for this. You are actually going to be doing this.” SAFRAN Joseph Patterson, also a CTE engineering teacher, devoted his 40 hours to Safran in Grand Prairie. He got to visit with a range of employees, including engineers, technicians, sales representatives and an export/import liaison. “The thing that was universal was the work ethic,” Patterson said. “You can’t always be ahead of all the technology, but you can always work hard and work well.” He saw the importance of procedures, organization and using a process to solve problems. “How you solve the problem matters because the process you use could transcend any positon you have, any endeavor,” he said. “That is what is the life skill.” He’s changed how students work on teams because of his experience, being more precise in the assignment of team roles and has set more definitive expectations with students regarding employability skills, such as dress code compliance, punctuality and collaboration. Patterson said he appreciates the opportunity to see firsthand what’s ahead for students on their career paths and to reflect on what he needs to do to get them there. “It allows teachers to walk the walk in addition to talk the talk,” he said. “We’re so often tasked with presenting things that we think are true. Getting to see the reality of the situation is something that all teachers need.”
Like other participants, Patterson hopes his relationship with Safran won’t end with the externship but result in student field trips, job shadows and internship opportunities. TEXAS HEALTH HUGULEY HOSPITAL Jerico Thurman, CTE health science teacher and nurse for 12 years, returned to her former workplace, Texas Health Huguley Hospital, for her externship, where she shadowed a patient advocacy nurse. In the first six weeks back at school, Thurman focused on teaching adaptability and professionalism after seeing and hearing about the importance of those skills at Huguley. Part of how she teaches students these skills is through modeling them, she said. She greets students by using “Miss” or “Mister” and their last name, shaking their hands when they enter her classroom. “The price of admission to my classroom is shaking my hand and saying, ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon.’ They have to make eye contact with me,” Thurman said. “They seem to be responding very well to that.” Externships keep teachers current and relevant, and, like others, she’d participate again. “It raises us up a notch in the community — the fact we’re going to industry and saying, ‘How can we provide better for you? How can we teach our kids what you desire?’ I love it.”
Quinton Barnes UNT Health Science Center Joseph Caruthers Fort Worth Photo Lab and Omni Photo Services Michelle Dias and Jerico Thurman Texas Health Huguley Hospital
Melissa Porter VLK Architects Amanda Renfro Bell Flight Rodger Roberts and Raphael Smith Crowley eRepairz Emily Sims Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
Joseph Patterson Safran
Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 11
Building For The Future
Pardon our construction, but Crowley ISD has many exciting projects in progress Enrollment is climbing in Crowley ISD, reaching an all-time high of more than 15,700 students as of September. With more new homes being built across our fast-growing district, Crowley ISD is prepared for long-term growth. These construction projects, funded by the 2007 bond package, will benefit students of all ages across the district. • New Elementary School – On schedule to open in fall of 2019, this new school is located off McPherson Boulevard in the Chisholm Trail Ranch neighborhood. New attendance zones for this school will be announced before the end of 2018. • New Career and Tech Education (CTE) Center/Crowley Collegiate Academy – Plans are in the final stages for this state-of-the art facility that will be located next to the Sewell Agricultural Science Center on Longhorn Trail in Crowley. The current CTE building will become a fourth middle school, as originally designed. Both are scheduled to open to students in the fall of 2020. • Fine Arts Expansions – Musicians at Crowley High and North Crowley High will have more practice space with band hall and choir room additions that are set to be complete in 2019. The NCHS auditorium also is being enlarged with 300 new seats. • North Crowley High Gym Expansion – 700 more seats are being added to the home gym at NCHS. The extra space will create a total capacity of 2,000, comparable to other 6A high schools in the area. Fans will be able to see the Panthers play in the expanded gym in the fall of 2019. • Crowley Ninth Grade Addition – An academic wing is being added to the west side of the Crowley Ninth Grade Campus that will include six new classrooms and two science labs. The campus also will have a new lecture hall and expanded library. Work is scheduled to be complete in time for the start of next school year. • New Operations Facility - This building, scheduled to open in January of 2020, will be home to the Maintenance, Safety and Technology departments and will be south of the current facility off Crowley/Cleburne Road.
12 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECTED TO OPEN FALL 2019
NEW CAREER AND TECH EDUCATION (CTE) CENTER PROJECTED TO OPEN FALL 2020
NORTH CROWLEY HIGH GYM EXPANSION PROJECTED TO OPEN FALL 2019
CROWLEY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY CAMPUS PROJECTED TO OPEN FALL 2020
Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 13
Supporting Innovation The Chisholm Trail Education Foundation for Crowley ISD Delivers 14 Teaching Grants The Chisholm Trail Education Foundation (CTEF) awarded nearly $30,000 in innovative teaching grants to Crowley ISD educators during employee convocation in August. The foundation was created to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education of all students in Crowley ISD. Foundation president Bonnie Barksdale said the board of directors was proud to help fund 14 different projects submitted by employees from across the district. In the last three years, the CTEF has awarded 35 total grants for more than $90,000. The foundation is hosting a pair of fundraising events this fall. The 13th annual golf tournament will be Oct. 21 at Waterchase Golf Club. On Nov. 4, there will be a 5K run/mile fun run that will start and finish at North Crowley High School. Support our teachers and classrooms by registering today at www.CTEFforCISD.org. 2018-19 CTEF Teaching Grant Recipients
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CISD Intermediate Battle of the Books - districtwide Panther Emporium - North Crowley High School CISD Panther Olympics - Crowley and North Crowley high schools Butterfly Metamorphosis - Dallas Park Elementary School Making Connections Disability Resources for All Ages - districtwide Achieving and Conserving with Rocketbooks - Mary Harris Intermediate School Little Free Library - J.A. Hargrave Elementary School Books for All - Mary Harris Intermediate School Be Safe - How to Interact Safely with Police - districtwide Bilingual Vocabulary Enrichment - J.A. Hargrave Elementary School Suited for Success - Crowley Middle School Dragon’s Drama Club - Deer Creek Elementary School Reluctant Reader’s Program - North Crowley High School Automation and Robotics through Programming - Crowley Middle School
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14 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
Nationally Known Gracie Pipes claims fifth in the nation at Educators Rising competition for speech on absenteeism Crowley ISD has a proud tradition of graduating students that choose education and teaching as their career path. Senior Gracie Pipes comes from a family of educators. Her father, Sam, is a learning coach at CISD’s Global Prep Academy, and her grandmother, Evelyn, is a retired educator who taught at Bess Race Elementary. As a junior, Gracie served as the Region 11 President for the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), and she delivered a speech on student absenteesim that garnered first-place honors at TAFE regionals, second-place recognition at TAFE state and fifth overall at the national Educators Rising competition on Orlando, Fla. She also delivered her speech to more than 1,500 CISD educators and staff at the district’s Employee Convocation in August. How did you choose absenteeism for your speech? Pipes: “It was a prompted speech, so the entire nation had the same subject. It was a question of how schools and the nation could better understand absenteeism. We could take that prompt and take it however we wanted. They allowed us to be creative in how we presented it, using statistics or emotion. Public speaking is everything in education. It’s not the same as talking to adults, because you might have to change your voice or be silly if you’re working with elementary students, but we are definitely public speakers.”
When did you know you wanted to be a teacher? Pipes: “When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time making my sister be my student and giving her classwork to do. I would make her do worksheets and I would grade them. My grandma and dad are both teachers, and my mom did a lot of children’s ministry, so teaching has always been something that I’ve wanted to do. As I’ve gotten older, my plans have become more developed and thorough, but it’s always been my passion to be a teacher and have a classroom.”
A natural-born teacher, Pipes has an internship at Bess Race Elementary through CISD’s Education and Training program.
What is TAFE and why is it valuable to you? Pipes: “It’s a leadership student organization for future educators. We focus on competitions, public speaking, appreciation, community service, explore teaching careers and schools. It’s a lot of fun and all about education. It means a lot to have another club that really helps you get to where you want to be in your future and gives you more opportunities to be prepared. ” Why is education so important? Pipes: “Ms. Vroon (Education and Training teacher) always tells us that without teachers, there are no other professions. Learning to read and write can get you so far in life. Getting an education is the key to power and success, and without it, you can’t go much further than where you are.
Watch Gracie deliver her speech on the Crowley ISD YouTube Channel. Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 15
#CISDGameChangers
Follow Crowley ISD on social media to see photos and learn more about the fun activities and achievements on our campuses.
LEFT: Culinary students from the B.R. Johnson Career & Tech Center learn skills in a professional-grade kitchen and take their talents to the community through catering opportunities. BELOW: With a defender in his face, a Crowley Eagle receiver makes a tough grab in rainy conditions to help CHS claim a 42-28 victory over Brewer High.
ABOVE: AnnaMarie Martinez, a PEIMS clerk and Crowley Middle School soccer coach, was named the winner of the September Heartbeat Team Award. RIGHT: Bess Race Elementary has announced a new team member, Sooner, who will serve as a therapy dog for students and staff on campus.
16 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
ABOVE: In September, every school across Crowley ISD hosted Million Father March events to give fathers and father figures a chance to show students they support and care about them.
LEFT: After successfully defending his dissertation, Principal Dr. Clarence Williams was welcomed back to Mary Harris Intermediate by a cheering crowd of students and teachers.
RIGHT: To recognize Patriot Day on Sept. 11, students from Deer Creek Elementary heard from local police officers and firefighters. Students were able to ask questions about their jobs and learned how to react in an emergency.
LEFT: Crowley ISD hosted a Draft Day for fathers and father figures from across the district who are getting trained to be team captains for All-Pro Dad events.
Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 17
Advanced Scholars Crowley ISD Celebrates 73 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars Students from Crowley and North Crowley high schools earned 73 Advanced Placement Scholar awards in 2018 for college-level achievement demonstrated through AP courses and tests. Students take AP exams in May to test the knowledge they learned in AP courses, which offer college-level curriculum. “An AP Scholar award looks great on college applications and resumes and shows colleges that this student is willing to put in the time and effort for success,” said Annette Duvall, Crowley ISD director of college and career readiness. “CISD is committed to providing our students resources for college access, and we are extremely proud of these students for taking steps toward college credit hours.” There were 55 students who earned AP Scholar designations — recognition given to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. Crowley ISD also had 12 students awarded AP Scholar with Honor distinctions — given to students who receive an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of the exams. Twelve students earned AP Scholars with Distinction awards for scoring at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and receiving a score of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams.
National AP Scholar - Maximilian Dennis
CHS valedictorian Maximilian Dennis earned the distinction of National AP Scholar by receiving an average score of 4 on all AP exams taken and receiving a score of 4 or higher on eight or more of the exams. The highest score on an AP exam is a 5. Dennis took 12 AP exams total, including English Language Composition, Calculus, U.S. History and German Language and Culture, among many others. Dennis was also a member of the CHS boy’s soccer team and was named the Chevrolet Male Student-Athlete of the Year by local ABC affiliate, WFAA Channel 8.
Crowley High School
AP Scholar • Caitlyn Alexander • Mica Alexander • Olaide Bankole • Gillian Buckelew • Gualberto Delagarza • Tori Hall Luke Hernandez • Jacob Horton • Samantha Marner • Austin Marshall • Daniel Perez • Natalie Perez • Ryan Pham • Charles Ram Devin Traylor • AP Scholar with Honor • Amaya Ronczyk • Savanna Simmank • AP Scholar with Distinction • Maximilian Dennis Timbrel Hildebrand • Abraham Montes • Elizabeth Rhodes • National AP Scholar • Maximilian Dennis
North Crowley High School
AP Scholars • Reniery Aguilar • Tajh Bablington • Chloe Benton • David-Emmanu Bissou • Chrishaun Blake • Elia Caicedo Trishton Chang • Pauline Chess • Malie Cisneros • ShonNia Coffie • David Cumbee • Alesha Davis • Darby Durbin • Dina Dzemic Angel Fernandez • Erick Fernandez • Kaiya Goff • Annaliese Grassia • Amberly Hattaway • Derian Hewett • Jineesha Hira • Crystal Huynh April Kelley • Jose Lozano • Leslie Luna • Clarence Manglal-lan • Oliver Nelson • Van Nguyen • Collin Nikirk • Jenny Pham • Kyler Ramos Bader Shoufi • Joseph Simanski • John Stevenson • Subrajit Surendran • Dao Ton • Brenna Tromble • Jared Vargas • Matthew Wilson James Young • AP Scholar with Honor • Johnny Choi • Mateo Cordova • Connor Jameson • Cesar Martinez • Thevnin Remende Jimmia Tabe • Hunter Thompson • Victor Torres • Britney Tran • Joe Zahrah • AP Scholar with Distinction • William Barksdale Vincent Berardi • William Cobble • Corey Ellis • Dilan Nana • Keri Pursley • Thomas Supina • Logan Williams Fall 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 19
ASK
DS I K D CIS Dilynn Thompson
X-Zaveer McQuinnie
Lorenzo Clark
QUESTIONS
4th Grade, Parkway Elementary
What are you good at?
Math
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Teacher
Football player
Computer Engineer
Who is your hero?
Martin Luther King Jr.
My dad
My parents
If you were principal for a day, what would you do?
Longer specials
Change the water fountains to Kool-Aid
Give everyone the day off
Best invention ever?
The computer
Hoverboard
Mobile phones
What makes your school cool?
We have parties
The teachers
Diversity
What have you learned today?
3 act task for multiplication
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
Reasoning in algebra and geometry
Best phone/tablet app?
Dreambox
Snapchat
7th Grade, Summer Creek Middle
Basketball and football
9th Grade, North Crowley Ninth Campus
Listening
Best emoji?
20 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2018
Crowley Independent School District 512 Peach St. • Crowley TX 76036 817-297-5800 • www.crowleyisdtx.org
GRADUATION IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
COLLEGE FAIR 6-8 p.m. | Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | B.R. Johnson Career & Tech Center
Introduce yourself to more than 100 college and university representatives and get first-hand information about opportunities. FREE PARKING AND SHUTTLES Shuttle buses will run continuously between 5:30-9 p.m. from Crowley and North Crowley high schools. FOOD TRUCKS AND LIVE MUSIC Come hungry! Food trucks and vendors will be available as well as student performances. 8TH GRADE ENDORSEMENT PLANNING Two sessions: 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. Learn more about 8th Grade Endorsement Signing Night and the essential process of developing your student’s personal graduation plan.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! WWW.CROWLEYISDTX.ORG/CCMR @CrowleyCCMR
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COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS
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