VALENTINE STORIES

LOCAL VALENTINES

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@myjarrell.com

Not too many words can make a person’s day brighter more than “love.” Meet Jarrell couples who have been saying it, and living it, from their first to their 50th anniversaries.

MILITARY MARRIAGE CHALLENGES

Bailey Easterwood never wanted to be a military wife, but she’s thankful for an amazing husband, family close by to help out, and understanding friends who make the challenges worth it.

Bailey and Zack Easterwood met in 2016 at a friend’s wedding, where she was a bridesmaid and he was a groomsman. Zack and the groom were in the same troop stationed at Fort Hood. “We walked down the aisle together and spent the whole night hanging out before exchanging numbers,” Bailey remembers.

The next week, he took her and her son Landon to a zoo in Waco for Landon’s third birthday. “We continued seeing each other almost daily at that point,” Bailey says. “He drove down after duty every day and would stay with us. He jumped right into the dad role for my son!”

Five months later they were married, and in 2017, they welcomed another son, Nolan, into their family. Being married to a military serviceman was difficult, as Bailey says, “I never wanted to be a military wife where I was told where to live and raise my kids.” Zack decided to leave the Army after four years of service, but the couple soon realized their health care situation wasn’t ideal, so he joined the National Guard.

While they didn’t intend to go through a deployment, especially during a pandemic, they are almost halfway through one now. Thankfully, they get to communicate a lot and video chat several times a day. “We constantly talk about ‘when you’re back we will...’ And it makes us happy and gives us things to look forward to! There are trips we want to take, things we want to make, and we just stay positive.”

She notes that communication is the key to their relationship and is thankful they have amazing communication. She is also grateful to have family close by to help out as well as new friends and other military wives who understand the hardships and are always ready for a coffee chat or a vent.

On the home front, Bailey stays busy, saying the more she does the less time there is to be sad. “I am thankful to have the most amazing husband and father of my boys!” she shares. “We can’t wait to have him back home with us in our arms.”

photo by Brandi Lacey Photography

photo courtesy of Tonya C. Sulak

IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH

Sharing a passion for square dancing and running businesses together, and enduring separation since New Year’s because of Covid—the last 60 years have been full of ups and downs for Carolyn and Ray Schubert.

The couple first met at church and, while Carolyn doesn’t remember exactly what it was about Ray that won her heart, she says she liked his personality, and “he was very handsome, I thought. He still is, I guess.”

The two made their home in Austin until Carolyn’s dad, longing to have his daughter and grandchildren nearby, gave them an acre of land in Jarrell to encourage them to set roots in his hometown. That was 50 years ago.

Ray worked for IBM before retiring and going into the hay baling business with Carolyn. They also tried their hands at catering; combining his barbecue skills with her side dish cooking. “We enjoyed it or we wouldn’t have done it as long as we did,” Carolyn says. But “finally your legs give up, everything starts hurting; it’s time to quit.”

They had a lot of fun and met many folks through their business collaborations, but Carolyn’s favorite memory of their time together is square dancing. “We loved that a lot,” she says. They danced until Ray’s knees eventually wore out, forcing them to quit their beloved hobby.

Today, they face a new health challenge, COVID. Carolyn hasn’t seen Ray since he was hospitalized in early January with pneumonia caused by coronavirus complications. Ray was put on a ventilator for seven days, but, thankfully, is on the road to recovery. “They keep telling me he’s slowly getting better,” she says.

Throughout the difficult experience, Carolyn says there have been good days. Nurses in ICU held a phone to his ear. He wasn’t able to respond, but the nurses said he reacted to the sound of her voice.

Looking back on their 60-year marriage, Carolyn says it’s been full of ups and downs, and through it all, they’ve learned to give and take. “You have to forgive and go on, and then the next day, everything’s all right again. You keep going. You don’t give up.” It also helps that they’re both Lutheran, as Carolyn notes, “a family needs to go to church together.”

LOCAL VALENTINES

HOMEGROWN ROMANCE

Betty Ann and Frankie Vrabel have a lot of Jarrell town pride. After all, it’s where they’ve done life together for the last 53 years—attending school, working, falling in love, and raising a family. “We’ve lived here all our lives,” Betty Ann says. “We’re Jarrell people and always will be."

The couple started out as friends, going out in a group to eat or see a movie in Georgetown or Temple, as “there was nothing here,” Betty Ann recalls. She remembers how, in those days, everybody knew each other.

Her friendship with Frankie turned romantic, and after 53 years of marriage, Betty Ann considers life with her best friend pretty normal. “You just don’t know anything else,” she shares. “We’re happy with it. It’s not a fairy tale or anything like that. We love each other. In those days, when you got married, you knew it was a forever thing.”

They’ve enjoyed life in Jarrell—Betty Ann worked at the Jarrell ISD library for 43 years while Frankie worked at the post office for 42 years, and the ISD until he retired.

Over the years they have overcome challenges, from their youngest son’s childhood illnesses and Frankie’s stroke, to the deaths of all their parents. They are thankful, though, to have their children living close by.

After being married more than 50 years, Betty Ann says it’s all about giving and taking, with their shared Catholic faith also playing a big role. “You have to give and agree on things and just be happy together,” she says.

photo courtesy of Betty Ann Vrabel

EDUCATION

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com photo courtesy Jarrell ISD

Welcome, Dr. Toni Hicks, Superintendent

Anative Texan, Dr. Toni Hicks came to Jarrell ISD from nearby Liberty Hill, which she says is a great transition because she already knows so many people in her new community who are eager to help. “I love that, while we are a fast-growing community, there are so many people raising their kids here who were also raised here, as were their own parents. There is a rich history in Jarrell—I felt it as soon as I got here. It’s great to be part of it.”

With more than 25 years in education, Dr. Hicks is a successful leader who is passionate about student and adult learning, collaborative environments, and continuous improvement, which makes her a good fit for JISD. “The people in this community support one another, they are embracing the growth. We all know it will make Jarrell a place with greater opportunities for the families who live here. Even so, many people here already routinely go above and beyond to help the students, and the community. I am pleased to have such a vibrant team by my side.”

FUTURE PLANNING

In the more immediate future, although still a few months out, Dr. Hicks is already hard at work to try to hold as many of the typical celebrations, in the safest way possible, for all students this year, particularly seniors. “We want to want to try to provide those milestones for students and their families, but make sure we are certain of the logistics for everyone’s safety.”

For the long-term, Dr. Hicks is working with the Facilities Planning Committee to make recommendations for long-range growth. “Based on demography, we will be a fast-growth district (greater than 10 percent annual growth) for the next ten years. I am grateful to have the commitment and resources of those coming together to move us forward.”

As the “CEO” of everything that goes on in the District, she is as enthusiastic about receiving a grant for more radio equipment on school buses as she is about the ladies’ volleyball team reaching the playoffs.

“I know every educator says this, but I get out of bed every day to make the difference. I truly believe education is the game changer. It can turn around a child’s situation or disadvantages, and put them on a trajectory for success and caring for their family. I want to make that difference for kids and their parents, to help us all continue to build strength and leadership capacity.”

GREAT NEWS FOR THE BOTTOM LINE

MILLIONS SAVED

Jarrell ISD leveraged a very low interest rate of 1.95% giving taxpayers $3.4M interest savings on bond debt. School districts may refinance bonds when current bonds are eligible. This allows the school district to seek a lower interest rate—saving local taxpayers future interest.

Jarrell ISD Chief Financial Officer Robert Navarro said, “The Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees is maintaining strong financial practices. This refunding has resulted in significantly lowering this future debt service amounts.”

The district has been monitoring bond market conditions as interest rates drop to all-time lows. In a fastgrowth community like Jarrell ISD, it is imperative to investigate and take advantage of all additional saving opportunities that will better position the district. This ensures future capacity to fund student needs while being mindful of the tax impact on taxpayers.

Dr. Hicks said, “Jarrell ISD is focused on being fiscally responsible. We take our responsibility of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars seriously, and this action, approved by our Board, reflects that commitment.”