VOL. 07
INSIDECARROLL
EXCELLENCE • RELATIONSHIPS • CHARACTER & INTEGRITY • INNOVATION OPEN & HONEST COMMUNICATION • COMPASSIONATE SERVICE
WE LOVE THE DRAGONS We love to welcome new families to the area and help them discover this wonderful place that is our home. We have both lived and worked in Southlake for over 20 years and raised our children in Carroll ISD. We also actively list and sell homes in Southlake. SOUTHLAKE SPECIALISTS · RELOCATION SPECIALISTS · LUXURY HOME SPECIALISTS
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Caring For Each Dragon
Superintendent & Mayor’s Message
TM
As a Southlake community, we are all Dragons. Together, we have been “Dragon Strong” as we experienced unprecedented times for the past 18 months. One of the many lessons COVID-19 taught us is that we are a resilient community. Every time we have faced challenges, we band together, rise and care for our friends and neighbors. This type of care builds a better community, a better tomorrow and a better future.
INSIDECARROLL
With our Dragon spirit, our schools are the bedrock of Southlake. Each school fosters
The Award-Winning Publication of Carroll ISD
community pride where children, parents and families come together to celebrate our students’
2400 N. Carroll Ave. Southlake, TX 76092 817.949.8222 SouthlakeCarroll.edu
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academic endeavors, performances and teams, as well as support our teachers and staff who have dedicated their lives to making a difference. Because of this care and support, families As our school year begins, we want to highlight our Dragons together in meaningful ways that transcend academics and go beyond the classroom walls. Throughout the school year, you will see our Dragon spirit in and out of our schools with #DragonsCare. We hope through this campaign, every student, parent, family and business will see the resiliency and care we have
STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS CISD SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Lane Ledbetter
for our community and for one another. Beginning this fall, every campus will lead the way highlighting #DragonsCare in our classrooms, hallways, on the field, on the stage and much more. Each week, a student organization will serve as #DragonsCare ambassadors by opening doors for their peers,
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Courtney Carpenter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Karen Fitzgerald ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Jill Webb COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Hayley Herring
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ashley Madonna Bradshaw David Dunn Lizzy Spangler
helping students connect with other students to expand their circle of friendships and being of service to others. By encouraging servant leadership, we are teaching our students that purposeful and intentional actions should lead to serving others with great compassion and care. Our #DragonsCare is at the heart of servant leadership. Beyond our students and families, we are so fortunate to have a strong and vibrant business community that demonstrates passion and care for Carroll ISD whether by supporting the We Care program for teacher and staff appreciation efforts, celebrating our students and alumni and much more. As a community, we are better together. As the Superintendent of Schools and Mayor of Southlake, we ask that you join our #DragonsCare effort by highlighting the ways your student, family or business celebrates and cares for others. With your posts, use #DragonsCare so everyone can see the beauty of our community and schools. With this hashtag of #DragonsCare, you will have an opportunity to be highlighted on CISD social media and other locations. We are all better together... #DragonsCare.
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Lane Ledbetter, Superintendent of Schools | John Huffman, Mayor of Southlake
INSIDE CARROLL • 01
FEATURES 06 #DRAGONSCARE 14 HAILEY HERNANDEZ 19 NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT 24 DR. LEDBETTER Q&A 35 BOND PROJECT WRAP-UP
#EXPECTEXCELLENCE
46 NEW FINE ARTS COMPLEX
02 • INSIDE CARROLL
WE ARE
DRAGONS
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CONTENTS 26 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION 28 CALLED TO SCHOOL SERVICE 30 NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS 44 DR. FALTYS RECEPTION 50 DISTRICT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR 54 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 56 TOP SOCIAL POSTS 58 CLASS OF 2021 63 SPOTLIGHT: ACADEMICS & ART
#EXPECTEXCELLENCE
72 SPOTLIGHT: ATHLETICS 84 SPOTLIGHT: COMMUNITY 96 PARTING SHOT
04 • INSIDE CARROLL
PROTECTING THOSE WHO PROTECT THE TRADITION. Proud sponsor of the Scholar Athlete of the Month
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Dragon athletes have been awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships. Insurance subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, Illinois © 2011 Allstate Insurance Company.
THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO Carroll ISD Launches #DragonsCare
A
s Carroll ISD embarks on the 2021-2022 school year, we would like to celebrate our Dragon community! Our teachers, staff and students exemplify what it means to be a Dragon. Get ready to meet some of our amazing staff members and learn why they are passionate about the CISD family. While each has a unique story, one theme is clear: The care that our teachers, staff and students have for others makes an impact that lasts for days, years and generations to come. With our theme this year, #DragonsCare, we hope you will learn a little bit more about what makes our district special and how we work together to make a better tomorrow. To see how #DragonsCare beyond this issue, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
06 • INSIDE CARROLL
CHRIS UNDERWOOD DURHAM INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER
He puts so much time and effort into ensuring that his math class is not only a place students enjoy coming to but also one where they will thrive. DRAGON PARENT
Middle school math teacher Chris Underwood personally experienced the influence great educators can have on their students. From an early age, he felt drawn to teaching. Chris now works with Durham Intermediate’s math department to keep his students engaged and excited about school. By focusing on real-world situations, whether it be through an architecture project or graphing the top 10 songs from various decades, Chris aspires to show students how math translates outside the classroom. And while he’s focused on ensuring they walk away with the necessary skills to succeed, he knows he also serves a bigger purpose. “I’m teaching math, but 10 years from now, you are probably not going to remember the lessons. You are going to remember the relationships,” Chris says. “I want to create that positive environment so the kids feel good about themselves and are eager to be here. I want them to know someone loves them.” Chris builds a familial community within his classroom by focusing on the humanity of each of his students. Every year, Chris invites his kids to participate in a student-driven classroom calendar to celebrate everything from birthdays to baseball games. He also invites his students and their families to run 5Ks with him once a month, helping them take their walls down and bond. Chris also keeps up with his former students to ensure they still feel cared for, often meeting up with past student groups to hear about their goals and aspirations. Because at the end of the day, Chris knows he is leaving an impact on every kid who walks through his classroom. “It’s not about anything but the relationships for me,” Chris says. “I love this profession.” INSIDE CARROLL • 07
RYAN CARR
CARROLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD NUTRITION MANAGER After 20 years in the food industry, Ryan Carr joined Carroll Elementary School’s child nutrition program in March 2018. After three months, he became the school’s nutrition manager thanks to his drive and dedication to the role. When he joined CES, his son was also in elementary school, so he felt he could relate to the students he served. By talking about video games and asking about their various sports teams, he started forming connections. Ryan says he loves watching the kids light up when they see him after walking into the cafeteria. “What drives me to come to work every single day is having the kids open up to me,” Ryan says. “Even though they may only see us 20 minutes a day, I have noticed you can really impact someone no matter the time or situation. I just always want to provide that positive energy for these kids.” Ryan takes the time to learn every student’s name so that they feel important when they walk into the cafeteria. Because he knows if he can make one Dragon’s day better, he has been successful. “I’m happy if I can just turn one frown upside down,” Ryan says. 08 • INSIDE CARROLL
” He wants the kids to have the best experience in the
cafeteria. That passion includes quality meals but extends into
relationships with students. He knows every student by name,
and they love visiting with him as they take their lunch. DIRECTOR OF CHILD NUTRITION
Susan Wilson
BEN SINGEL (276) DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | THEATRE TEACHER
” As a STEM teacher and coach,
she is pulled multiple directions every single day to support our students. She has continued to
build a civil engineering program
and works with students to better understand the construction
happening on our own campus. CHS PRINCIPAL
PJ Giamanco
WENDY STARKEY
CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL | STEM TEACHER As both a coach and a STEM educator, Wendy Starkey interacts with a variety of Carroll High School’s students, which she describes as the best of both worlds. In the morning, she may be talking to one student about coding, and in the afternoon, she could be discussing engineering as a career possibility with one of her cross-country athletes. In her classroom, Wendy discusses practical STEM topics centering around math and computer science, but she goes the extra mile to ensure she’s creating interactive, engaging lessons that her students can get excited about. She even pursued her certification in welding over the summer to add that to her classroom experience. But Wendy says she also wants to ensure her students leave prepared to tackle the real world. “As busy as everyone is in the world, our students need to learn some daily life skills,” Wendy says. “I always try to talk about that stuff. We teach them to be on time and to be kind. Those are the things I hope they take away from here as well.” Through her seven years with the district, Wendy says she’s been able to see how wonderful Carroll’s students are. “Our kids here are awesome. They come from good families, and they work really hard,” Wendy says. “The kids I have in my class are always really good to each other. I consider them a part of my family.” INSIDE CARROLL • 09
RHEA VOELKLE
SPECIAL PROGRAMS | SECTION 504 SPECIALIST After hearing about Carroll ISD’s excellent reputation, Rhea Voelkle joined the Dragon community as a new teacher in 2000. Following a decade of solo teaching various science classes, she started to co-teach with another educator to ensure the students with special needs had the assistance they needed. Throughout her time with the district, Rhea saw the population of Section 504 students grow and realized there was an opportunity to aid students with disabilities in a different way. Now going into her fourth year as a Section 504 specialist, Rhea sets up these students with an accommodation plan and is there to connect them with the support they need to find success within Carroll ISD. Rhea works with both Carroll High School and Carroll Senior High School students, so she can help Dragons start their educational journeys as freshmen and see them through until graduation. That time also ensures Rhea can build a relationship with each student, so they know they can reach out to her if they need additional assistance. “The more time you get to be with them, the more time you can build a rapport,” Rhea says. “I know the sole purpose of me being here is to love and support these kids, so they have someone they can go to when they have a concern.” By working with both students and parents, Rhea builds up trust with Dragon families so they know they have an advocate within the Carroll community. 10 • INSIDE CARROLL
” Rhea brings a positive energy to every situation. She seeks
to lift those around her as she goes above and beyond every
day to find new and innovative ways to serve students.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS STAFF MEMBER
” Larry has always been a guy
that is all about the kids and
helping them be successful. He is the true meaning of what it means to be a Dragon! ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Matt Miller
LARRY HUGHES TRANSPORTATION | BUS DRIVER
Former Dragon Baseball coach and psychology teacher Larry Hughes dedicated 30 years of his life to education. When he announced his retirement after 20 years with Carroll ISD, he decided that he still wanted to be a part of the community. Larry always drove the baseball team to away games, and he started driving a Carroll bus route around 20 years ago. “I really started enjoying the fact that I was doing something worthwhile for kids,” Larry says. So when he had more free time, Larry says it felt natural to keep up his route. Larry says he feels an immense responsibility in ensuring the safety of his Dragon passengers. And he knows that his interactions with the kids can make a difference. “You are getting people’s most valuable part of their lives and taking care of them,” Larry says. “Parents pass off their kids to us, and I want to be an extension of that. I really look at it as protecting the kids.” Larry has had his share of long nights, especially during baseball season when his days would start with the bus route and end with a late game, but he says he has always enjoyed working for the district. “I love working with Carroll,” Larry says. “I just enjoy doing this, and I’ll keep doing it until I can’t physically.” INSIDE CARROLL • 11
BEN SINGEL
DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | THEATRE TEACHER Dawson theatre teacher Ben Singel says he didn’t originally set out to be an educator, but when he learned about the opening at Dawson Middle School, he couldn’t pass up on the opportunity. The Carroll alum benefited from the school district’s wonderful teachers, and he saw the chance to also make a difference in students’ lives. “It’s been phenomenally rewarding,” Ben says after reflecting on his first year with Carroll ISD. Ben tapped into his creativity last year while trying to work within COVID-19’s limitations. But he made the most out of the chances he was given. Instead of hosting a traditional production, Ben and his students filmed their take on “High School Musical” around the Dawson campus, giving each of his students a memorable experience despite their circumstances. He says that the campus’ administration and staff went above and beyond to help the project come together, doing everything from unlocking the gym so they could capture their basketball scenes to staff members working with the actors on their ball skills and cheerleading choreography. “Even in a time where we are so separated, it’s been amazing to see us all have a community,” Ben says. Ben says relationships come naturally to those within the theatre department because his students need to exhibit a level of vulnerability to perform. Plus the group spends long hours together with countless rehearsals and filming different takes. Even when the job gets tough, Ben says that seeing his students’ passion for theatre keeps him inspired. “If I can see that spark of excitement in my students, that can get me through the next hour or two,” Ben says. 12 • INSIDE CARROLL
Mr. Singel is very encouraging to watch work! DMS STAFF MEMBER
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DIVING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Four-Time State Champion Hailey Hernandez Becomes An Olympian
C
arroll has no shortage of champions emerging from its athletics programs. But few compare to Hailey Hernandez. A 2021 Carroll graduate, four-time diving state champion and now Olympian, Hailey broke nearly every district and state record before she qualified for the 3-meter springboard at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Hailey says she started diving at 7 years old because of her brother Nathaniel. “He’s been a big inspiration to me,” Hailey says. “I’ve always looked up to him, and he was always teaching me stuff. I wanted to be just like him.” It didn’t take long for Hailey to shine. Throughout her diving career, she was the 2016 USA Diving Winter National 3-meter champion, a 2017 Junior Pan American Championship gold medalist and a 2018 World Junior Championship silver medalist by the time she was 15. She was a 10-time junior national champion by the time she became a freshman. “I just love the thrill of the sport: flipping, being able
14 • INSIDE CARROLL
to do all kinds of crazy things and conquer my fears,” Hailey says. “I think that’s what really drew me into it.” Hailey continued to make a splash in her freshman year, winning the 6A Diving State Championships and breaking the state record with a score of 519.95. She continued to win first place and break records at every state championship thereafter. “She holds the top all-time state champion scores all four years consecutively,” Hailey’s former diving coach Carolyn Hyorchuk says. “There are only three girls in diving history to hold four-year state champ titles, and Hailey beat their score each year by more than 80 points.” At the same time, Hailey won the All-American Diving Championships for all four years of high school. “I’m really just focusing on myself — the little things I need to do to push myself and putting more time and dedication into the pool,” Hailey says. After graduating from Southlake Carroll, Hailey has continued to be victorious. During the Olympic Trials
in Indianapolis over the summer, Hailey was one of two divers to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo and competed in July. Carolyn doesn’t think the world is done hearing Hailey’s name. “Hailey has been such a joy to coach,” Carolyn says. “Her raw talent sets her apart. She is not average — she is gifted in her athletic abilities. Her dedication and commitment to her training are far beyond many athletes.” As for Hailey, she will start studying biology at the University of Texas this fall to become a physician’s assistant. She says her biggest goal going forward isn’t to break another record or win another championship — it ’s just to be the very best diver that she can be. “I’ve been able to continue to grow all these years not just as an athlete winning state titles, but as an international competitor,” Hailey says. “I’m most proud of making a name for myself. I know a lot of great athletes came from Carroll, so just being able to be known as one of the best is such an amazing accomplishment to me.” 16 • INSIDE CARROLL
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A New Deputy In Town Meet Dr. Courtney Carpenter
I
n April 2021, the Carroll ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved creating a new administrative position: Deputy Superintendent. Superintendent Dr. Lane Ledbetter says the position’s purpose is to bring the district together and discover new ways to succeed. “This position is really about alignment of our district,” Dr. Ledbetter says. “It’s meant for someone to come in and focus on this idea of continuous improvement and building capacity in all areas of our district.” After Dr. Ledbetter nominated Dr. Courtney Carpenter, the trustees once again came together to approve the appointment. Dr. Carpenter joined the Carroll ISD family on May 17 after acting as the interim superintendent for Midlothian ISD. Now going into her 24th year in education, Dr. Carpenter says she’s excited to build relationships, listen and learn from various stakeholders and provide a shared vision for maximizing the potential of all CISD learners.
COMING TO CARROLL ISD Dr. Carpenter says she knew early on that she wanted to make a difference through her career, so she gravitated toward education. Seeing how she can wake up each morning and leave the world a little better than she found it keeps her inspired. “It provided an avenue for me to serve families,” Dr. Carpenter says. Teaching students from third to eleventh grade allowed Dr. Carpenter to make connections with a variety of students over her tenure. She’s also worked at various schools (including a bilingual campus and a Title 1 campus), opened a new construction campus, served three years in curriculum instruction and oversaw a department as executive director. When Dr. Ledbetter joined Midlothian ISD in 2015, she saw how he brought the community together to develop a shared vision, clear direction and a focus on being intentional to inspire excellence. “He encouraged us to take our personal education to the next level,” Dr. Carpenter says. “He was intentional to grow others.” Dr. Ledbetter not only inspired Dr. Carpenter to pursue her educational doctorate, which she says shaped
I’m learning where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to go. That helps honor the past and set up the groundwork for moving forward. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
Dr. Courtney Carpenter
INSIDE CARROLL • 21
her as a leader, but also pushed her thinking and challenged her to take risks. “He really helped me understand the importance of aligned curriculum, teaching and professional development,” Dr. Carpenter says. After Dr. Ledbetter left Midlothian ISD, Dr. Carpenter felt called to work with him again and was eager to apply to be Carroll ISD’s Deputy Superintendent. “The position absolutely fits everything I appreciated about his leadership style,” Dr. Carpenter says. “He believes in distributive leadership and a shared vision. He wants there to be a collaborative approach.” Plus, growing up in a small town in Texas, Dr. Carpenter fondly recalls hearing success stories about Carroll ISD while she was in high school. “We always wanted to be like Carroll in academics and extracurriculars,” Dr. Carpenter says. “I wanted to be a part of something great.” Dr. Ledbetter says watching Dr. Carpenter solve problems, build relationships and help map out Midlothian ISD’s future over their five and a half years together reassured him that she was the most qualified for the new Carroll ISD position. “She loves kids, and she always builds great relationships with the parents,” Dr. Ledbetter says. “At the same time, she’s very focused and detail oriented. When you start talking about situations you need to work through, she can always develop solutions. She has experience putting strategies in place, and she’s very innovative in her approach.”
THE POSITION’S RESPONSIBILITIES Starting on Dr. Carpenter’s first day, she visited various Carroll ISD campuses to meet principals, department heads and students. Dr. Carpenter says before she could generate new ideas or talk about the district’s path forward, it was important to see where each campus was and listen to its leaders. “I’m learning where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to go. That helps honor the past and set up the groundwork for moving forward,” Dr. Carpenter says. One key component of the Deputy Superintendent’s responsibilities is developing collaboration throughout the district, ensuring that Carroll ISD’s teams do not feel they are working in silos. “I feel like I have the skill set to be able to bring people together,” Dr. Carpenter says. “Part of my background was working with all the departments to bring them together through their goals.” At the end of the day, Dr. Carpenter knows everyone she meets has the same objective. “No matter what we do, it’s all about the kids, and everyone has a hand in that,” Dr. Carpenter says. Dr. Carpenter has been working to see what each school focuses on by learning their policies and strategies, but she’s also empowering campus administrators to focus on and understand the why behind their work. She believes that will help them feel connected to their responsibilities and motivated to develop in their roles. “I love growing leaders,” Dr. Carpenter says. Dr. Carpenter will help facilitate the upcoming district’s strategic planning process over the next several months. In the near future, the district will begin taking the first steps of the strategic planning process by developing opportunities to engage stakeholders in a variety of ways. Through these public events and with the help of the Strategic Planning Committee, Dr. Carpenter aspires to
” When you start talking about situations you need to work through, she can always
develop solutions. She has
experience putting strategies in place, and she’s very
innovative in her approach. SUPERINTENDENT
Dr. Lane Ledbetter
help the district focus on its aspirational future. “We will be working with the community to build what they value,” Dr. Carpenter says. Dr. Carpenter knows Carroll ISD’s legacy of excellence, and she hopes to continue moving the district forward so it can maximize the potential in every learner and provide the best learning environment for all of its students. “There are great things happening here, but we can always find ways to improve,” Dr. Carpenter says. “I’m surrounded by people who have a common passion for students. We are working together to develop tomorrow’s leaders.” Dr. Ledbetter says he’s excited to work alongside Dr. Carpenter as the community collaborates on what’s next for Carroll ISD. “It’s important to look toward the future. We always have to be focused on that continued improvement,” Dr. Ledbetter says. “Even though Carroll is a tremendous place, I think we can always improve.” Dr. Carpenter says she aspires to present a proposal from the Strategic Planning Committee to the Board of Trustees in December or January, after ensuring the community feels heard. Through the entire process, Dr. Carpenter hopes she can help bring the Carroll ISD family closer together. “My highest hopes right now are to be able to bring a collaborative, engaging spirit to the district,” Dr. Carpenter says. “I want to be a part of bringing unity to the district, where students and staff feel empowered to maximize their potential and focus on the education of our students.”
INSIDE CARROLL • 23
DR. LANE LEDBETTER LEADS CARROLL ISD FORWARD O
nce Dr. Lane Ledbetter stepped into the Superintendent role in January 2021, he knew his first step was listening. After months of meeting students, parents, staff and community members, Dr. Ledbetter gained understanding about the current state of Carroll ISD and started to see where he could make a difference as the district’s leader. With both a deep-rooted past in Southlake, as not only a student but also as a teacher and coach, and a vision for the future, Dr. Ledbetter says he’s excited about working with the community to lead Carroll ISD into its next chapter.
I SPENT THE… first few months doing a lot of listening and learning. When asking staff and the community what are the challenges we face as a school district, both expressed the concern about the division in the community. The Carroll community has a lot of pride in its schools and as we work through the challenges we face, we can learn, grow and be better for it. I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT… this community. I did grow up here, and I did teach here. It’s great seeing that people are very excited about our school district, and they come here for the education. People love that we are all Dragons and the unity that’s created by that, creating a family feel. It defines who we are. WE HAVE… high standards and expectations for our kids. People love the education our teachers are providing. My goal is to serve this community and the kids. WE ALL HAVE ONE OBJECTIVE IN MIND… and that’s supporting kids. Carroll is known for the excellent education provided to its students. My priority is always safety first and then continue to offer a world-class education to our students. This means we are continuously improving and never being satisfied with where we are. We have to continue to grow and improve. We have to be flexible and adapt to the needs of our students and the needs of society moving forward. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED… by the parent support and by the kids we have. They are just great kids. We have incredible staff. We are looking forward to getting things back to normal as soon as possible and see if there are other innovative ways we can continue to achieve. WE ARE WORKING TOWARD… the strategic planning process this year. We will bring in community groups and identify the district’s goals for the next three to five years. It’s going to be a collective effort to continue to be a leader in education. As we move into this strategic planning process, we will be having more of a collaborative conversation with the community. That will allow us to involve the community to see what items we need to address so our kids feel safe and valued. MY JOB IS TO… take the district in the direction of what this community values. I hope to come out of this strategic planning process with goals and direction about 24 • INSIDE CARROLL
innovative programs and opportunities. We need to see what we need to prepare our students for the future beyond high school. We always have to be focused on that continued improvement and look toward the future.
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EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION Carroll ISD Welcomes New Assistant Superintendent For Staff and Student Services
C
arroll ISD has a new Assistant Superintendent for Staff and Student Services. Gordon Butler was approved by the Board of Trustees on June 7 and quickly got to work in Carroll just a few weeks later. Butler has 19 years of experience in education and most recently served as the principal at Lake Travis High School in Austin. He began his career as a fifth and sixth grade language arts and social studies teacher in the Dallas Independent School District. After serving a year in East Boston, Massachusetts, as a sixth and eighth grade social studies teacher, Butler returned to Texas where he continued teaching and eventually began his role as assistant principal. After four years, Butler became a high school principal before serving at the central office level as chief program evaluation officer in McKinney ISD. “I am excited to join the Dragon Family,” Butler says. “Although this role is different from past roles, supporting students is still the priority. Carroll ISD has a long tradition of excellence, and my hope is to add some value to this amazing district.” In his new role, Butler will be overseeing the district counseling department, nurses, safety and security and human resources. “With his wide variety of experiences at all levels of K-12 as well as experience at the campus and central office, Mr. Butler brings a wealth of knowledge that made him the ideal candidate for this position,” Carroll ISD Superintendent Dr. Lane Ledbetter says. Mr. Butler earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations from the University of Texas at Arlington and his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M Commerce. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of educational administration from the University of Texas. Butler will be joined in Southlake by his wife and two elementary school children. “The opportunity to work for an organization like Carroll ISD is a thrill and challenge. The high expectations of all stakeholders are what continue to drive CISD to maintain the highest expectations,” Butler says. “I am looking forward to learning about CISD and ensuring our campus personnel are able to provide all CISD students with an amazing learning experience.”
26 • INSIDE CARROLL
Carroll ISD has a long tradition of excellence, and my hope is to add some value to this amazing district. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STAFF AND STUDENT SERVICES
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CALLED TO SCHOOL SERVICE
Walnut Grove SRO Kim Smith Receives Inaugural Sgt. John Stokes SRO of the Year Award
K
im Smith has always enjoyed serving her community. Today, Kim proudly serves Walnut Grove Elementary as its School Resource Officer (SRO), a role that continues to reward her. Growing up in a family of three police officers, Kim has always understood the importance of law enforcement and the many sacrifices the job brings. Her cousin Lonnie Bray Jr. was a Midwest City Police detective, and her other two cousins Mark and George were both Oklahoma State Troopers who were killed in the line of duty. “All three of these men played intricate roles in my desire to be a police officer,” Kim says. “I wanted to be the only girl in our entire family who was a police officer.” In 1995, Kim graduated from the Tarrant County Police Academy and joined the Euless Police Department. Then she joined the Grapevine Police Department in 1999, where she worked for 16 years in various roles from a sergeant in the patrol division to an undercover detective in the DEA task force. She had worked in law enforcement for more than 20 years by the time she retired from the department in 2015. But she couldn’t stay away from the officer’s uniform for long. After being retired for four years, she joined the Southlake Police Department as a SRO in 2019 and was assigned to Walnut Grove Elementary. Kim says she was given a gift with this job, and Walnut Grove Elementary puts a bigger bow on this gift every day. “Over 20 years of police work can expose you to a cynical side of the world,” Kim says. “No one calls the police just to inform officers they are having a good day. Being a SRO, I have over 700 students who want to let
28 • INSIDE CARROLL
me know they are having a wonderful day. Every day is something new, and I have the chance to connect with the youthful who still see the good in the world.” As Walnut Grove’s SRO, Kim asks students what they need from her every week. Students submitted more than 500 postcards asking her questions, and she responded to every single one of them. When field trips were canceled last year, she created an outdoor expo of her police car so students could see and interact with all of the interior police equipment. She’s even hosted “Ask Officer Kim” every Wednesday, a tradition she hopes never goes away.
Carroll ISD recognized Kim’s commitment and compassion toward her students, that’s why it awarded her with the very first Sgt. John Stokes SRO of the Year Award at Carroll ISD’s End-OfYear Reception in May. Kim says she was humbled and honored to receive the first award, but it meant even more to her to accept it around her SRO family. “I never expected my SRO career with Southlake PD and CISD to be so much of an unanswered prayer,” she says. “What CISD does for our entire team, we all feel like SRO of the year at our respective campuses.” Kim says she plans to continue serving Carroll ISD and Walnut Grove for as long as possible and is grateful to work with a district that values its SROs. “I have told the graduating class of 2032 that my goal is to be here until they cross the stage as graduating seniors at Carroll Senior High School,” she says. “I feel welcomed, and I feel at home, no matter where I am.” INSIDE CARROLL • 29
CISD SCHOOL BOARD
Hannah Smith Joins The Carroll Board Of Trustees
H
annah Smith and her family first moved to Coppell seven years ago from Washington D.C. The attorney, who previously clerked for Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito at the U.S. Supreme Court, researched the Metroplex and decided to move her family to Southlake two years ago so they could join the community and be a part of Carroll ISD. “Like my family, many families move to Southlake for its schools and community,” Smith says. “It is a blessing to live in a place that is dynamic and growing and attracting people from everywhere because of all the goodness it offers.” Now as a parent of four Dragons — with children enrolled at Walnut Grove Elementary, Durham Intermediate, Carroll Middle and Carroll High School — Smith is passionate about giving back to the community as a member of the Carroll Board of Trustees. After all, the Smiths will be a part of it for a while with their youngest set to graduate from Carroll ISD in 2032. “I’m deeply invested in the excellence of our district,” Smith says. “Our schools’ primary responsibility is to serve the academic needs of all its students, which helps forge unity among its students and ultimately the community.” Prior to stepping into the role last May, Smith served on the School Board Budget and Finance Committee, the School Board Student Health Advisory Committee, the new superintendent focus
I’m deeply invested in the excellence of our district. CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEE PLACE 5
Hannah Smith
30 • INSIDE CARROLL
group and as a PTO volunteer. In the community, Smith also serves as a church youth group leader, a cub scout leader, on the board of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra’s Parents Guild and supports her kids’ swimming, football and baseball teams. While she’s heavily involved, Smith says she enjoyed sitting down and getting to know more of her neighbors on the campaign trail. “It was one of the most wonderful experiences for me to have the opportunity to meet with so many wonderful people in our community,” Smith says. Smith says nothing’s more important to her than ensuring the next generation is equipped to learn, lead and succeed, and she’s focused on building a bright future for today’s and tomorrow’s Dragons. Smith aspires to increase transparency, improve board oversight and elevate fiscal responsibility. “I’m honored to have the trust and confidence of the community to represent them on the Board of Trustees,” Smith says.
CISD SCHOOL BOARD
Cameron ‘Cam’ Bryan Joins The Carroll Board Of Trustees
A
Southlake resident since 2004, Cameron “Cam” Bryan says his family has loved every minute of being a part of the Dragon community. After receiving his civil engineering degree from Auburn University, Bryan took a position in the aviation industry. After working in Washington D.C. for seven years, he was given the opportunity to head up a regional office in the Metroplex, and he and his family quickly got involved in all things Southlake. “The exemplary schools, safe environments and abundance of parks and green space is why Southlake continues to receive a top ranking in Texas for families and is why we moved here and continue to call it home,” Bryan says. Bryan credits Carroll’s teachers for the district’s status, and he says he’s committed to ensuring the teachers receive the support and resources they need to provide the best education possible for Southlake’s students. “Carroll has always had an exemplary status, and we didn’t get there by accident,” Bryan says. “I believe CISD’s commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, programs for gifted and talented students and children with learning differences makes CISD the best school district in the state of Texas.” Prior to joining the Carroll Board of Trustees last May, Bryan served a seven-year tenure on the board of directors for Dragon Youth Football, served as an Odyssey of the Mind coach and is the current president of the North Texas Football League. Throughout
I believe in this community, and I am proud and blessed to be a Dragon. CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEE PLACE 4
Cameron Bryan
the past 17 years, Bryan says he’s been able to teach, coach and mentor hundreds of Carroll students, which demonstrates his passion for serving the youth in this community. With two Carroll graduates and two children still enrolled in Carroll — one at Carroll Senior High School and one at Dawson Middle School — Bryan says he felt called to give back. “With two children currently in the district, I want to continue my service to the community in this capacity as I believe it is my civic duty,” Bryan says. In this role, Bryan hopes to help the district hire and retain the best teachers, fulfill a Board of Trustees’ responsibility of administration oversight and ensure the district’s budget is fiscally responsible. Thanks to both his professional experience managing a $750-million budget and board governance experience leading various organizations, Bryan believes he will be able to help lead Carroll ISD forward. “I believe in this community, and I am proud and blessed to be a Dragon,” Bryan says. INSIDE CARROLL • 31
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Carroll Middle School Welcomes New Assistant Principal When the doors to Carroll Middle School opened this fall, new Assistant Principal Charlie Liles was the new face on campus as the newest member of the campus administration team. Liles joined the CMS team from the Carroll High School campus where he has served the last nine years as a biology teacher and also the Assistant Coach for the varsity softball team. “Mr. Liles is passionate about serving students and supporting teachers, and we are so excited to bring him on board at Carroll Middle School,” says Stephanie Mangels, Carroll Middle School Principal. Liles earned his bachelor’s in biology from Hardin-Simmons University, where he also played NCAA Division III Football. He earned his master’s in educational administration from Texas A&M-Commerce. “One of my favorite things about teaching is the ability to build relationships with my students,” says Liles. “Being an AP will allow me to continue this, but I will also have the privilege of doing this with not only the teachers in the building, but all the other staff in the building as well.” Liles’ experience includes almost a decade teaching and coaching in Carroll ISD, three years teaching and coaching in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and four years teaching and coaching in Tolar ISD. Dur-
Mr. Liles is passionate about serving students and supporting teachers, and we are so excited to bring him on board at Carroll Middle School. CARROLL MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Stephanie Mangels
32 • INSIDE CARROLL
ing his years in Carroll ISD, Liles participated in the District Leadership Team and the Emerging Leaders Program. “I believe the foundation of a successful school is the relationships that take place in the building. It’s not always an easy process, but it is vital for the success of not only the students, but the staff as well,” says Liles. “I know not every day will be rainbows and unicorns, but If I take the time to make connections within the building, this upcoming year will be the best one yet.”
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
”
Carroll High School Welcomes New Assistant Principal
Mary has been an amazing advocate, as a teacher on
campus and will continue to
grow all students in this new leadership position.
CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
PJ Giamanco
Carroll High School kicked off the school year with Mar y Smith as the newest member of the campus administration team. Smith joins the team as the new assistant principal after serving on the campus for the last two years teaching chemistry. Prior to joining Carroll ISD, Smith spent the previous 15 years as a teacher and also as an instructional coach in various districts across Texas. “Mary Smith will continue to improve the overall experience for all of our learners by working
collaboratively with our outstanding staff,” says Carroll High School Principal PJ Giamanco. “She has been an amazing advocate, as a teacher on campus and will continue to grow all students in this new leadership position.” Smith earned her bachelor ’s in biology and master’s in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. Prior to her time serving at Carroll ISD, Smith taught in Northwest ISD, was an instructional coach in Nacogdoches ISD and taught and served as a cheerleading sponsor in College Station ISD, Carthage ISD, Mesquite ISD and Bloomburg ISD. “Having been a teacher on campus, I know how amazing the staff and students are at Carroll High School,” says Smith. “I’m excited to step in as an assistant principal and to help support our students and staff achieve the goals we have set for our campus and district.”
INSIDE CARROLL • 33
Congrats Kevin M. Honig, M.D., and Mark S. Greenberg, M.D., for being nominated Top Docs 2021!
Brian E. Straus, M.D. Stephen J. Timon, M.D. Thomas M. Schott, M.D. W. Gear Hurt, M.D. Kevin M. Honig, M.D. Bing S. Tsay, M.D.
Michael K. Hahn, M.D. Mark S. Greenberg, M.D.
MY NAME IS BOND...CARROLL BOND The 2017 Carroll Bond Projects Near Completion
W
hen Southlake voters approved the $208-million bond program in 2017, Carroll ISD did not have enough classrooms for all its students, needed a new music facility and every campus needed safety and security updates. Now, nearly four years later, CISD is almost finished with all the projects outlined in the 2017 bond program. From a new fine arts complex to extensive upgrades to every campus, Carroll ISD’s face-lift is coming to an end.
APPROVING THE BOND
The Southlake voters last approved a bond program in 2009. Walnut Grove Elementary was two years away from opening, and the Carroll High School building was almost 40 years old. “Every building, every capital asset has a life cycle,” says Bill Webb, a member of the Capital Needs Planning Committee (CNPC). “For CISD, it was not so much about making room for growth, it was more about replacing and updating those items that had become obsolete.” When assessing the district’s needs, there was no guarantee a bond election would be the result. “It turned out there were more than $350 million in needs identified and that was ultimately narrowed considerably to the $200+ million,” Bill says. “It was a continuous [monthly] process with subcommittee meetings and tours of other districts’ facilities in between those monthly meetings.” After the needs assessment, the CNPC developed a wish list and narrowed down its needs versus its wants — cutting its wants and needs nearly in half.
” When you think of all the changes in the world in the past few years,
the fact that the work got done and on budget is amazing. CAPITAL NEEDS PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBER
Bill Webb
“We then identified those needs we could afford and began to tour our facilities and facilities in other districts to get ideas. We were divided into committees and each committee brought its ideas/recommendations back to the full committee,” Bill says. “Ultimately, the committee developed a full list of recommendations and presented those to the school board.” After presenting its recommendations, Southlake voters were able to voice their opinions on the 2017 bond program during that year’s municipal elections. Approved 64%-36%, the improvements and additions in the 2017 bond program began. INSIDE CARROLL • 35
A GREEN LIGHT FOR THE 2017 BOND
Once the bond program was approved by voters, a bond oversight committee was established, replacing the Capital Needs Planning Committee. “There were many fewer people appointed to this committee,” Bill says. “But we have met monthly since the bond election to provide feedback on the execution of the bond and continue to meet to this day.” The paid bond staff for CISD decided what projects would be tackled first. “Much of that was determined by what work could be done while students were present and what needed to be done in the summertime,” Bill says. “In essence, the district had to rebuild the motor of the car while the car was driving down the road.” Campuses that had the earliest completion dates include Carroll, Johnson and Old Union Elementary Schools, Carroll Middle School and the Aquatic Center. Phases were necessary with some of the bigger projects, like Dragon Stadium and Durham Intermediate School. As the work began on the projects, the school board simultaneously began its work of approving all the contracts, purchases and vendors during school board meetings. “[The projects] had to be staggered. There are formulas for how much you can effectively deploy in a year. You simply can’t do (and manage) all the projects at one time,” Bill says. “Some also involved multiple steps. For instance, you couldn’t begin building the new STEAM labs at the high school until the new music center was finished and [the] band moved into their new facility at [CSHS].” Since its May 30, 2017 meeting, the school board has approved actions related to the 2017 bond program at nearly every meeting. 36 • INSIDE CARROLL
CARROLL ISD’S FACE-LIFT
For each campus, safety and security upgrades were part of their budget. Nearly every campus was allocated $300,000 to upgrade its safety and security measures. With blanket renovations like interior and electrical upgrades approved for each campus, the budgets for each campus differed to accommodate the building’s renovation and upgrade needs. At Carroll and Johnson Elementary, a portion of their budgets were designated to build new gyms that double as storm shelters — redesigned after the bond program was approved due to building code changes. Overall, Carroll Elementary underwent $16 million in renovations, which included a gym conversion, six new classrooms and additional security. At Johnson Elementary, a portion of its $17 million renovation also went to six new classrooms and a gym conversion. Walnut Grove and Rockenbaugh Elementary schools had the smallest renovation budgets at $3 million and $9 million, respectively. The bulk of that money went toward general additions and renovations — some of which included new ceilings, wall resurfacing and new flooring. The money allocated for general additions and renovations also included a $1.2-million and $1.5-million storm shelter, respectively. At an intermediate and middle school level, some of the most visible work included renovations to the ceilings, walls and floors and restroom renovations. Athletic renovations included upgrades to the football field at Carroll Middle School and gym renovations at Dawson Middle School. As for CISD’s high schools, visible renovations included interior upgrades, renovations to the library and locker rooms, upgrades to the athletic facilities, a
new music building and updates like new seating, new video equipment and new turf to Dragon Stadium. Just as important as the visible renovations, Carroll ISD also implemented a number of safety and security upgrades that aren’t so easily seen. While different from campus to campus, some of the upgrades include new video surveillance cameras, a key swipe system, intrusion glass, playground surfacing and new hardware for classroom doors. “Each campus has its own unique design and function, so the application of the security items are tailored to respond to each unique campus to give us the consistent security for each campus,” says bond program manager John Haugen. Safety and security upgrades also extend to the school buses as CISD ordered and received 11 77-passenger yellow buses with seat belts and surveillance cameras, two special education buses and four activity buses for longer trips. John says the goal is to complete the last major projects — the Carroll Fine Arts Complex, the Carroll STEAM facilities and renovations of the kitchen, food service, student activity center and associated spaces at CSHS — prior to the start of the school year. While the original budgets for each project ended up being either smaller or larger than projected, the 2017 bond program did indeed stay within the $208-million budget originally approved by voters. “It was a tremendous amount of work for a lot of people. When you think of all the changes in the world in the past few years, the fact that the work got done and on budget is amazing,” Bill says. “It was a very effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and I can’t think of anything — at least right now — that we would do differently if we had to do it over.” INSIDE CARROLL • 37
CISD BY THE NUMBERS CH TEA ERS &
PA AUX &
RA
O 748 PR
Dedicated Staff 1,154
82:18
P RO 42 8
STAFF WITH MASTER’S DEGREES
35%
AVERAGE YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE
WITH CISD
8 YEARS
OVERALL
12 YEARS
CISD TEACHER SALARIES
START
$55,200
START
$40,017*
MAX
$76,572
MAX
$56,010*
*Texas Association of School Boards
CISD
STATE
CARROLL ISD TOTAL STUDENTS 8,661
4,397 MALE 4,112 FEMALE
GRADUATION RATE
99% ATTENDANCE RATE 38 • INSIDE CARROLL
100% COLLEGE BOUND
96.3%
Carroll ISD’s latest scores
637
657
517
510
532
523
ACT
TOTAL SCORE
CISD STATE
Carroll ISD’s latest scores
ENGLISH
MATH
SCIENCE
27.4 20.4
27.9 20.3
1,055
MATH
1,027
ENGLISH, LANGUAGE ARTS & WRITING
1,294
SAT
CISD STATE REGION
27.3 20.8 27.1
27.1
27.3
2017
2018
2019
26.8 26.1 25.7
25.7
2010
2011
26.6
26.6
2014
2015
26.0
24.9 24.2
2006
24.3
2007
24.5
2008
2009
2012
2013
2016
COMPOSITE SCORES AT ALL-TIME HIGHS 2006-2019 100%
Dragons are state leaders in College Readiness The class of 2020 excelled well beyond state averages on ACT benchmarks for college readiness.
91%
54%
COLLEGE ENGLISH COMPOSITION
83%
36%
COLLEGE ALGEBRA
81%
42%
COLLEGE SOCIAL SCIENCE
75%
34%
COLLEGE BIOLOGY
65%
24%
MEETING ALL FOUR
Dragons are also wellrounded as well — more than doubling the state average (66% vs. 25%) of students meeting college readiness on all four ACT exams.
INSIDE CARROLL • 39
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THE DRAGON FAMILY
Walnut Grove Elementary School Welcomes New Principal Dr. Jim Calvin T h e h a l l s o f Wa l n u t G r o v e Elementary School will welcome a new face this school year; Dr. Jim Calvin is the new principal on campus. Dr. Calvin is returning to Carroll ISD, where he previously served as the assistant principal of Durham Elementary and Intermediate School. “ I am looking for ward to returning to C arroll IS D and reconnecting with so many wonderful people who I was fortunate to serve with previously and get to know so many more,” Dr. Calvin says. “The opportunity to partner with amazing people throughout the district that are all united as Dragons is exciting to me!” Dr. Calvin has 32 years of experience in education and began his career as an administrator in Carroll ISD. Since leaving Carroll ISD 21 years ago, Dr. Calvin has been a principal in various distric t s throughout the Metroplex. Dr. Calvin is a family man and looks forward to joining the rest of his family here in Carroll. His wife teaches math in the district, and their three children are all Dragons as well. “Our family has been blessed by so many outstanding teachers and supportive administrators as our children have made their way through Eubanks Intermediate, Dawson Middle School and Carroll High School,” Dr. Calvin says. Lo o k i n g b a c k o n th e 2 02 0 2021 school year, an extremely taxing year for students and educators, Dr. Calvin chooses to focus on the lessons learned through a pandemic year. “I think the past year has helped all of us to experience that feeling when you push through a challenge and taught us that we are stronger than we thought we were,” Dr. Calvin says. “Traditions, activities and events have been reimagined and experienced in new ways. Regardless of the changes, the students have enjoyed the experience.” 42 • INSIDE CARROLL
Dr. Calvin is looking forward to starting at Walnut Grove and working with other dedicated educators to treasure the unique gifts and talents each student brings when they walk through our doors. “I am proud of helping educators to see the gifts and talents grow and thrive,” Dr. Calvin says. “Carroll provides so many opportunities for students to discover their unique gifts, talents and passions in order to pursue and develop them as they grow to be the difference makers in our community, state, nation and the world.”
IMPROVE ATHLETICISM. DEVELOP CHARACTER. BUILD LEADERS.
PROTECT THE TRADITION
www.performancecourse.com
CISD SNAPSHOTS EVENTS | HAPPENINGS | PROMOTIONS
DR. DAVID FALTYS RETIREMENT RECEPTION Although his celebration was delayed thanks to COVID-19, Carroll ISD still honored Dr. David Faltys' tenure with the district during a retirement reception on May 11. During the reception, teachers, administrators and community members came together at The Bowden in Keller to celebrate the 15 years the former superintendent gave to Carroll ISD. There were refreshments, hors d'oeuvres, a special presentation and live music thanks to the Carroll Jazz Orchestra.
44 • INSIDE CARROLL
CLOUD 10 STUDIOS
INSIDE CARROLL • 45
INVESTING IN THE ARTS
Carroll ISD’s New Performing Arts Center Opens In Time For The Fall
F
or years, Carroll ISD’s band and choir programs have both operated under separate roofs. Now they’ll be united under the newly completed Carroll ISD Performing Arts Center. Part of the $208-million bond package voters approved back in May 2017, the CISD Performing Arts Center is a $28-million investment that will house both Dragon Band and Choir into the foreseeable future. According to the bond package, the 95,000-squarefoot development includes a 700-seat performance hall, 23 practice and rehearsal rooms, 15 offices and seven storage rooms. “The new fine arts complex is one of the most impressive projects in the 2017 bond program,” project manager John Haugen says. “It is one of the larger pieces of the bond program. This facility will be very unique in K-12 education in the state and around the United States.” When they first broke ground on the project in December 2019, former Carroll Senior High School Principal Shawn Duhon says he only had a loose idea of what the complex would look like. “At that point, it was just kind of a vision and not knowing what to expect,” Duhon says. “Seeing the small steps of progress from the framing to the brick
and classrooms being divided up, it all starts to come together and looks phenomenal. It’s such state-of-theart design and construction. It looked great on paper, but in reality and in person it’s exceptional.” Haugen says the two most expensive elements of the fine arts complex are the main band hall and performance hall. Completed earlier in the spring, John INSIDE CARROLL • 47
”
says the 5,000-squarethings as fluid as possible,” foot band hall includes Doucet says. additional practice and Meanwhile, the perforstorage space that has mance hall was finished its own Wegner cabinets. just in time for the fall. Its marching band storThe hall includes a lobby age can fit around 1,000 with restrooms, two dressuniforms, and its large ing and makeup rooms, a instrument storage is half 10,000-square-foot audithe size of an 18-wheeler torium with a control room trailer. And like some of and a 3,000-square-foot the other master-planned stage that can seat 100 bond investments, this musicians. DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES band hall also serves stuHaugen says the perdent safety as a storm formance hall is built with shelter in case of weather moveable acoustic panels emergencies. you’d see in Broadway the“ The main band hall aters to get the best sound is unique in its size and from musical performances. structure,” Haugen says. “This space is the size of a “The music hall is a very finely tuned space that competition gymnasium, so the band can practice allows for many different types of performances,” gym activities accurately in the hall.” Haugen says. “This space is the true heart of the projThe music center also has a 1,000-square-foot digiect.” tal classroom that can be used to teach music theory In addition to band and choir performances, and composition. Director of Choral Activities Paul Duhon says the performance hall will host events Doucet says the class is retrofitted with smartboards, from outside organizations as well. projectors and technology to make for a more seam“It ’s going to host major productions not just less educational experience. for band and choir, but also throughout the city “It really is a functional space that helps us serve of Southlake,” Duhon says. “ We’ve already had all of our students and goes a long way in making multiple people calling from all over the state to
It really is a functional space that helps us serve all of our students and goes a long way in making things as fluid as possible. Paul Doucet
48 • INSIDE CARROLL
rent the space. It’s going to be amazing to say that Carroll ISD is able to offer a musical venue that is top-notch. It’s awesome to say that’s our space.” The former Carroll High School band hall and lecture hall will be renovated to be used for theater and STEM activities, while the previous choir and band classrooms will be used as workspace for media students. Director of Bands Ken Johnson says the Performing Arts Center will not only sustain Carroll Band and Choir’s current size but also handle any future expansion to the programs. “We wanted to make sure that we had plenty of room for growth — and this facility more than accommodates that,” Johnson says. “ That was one of the things we were so careful about in the planning stages with the Capital Needs Planning Committee.” Doucet says he’s proud to be part of a district that fully supports its fine arts community. “I am extremely proud to be part of a district that values and sees the need in the arts to educate the entire child and provide a quality space for that kind of instruction,” he says. “The kids are really excited. The energy has totally changed. It kind of revitalized our entire program. The kids understand that the community supports what they do by giving them this space to create — a place to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves.” INSIDE CARROLL • 49
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
2020-2021 K-6 Teacher Of The Year
Old Union Elementary School: Scott Bishop
O
ld Union Elementary School third grade teacher Scott Bishop didn’t start out his career in education. While working in the corporate world for 18 years, Scott also acted as a ski instructor on weekends. After discovering his love for teaching, he went back to school in 2004. Scott went on to teach in Seattle for 10 years before moving to Texas with his wife and two children. After careful consideration, Scott knew he wanted to be a part of the Southlake community. “We purposefully bought a house in this neighborhood,” Scott says. Now, Scott teaches math and science to his OUES students. Scott says he struggled with the topics when he was his students’ age, which he believes to be an asset. “It helps me have more empathy,” Scott says. “And I have a strong desire to help them.” While Scott has taught several elementary levels, he says he really connects to third graders. “They love coming to school every day for the entire school year; they love to learn. And they laugh at my jokes the first day of school, and they still laugh on the last day,” Scott says. “They have a foundation for reading and math, and in third grade, we get to explore more difficult concepts and introduce more rigor.” Over the 2020-2021 school year, Scott taught both DVA and in-person classes, which kept him on his toes. But he says building relationships ensured all of his students felt engaged. “Everyone feels like we are this family,” Scott says. “We do all these fun things, so everyone gets comfortable. And I make a strong effort to get to know every child individually.” With classroom rituals like weekend review, where kids can share what they accomplished or what they were up to over the past few days, as well as hot seat, where kids get their moment in the spotlight on their birthday and get interviewed like a celebrity, Scott goes above and beyond the curriculum to ensure his kids feel valued. This year, he also shared one of his hobbies with his students by starting Culinary Mondays, where he shows his students pictures of what he made in the kitchen over the weekend. He then asked his students to send him their family recipes, and Scott would recreate them and share a photo of the final product. “It’s about embracing them as individuals and celebrating them,” Scott says. “Self-esteem is the foundation of any child’s success in the classroom.”
Scott also ensures that all OUES students feel comfortable opening up to him. Every morning, Scott stands in the hallway, greeting students of all levels as they come in. Scott says this gives him the chance to start establishing relationships with the younger kids who he may see in his classroom in the future. Plus, it energizes him and helps him get ready for whatever the day will bring. “If I come in tired, connecting with the kids lifts me up and helps me get excited about the rest of my day,” Scott says. INSIDE CARROLL • 51
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
2020-2021 Secondary Teacher Of The Year Carroll High School: Claire Hinkle
C
arroll High School math teacher Claire Hinkle knew from a young age she wanted to be an educator. But af ter her family advised her to keep an open mind, Claire pursued a math degree in college and joined the corporate world. Af ter she and her husband moved to Texas due to him being stationed in Fort Worth, Claire decided to take advantage of the fresh start and found a teaching certification program. Claire first came to Carroll High School as a substitute, but after finishing her program and discovering one Dragon teacher was retiring, she applied to join the school’s program as a full-time math teacher. Claire shares with her students that there’s more than one way to solve a problem and focuses on the creative aspects of math. “I always tell my students I’m going to teach them the tools they need to be able to solve problems in my classroom,” Claire says. In turn, Claire hopes students walk away from her classroom with lifelong skills they can apply to more than math. “My job isn’t to make sure they have all their algebra skills memorized; it’s to make them better people,” Claire says. “I care that my students are good problem solvers. I care about things that are more important than how to solve for X like learning reasoning skills, not being afraid to make mistakes and providing an environment where kids feel comfortable asking questions and growing.” Claire creates that environment by ensuring her students treat each other with respect and reminding them there’s no such thing as a dumb question. Before every class, students watch a video about the day’s topic. Then, throughout the lesson, students will apply those skills so they can walk out feeling more confident in the lesson. “I don’t expect you to be a master when you come into my classroom. I expect you to come in ready to work and ready to learn,” Claire says. “By the end of class, I always ask them, ‘Don’t you feel better about today’s lesson?’ I try to celebrate any piece of growth.” By celebrating those daily achievements, Claire hopes that every one of her students feels better about themselves when they walk out of her door. “I want to create an environment where kids want to come to my classroom, even if they hate math,” Claire says. And now after receiving this recognition of dis-
trict teacher of the year, Claire feels inspired to keep going. “I guess it shows me I am doing something right, and the district likes my ideas that I’m bringing to the table,” Claire says. “It encourages me to continue pushing kids to be the best they can be and trying to push those skills that are more than math.” INSIDE CARROLL • 53
CARROLL CARROLLDRAGONS SOUTHLAKE,TX TX DRAGONS---SOUTHLAKE, SOUTHLAKE, TX
2021 2021Football FootballSchedule Schedule Schedule
VARSITY VARSITY VARSITY Date Date Date Thursday, August Thursday, Thursday, August August 1919 Thursday, August Thursday, Thursday, August August 2626 Thursday, September Thursday, Thursday, September September 2 2 Friday, September Friday, Friday, September September 1010 Friday, September Friday, Friday, September September 1717 Friday, September Friday, Friday, September September 2424 Thursday, September Thursday, Thursday, September September 3030 Friday, October 8 Friday, Friday, October October 8 Thursday, October Thursday, Thursday, October October 2121 Friday, October Friday, Friday, October October 2929 Thursday, November Thursday, Thursday, November November 4 44
Opponent Opponent Arlington (Scrimmage) Arlington (Scrimmage) (Scrimmage) Highland Park Highland Park Rockwall Heath Rockwall Heath Heath Prosper Prosper Arlington Martin Arlington Martin Martin Byron Nelson (Homecoming) Byron Nelson (Homecoming) (Homecoming) Keller Keller Keller Central (Pink Out) Keller Central (Pink (Pink Out) Out) Eaton Eaton Timber Creek (Senior Night) Timber Creek (Senior (Senior Night) Night) Fossil Ridge Fossil Fossil Ridge Ridge
Location Location Location Arlington High School Arlington Arlington High High School School AT&T Stadium AT&T AT&T Stadium Stadium Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium Wilkerson-Sanders Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium Stadium Prosper ISD Stadium Prosper Prosper ISD ISD Stadium Stadium Dragon Stadium Dragon Dragon Stadium Stadium Dragon Stadium Dragon Dragon Stadium Stadium KISD Athletics Complex KISD KISD Athletics Athletics Complex Complex Dragon Stadium Dragon Dragon Stadium Stadium NISD Stadium NISD NISD Stadium Stadium Dragon Stadium Dragon Dragon Stadium Stadium KISD Athletics Complex KISD KISD Athletics Athletics Complex Complex
Time Time Time 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 7:30 p.m. p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 77p.m. 7p.m. p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.
SUB-VARSITY SUB-VARSITY SUB-VARSITY Date Date Date Thursday 8/19 Thursday Thursday 8/19 8/19 Wednesday, 8/25 Wednesday, Wednesday, 8/25 8/25 Wednesday, 9/1 Wednesday, Wednesday, 9/19/1 Thursday, 9/9 Thursday, Thursday, 9/99/9 Thursday, 9/16 Thursday, Thursday, 9/16 9/16 Thursday, 9/23 Thursday, Thursday, 9/23 9/23 Wednesday, 9/29 Wednesday, Wednesday, 9/29 9/29 Thursday, 10/7 Thursday, Thursday, 10/7 10/7 Wednesday, 10/20 Wednesday, Wednesday, 10/20 10/20 Thursday, 10/28 Thursday, Thursday, 10/28 10/28 Wednesday, 11/3 Wednesday, Wednesday, 11/3 11/3 54 • INSIDE CARROLL
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Black JVJV JV Black Black Arlington (Scrimmage) AHS 66 p.m. Arlington Arlington (Scrimmage) (Scrimmage) AHS AHS – 6––p.m. p.m. Highlander Stadium 5:30 p.m. Highland Park Highlander Highlander Stadium Stadium 5:30 5:30 p.m. p.m. Highland Highland Park Park Rockwall Heath Home (DS) – 5: 30 p.m. Rockwall Rockwall Heath Heath Home Home (DS) (DS) – 5:– 30 5: 30 p.m. p.m. Prosper Home (DS) –– 5: p.m. Prosper Prosper Home Home (DS) (DS) – 5: 30 5:30 30 p.m. p.m. Arlington Martin Martin HS – 5:30 p.m. Arlington Arlington Martin Martin Martin Martin HSHS – 5:30 – 5:30 p.m. p.m. Byron Nelson BNHS –– 5:30 p.m. Byron Byron Nelson Nelson BNHS BNHS – 5:30 5:30 p.m. p.m. Keller Home (DS) – 5: p.m. Keller Keller Home Home (DS) (DS) – 5:– 30 5:30 30 p.m. p.m. Keller Central Central HS – 5:30 p.m. Keller Keller Central Central Central Central HSHS – 5:30 – 5:30 p.m. p.m. Eaton Home (DS) – 5: 30 p.m. Eaton Eaton Home Home (DS) (DS) – 5:– 30 5: 30 p.m. p.m. Timber Creek TCHS – 5: 30 p.m. Timber Timber Creek Creek TCHS TCHS – 5:– 30 5: 30 p.m. p.m. Fossil Ridge Home (DS) – 5: 30 p.m. Fossil Fossil Ridge Ridge Home Home (DS) (DS) – 5:– 30 5: 30 p.m. p.m.
Green JVJV JV Green Green AHS AHS AHS – –6–6p.m. 6p.m. p.m.
thBlack/Green 99Black/Green 9th Black/Green AHS AHS AHS ––5–5p.m. 5p.m. p.m. Highlander Stadium 7:30p.m. Home (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. Highlander Highlander Stadium Stadium 7:30p.m. 7:30p.m. Home Home (DS)-5:30/7 (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Home (DS) – 7 p.m. Heath HS – 5:30/7 p.m. Home Home (DS) (DS) – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Heath Heath HSHS – 5:30/7 – 5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Home (DS) Prosper HS 5:30/7 p.m. Home Home (DS) (DS) – –7–7p.m. 7p.m. p.m. Prosper Prosper HS HS 5:30/7 5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Martin Home (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. Martin Martin HSHS HS – –7–7p.m. 7p.m. p.m. Home Home (DS)-5:30/7 (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. p.m. BNHS – 7 p.m. Home (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. BNHS BNHS – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Home Home (DS)-5:30/7 (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Home (DS) – 7 p.m. Keller MS – 5:30/7 p.m. Home Home (DS) (DS) – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Keller Keller MSMS – 5:30/7 – 5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Central HS – 7 p.m. Home (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. Central Central HSHS – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Home Home (DS)-5:30/7 (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Home (DS) – 7 p.m. Eaton HS – 5:30/7 p.m. Home Home (DS) (DS) – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Eaton Eaton HSHS – 5:30/7 – 5:30/7 p.m. p.m. TCHS – 7 p.m. Home (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. TCHS TCHS – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. Home Home (DS)-5:30/7 (DS)-5:30/7 p.m. p.m. Home (DS) – 7 p.m. FRHS – 5:30/7 p.m. Home Home (DS) (DS) – 7–p.m. 7 p.m. FRHS FRHS – 5:30/7 – 5:30/7 p.m. p.m. th
Success.
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PROUD DRAGON MOM
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INSIDE CARROLL • 55
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WELCOME OUR NEW HEAD COACH, RAINY HODGSON! For fall registration, please visit LadyDragonLacrosse.org. INSIDE CARROLL • 57
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021 Class Of 2021 Valedictorian: Carolyn Teng
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arolyn Teng, the Carroll class of 2021 valedictorian, did not expect to be studying virtually for the entirety of her senior year, but she believes that these experiences have taught the class of 2021 valuable lessons to carry on as they leave the halls of Carroll Senior High School. Teng, a kindergrad of Carroll ISD, spent her senior year as a student in the Dragon Virtual Academy, and it was not always easy. “Being DVA definitely had its trials and tribulations. For me, it demanded a lot of self-discipline and motivation,” says Teng. “During a normal year, you get to see your friends at school and participate in extracurriculars easily. This year, it has been more challenging to stay connected, but we have made the time and effort to stay in touch with others.” Throughout her time in Carroll ISD, Teng can look fondly back on many teachers who left a mark and had a positive impact on her life. From being pushed to try new things artistically in Mr. Horn’s art class to discovering her passion for the medical field in Mrs. Martin’s classes, Teng knows that she is prepared for the next phase of her life. The class of 2021 has experienced quite a few firsts over the years, and Teng hopes her classmates will stop 58 • INSIDE CARROLL
and realize that they have pushed through so many obstacles that have tried to slow them down and see the positive things they have accomplished as a class. “We have persevered, and still are persevering, through a pandemic, dealt with a deep freeze and many of us had to get used to online learning,” says Teng. “We should also look back at the positive parts of the year such as the quality time we got to spend with our families during quarantine, as well as having the opportunity to reflect on what’s important in life and not taking things and people for granted. And of course, witnessing a historic father-son state championship game!” Teng plans to attend Rice University in the fall and double major in chemistry and art history. She chose Rice because of its academic rigor, small size and the opportunities it provides to do research in the Texas Medical Center. Finally, Teng hopes the community will look back fondly on the class of 2021 as they begin the next phase of their lives. “I want the community to remember the class of 2021 as a group of resilient, ambitious and optimistic students,” says Teng. “We faced many challenges this year, but have chosen to make the best of what we have and look forward to the future.”
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021 Class Of 2021 Salutatorian: Stephen Chuang
S
tephen Chuang, the C arroll class of 2021 salutatorian , is excited for the next phase of his educational journey, but he knows that his time in Carroll will leave an impact on his life. Chuang has been a Dragon since the first day of kindergarten at Old Union Elementary School and continued through Carroll ISD with stops at Eubanks Intermediate, Dawson Middle School, Carroll High School and ultimately finishing his journey at Carroll Senior High School. During that time, many teachers left a mark on Chuang’s life, including Mrs. Glancy, his second grade teacher at Old Union. “Mrs. Glancy was nearly a perfect ‘Aristotle’ to every student in her class, infinitely flexible and supporting every student at their given level as opposed to having to teach at a standard level for the entire class,” says Chuang. “Mrs. Glancy encouraged independent research and projects, giving every student in the class the agency rarely seen at that age to pursue their own education to the best of their ability.” Going to school during a worldwide pandemic and various phases of lockdown and quarantine forced students around the world to look at their education from a dif ferent perspective. For Chuang, the changes during the past 18 months were a struggle at times. Relearning how to operate without the usual structure of daily obligations was an experience Chuang will not forget. “Suddenly, all of the structure delineating how a day, month or year progressed disappeared and brought a very difficult question of what truly motivated us to achieve success,” says Chuang. As Chuang prepares to head to the University of Texas at Austin to study in mechanical engineering and pre-med, he hopes his class of 2021 classmates will step back and look at what being a Dragon means for their life after high school. “I would like them to remember that being a Dragon was competition without competing. I feel that every Dragon experiences a drive to be the best, to achieve the most, but must balance that against one’s own ego, as to not become spiteful toward another for being better than them,” says Chuang. “I feel like the school has taught every student the value of this balance, and I hope everyone will continue to carry this through college and beyond.” INSIDE CARROLL • 59
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CISD SPOTLIGHT
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ACADEMICS/ART
CARROLL UIL ACADEMIC TEAM EARNS STATE RECOGNITIONS The Carroll UIL Academic Team produced excellent results at the UIL 6A Academic State Meet in the spring. The Literary Critics Team, made up of Natalie Sanders, Emily Jia, Eri Pilon and Kendall Lyman, earned first place and finished as state champs. These same students competed in literary criticism individually: Natalie Sanders placed fifth, Emily Jia placed sixth and Eri Pilon placed seventh. Additionally, Eri Pilon earned second place in the ready writing individual competition. “I am so proud of these young ladies, who worked very hard all year with one goal in mind, winning a UIL LitCrit state championship," says UIL Academic Coordinator John Irish. These students began their UIL academic season in January, competing in pre-district, district and regional meets, earning their spot to compete in the state meet. The UIL Academic Competition is a tremendous commitment on the part of these young people. These students are all in the top of their classes and take a full schedule of AP classes. “These students are all members of my 2/3 periods American Studies program, so I have seen them working all year, and I knew they would make an outstanding LitCrit team," says Irish. "I was glad to see they were rewarded for all their time and effort. All four are not only top students in the district, they are some of the highest quality young ladies I have ever worked with and I am so proud of them.” 64 • INSIDE CARROLL
CARROLL HIGH SOPHOMORE STUDENT WINS GOLD AWARD AT NATIONAL CHINESE ESSAY CONTEST In January 2021, Carroll High School sophomore Haoai Li received the Gold Award in the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary School's (CLASS) essay writing contest. Li’s essay competed at the highest level in the Division III category. Li wrote an essay about what three items she would include in a time capsule from 2020. In her essay, Li wrote about the three things that she believed would best sum up her year: a pot of plants, a string of dialogue and a piece of clothing. Li used her essay to share how each of these three items encompassed what she felt throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. "I took care of a potted plant. I always pay attention to the world of food delivery at home,” Li wrote. "This plant that I took care of is now thriving. He is my return to nature. During this period, I learned that everything in the world is mutually reinforcing. If people protect nature, nature will protect us." She continued on with how the important dialogues she shared with family and friends helped her cope with the unprecedented time she was living through. Her teacher, Yushin Lee is very proud of the way that Li used her writing to describe the life of a young adult dealing with the various aspects of a pandemic. "The essay expresses the author’s feelings and strategies in overcoming her anxiety about the pandemic," Lee says. "The writing reflects the author’s kindness and longing for harmony with nature as well as among mankind, as taught by Chinese Taoism."
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The Williams family has lived in Southlake for more than a decade. This is our home. We believe Southlake is a very special place. We love our community, and we love cheering for our Dragons!
u o Y k n a h T
CISD Nurses
for all your hard work and dedication to Carroll ISD students during the 2020-2021 school year. Your efforts for our students did not go unnoticed!
Carroll Senior High Karen Flexer, RN Carroll High Melody Cooley, RN Michelle Greenberg, RN Carroll Middle Susan Bonczyk, RN Dawson Middle Tammy Bartlett, RN Durham Intermediate Cathy Krieger, RN Eubanks Intermediate Lisa Moreland, RN Carroll Elementary Karen Meyne, RN Johnson Elementary Shelby Lampley, RN Old Union Elementary Dorita Sanchez, RN Rockenbaugh Elementary Lindsay Karant, RN Walnut Grove Elementary Susan Hogan, RN Katie Hargrove, RN
INSIDE CARROLL • 65
ACADEMICS/ART INSIDE CARROLL 2019 RECEIVES THE TSPRA BEST OF CATEGORY AWARD VOL. 05
Inside Carroll received the INSIDECARROLL Texas School Public Relations Association Best Of Category for a district with less than 10,000 students for its 2019-2020 edition. The CISD Board & CommuUIL nity Relations Department also received numerous gold and silver awards, and former Assistant Director of Communications Justin Dearing was honored with a crystal certificate of merit for Carroll ISD’s video portfolio during the 2021 annual conference. LONE STAR CUP
CHAMPIONS
EXCELLENCE • RELATIONSHIPS • CHARACTER & INTEGRITY • INNOVATION OPEN & HONEST COMMUNICATION • COMPASSIONATE SERVICE
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CARROLL THEATRE MAINTAINS EXCELLENCE THROUGH ATYPICAL PERFORMANCES Through the challenges of the 2020-2021 school year, the Carroll Theatre program still managed to pull off some incredible and out-of-the-box performances. From a completely virtual performance of “Almost, Maine” to an outdoor production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the Carroll Theatre students and teachers put their creative minds to work to ensure a successful year in the program. “Any time we can challenge ourselves to have to relearn or try something new is a good thing,” says Carroll’s Technical Theatre Director Ryan Barbe. “Having such a strange year forced us to think about and approach these shows in a different way, which forced new creativity, keeping things fresh and exciting.” The students had to overcome challenges of not only a virtual production, like trying to portray the character’s relationships well when on Zoom, but also the hurdles of an outdoor performance, like the wind, the noisy traffic and the unusual terrain. “All of our performance opportunities this year came with a great deal of thought and consideration,” Theatre Director Jamie Pringle says. “Mr. Barbe and I were able to restructure our ideas about what high school theatre could look like in an atypical time.” The theatre students and staff are looking forward to returning to normal theatre productions this school year, but will take the lessons they learned from an extra production challenge into another awesome year for the program. 66 • INSIDE CARROLL
CARROLL STUDENTS TRADE PENCILS FOR FISHING POLES IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CLASSES Out of the many exciting and unique programs Carroll ISD has to offer, few are more exciting than the outdoor education classes offered at Carroll Middle, Dawson Middle and Carroll Senior High. Outdoor education is an elective class offered to students at both middle school campuses and covers modules like angler education, hunter education, dutch oven cooking, NASP archery, boater education and camping basics. Students have an opportunity to spend time outdoors during their classes, putting some of their new technical outdoor skills like fishing to use. The outdoor application opportunity is also a favorite for staff members, who love to experience their students applying the skills they have learned by catching their very first fish. The students who participate in the Carroll Bass Team, NASP Archery Club and Clay Target Team are all students who went through the middle school outdoor education classes, taking some of the skills they learned on with them to high school competitively.
ACADEMICS/ART CARROLL JAZZ WINS SEVEN AWARDS AT 2021 ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON FESTIVAL The Carroll Jazz Band won seven awards from the 2021 Essentially Ellington Festival this past summer. From June 4 to 6, the Carroll Jazz Band participated in the festival alongside 15 other programs across the nation. Students got to participate in masterclasses, Q&As, virtual jam sessions and performances. And by the end of the weekend, Carroll Jazz won seven awards from the festival, including outstanding rhythm section, outstanding saxophone section and outstanding brass section. Soloist awards went to alto saxophonist Justin Wu, baritone saxophonist Diego Pena and trumpet players Hudson Koonsman and Chase Adams. “We were pleasantly surprised to win three section awards and four individual soloist awards at this year’s contest,” CISD Director of Jazz Bands David Lown says. “This is Carroll’s sixth time as a finalist, and I’m so proud of their hard work.”
INSIDE CARROLL • 67
ACADEMICS/ART
CARROLL CHORALE EARNS SUPERIOR RATINGS AT UIL CONCERT, SIGHT-READING ASSESSMENT
Tewari, Jetta Thompson, Tessa Anderson, Debopreeta Bhattacharya, Steven Cunningham, Timothy Hayes, Aden Jabri, Evan Kopf and Liam Timberlake.
Carroll’s 6A Varsity Mixed Choir, Chorale, earned superior ratings at last spring’s UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Assessment, bringing home the sweepstakes trophy. This year was especially challenging considering students had to sing with masks and maintain physical distancing — all of which is antithetical to the choral arts. Additionally, this group of students could only rehearse together once a week for a month, but the group still managed to create choral art at such a high level. Congratulations to these talented students who contributed to this incredible accomplishment for the Carroll Choir program: Waafi Awal, Kayla Beaird, Avery Chang, Katherine Chon, Ariana Colletti, Breanna Davenport, Sophia Deng, Coleson Gee, Alexander Griffin, Lauren Hall, Lindsey Hough, Rylee Hunt, Olivia Hybarger, Sarah Jacob, Kirti Kanatala, Carolina Paredes, Nora Sammons, Anna Scherler, Adam Szkudlarek, Dylan Vaughn, Riley Ash, Abigail Balson, Ashlyn Bowman, Valeria Herrera, Tahlia Butler, Warner Hicks, Sean Kelson, Jackson Lambeth, Katherine Peterson, Erin Pitcher, Desmond Reusch, Raina
CARROLL SPEECH, DEBATE CONQUERS BUSY COMPETITION SEASON, EXCELS AT STATE TOURNAMENT
68 • INSIDE CARROLL
The Carroll ISD Speech & Debate team wrapped up a full tournament season last spring with a total of 38 students who qualified for the state tournament, which took place in March via Zoom. Several of the students also qualified at the national level. Anbu Subramanian and Nikhil Reddy received five Tournament of Champion bids after reaching elimination rounds at multiple national tournaments and winning the University of Florida’s annual tournament. Pranav Kaginele was invited to multiple round-robin tournaments last season and received two Tournament of Champion bids, while Sydney Fraser received two Tournament of Champion bids in her first season with the team and managed to do so in only three attempts. Additionally, Katy Lin accumulated six Tournament of Champions bids last season and qualified for the third consecutive year. She is currently the second-ranked congressional debater in Texas and third in the nation.
Exceptional Exceptional Teachers. Teachers. Extraordinary Extraordinary Students. Students.
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CEF CEFMAKES MAKESHISTORY HISTORYAGAIN AGAIN $650,000 $650,000DONATION DONATION T H ATNHKASN K TO S TOOU RO UGRE NGEERNOEURSO U DSR ADGROANG OFA N MFA I LM I EI S LIE AS N DA NL D O CLAOLC B AU L SBI U NSE ISNSEESSS, E S , C A RCRAORLRLOEL D L UECDAT U CI O ATNI OF N O UFNODUAT N DI O ATNI OI SN DI SO NDAT O NI N ATGI N$G 6 5$06, 50 0 ,00 0 TO 0 TF O U NFDU N D 13 1 C3 A RCRAORLRLOILSLDI ST D E ATCEHAECRHSE R FO S RF OT R H ET H 2E 0 2210- 2 1 2- 2 S2 C HSOCOHLO O Y EL AYRE.A R .
First First Row Row (L to (L R):toLynda R): Lynda Warner, Warner, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Teacher Teacher FundFund Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: Keller Keller Williams Williams Southlake Southlake Luxury Luxury Division Division – Kim – Miller; Kim Miller; Jay Jay Demas, Demas, Superintendent’s Superintendent’s Circle; Circle; Rebecca Rebecca Hindman, Hindman, CEF Board CEF Board Chair; Chair; Dr. Courtney Dr. Courtney Carpenter, Carpenter, CISDCISD Deputy Deputy Superintendent; Superintendent; KathyKathy Lanier, Lanier, CEF Executive CEF Executive Director; Director; Dr. Lane Dr. Lane Ledbetter, Ledbetter, CISDCISD Superintendent; Superintendent; Club Club Charlie Charlie Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: Thomas Thomas & Sharon & Sharon Michael Michael / DFW / DFW Elite Elite Realty Realty Sharon Sharon Michael, Michael, Thomas Thomas Michael Michael Second Second Row Row (L to (L R):toAlex R): Alex Martin, Martin, CEF Director CEF Director of Development; of Development; Sherri Sherri Williams, Williams, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Karl Karl Chester, Chester, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Kim Kim Bedwell, Bedwell, Kim Bedwell Kim Bedwell Real Real Estate, Estate, Superintendent’s Superintendent’s Circle, Circle, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Anitha Anitha Bandla; Bandla; Kali Sommer, Kali Sommer, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Nicole Nicole Teseriero, Teseriero, Southlake Southlake Style,Style, Platinum Platinum Sponsor Sponsor ThirdThird Row:Row: (L to (L R):toLeslie R): Leslie Barrows, Barrows, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Eric Lannen, Eric Lannen, CISDCISD School School BoardBoard Trustee; Trustee; Jag Bandla, Jag Bandla, Superintendent’s Superintendent’s Circle, Circle, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Ed Hernandez, Ed Hernandez, CEF Board CEF Board Member; Member; Culinary Culinary Celebration Celebration Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: Park Park PlacePlace Dealerships, Dealerships, JasonJason Feuerberg Feuerberg Title Title Sponsors Sponsors Not Pictured: Not Pictured: Carroll Carroll Dragon Dragon Alumni Alumni Network Network Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: Dragon Dragon Classic; Classic; Corporate Corporate Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: UWorld; UWorld; Superintendent’s Superintendent’s CircleCircle Title Title Sponsor: Sponsor: Sewell Sewell Superintendent Superintendent CircleCircle Sponsors Sponsors Not Pictured: Not Pictured: Cris & Cris Susan & Susan Bierrenbach; Bierrenbach; BieryBiery Family Family Foundation; Foundation; Joe &Joe Hope & Hope Jasser; Jasser; GTS GTS Technology Technology Solutions; Solutions; Lisa Lisa & Milton & Milton Millman; Millman; Wynne Wynne Moore Moore Group; Group; Zenoble Zenoble Family Family FundFund
S TAY S TAY COC NNEC O NNEC T E DT E D to learn to learn which which teacher teacher at your at your campus campus is a isCEF a CEF Funded Funded Teacher Teacher C A RCRAORLRL O ED L LUECDAUT ICOANT FI OONU FNODUANT D I OANT I O N C A RCRAORLRL O ED L LF EODU FNODUANT D I OANT I O N S O UST O H UL TAHK LE AC K EE FCEF
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ACADEMICS/ART by working collaboratively with district administration, staff and parents, it hopes to make recommendations and provide guidance that can be used by decision-makers and local leaders. O v e r t h e s u m m e r, S E PAC formed the council, elected council officers and spread the word to community members who may be interested in joining the group. Parents are the core members of SEPAC, and the application is always open. Individuals can join SEPAC as a general member or apply to be on the council. In the upcoming months, SEPAC will focus on formation, raise awareness of the council, grow membership and build positive relationships in the community. If you are interested in joining the general membership of SEPAC, scan the QR code for more information.
SOUTHLAKE CARROLL SEPAC HITS THE GROUND RUNNING Last spring, a volunteer group of parents and guardians of children receiving special education and 504 services, community representatives and district representatives formed the Southlake Carroll Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), which has big plans to hit the ground running this school year. The purpose of the Southlake Carroll SEPAC is to work for the understanding of, respect for and support of all children with special needs in the community in accordance with the requirements of federal and state special education laws. SEPAC will support the mission of the Carroll ISD Booster for Special Programs and regularly collaborate with that organization. The Southlake Carroll SEPAC will advise the district on matters pertaining to the education and safety of students with disabilities and learning differences; meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development and evaluation of district special programs; provide an educational forum for parents, students, educators and others in the community involved with students who have IEPs or 504 plans; promote communication among families with students of all abilities; and promote a network of parents with children, teens and young adults with special needs and learning differences and provide a forum to share information and discuss matters of common interest and concern. SEPAC aims to provide direct input to school district leaders about policies, programs, practices and services that have an impact on students with disabilities and their families. Its purpose is to advise, advocate and offer guidance. SEPACs do not have formal authority to issue directives or set policy, but 70 • INSIDE CARROLL
CARROLL STUDENTS RECEIVE RECOGNITION FROM NATIONAL FRENCH CONTEST Several Carroll Senior High School students received awards based on their achievements during the National French Contest, a competitive nationwide exam. Out of the approximately 30,000 students who participated during this year’s contest, 13 Dragons received honors. Annabel Yu, Carolyn Teng and Fanette Grivet-Seyve finished in the 95th percentile and received gold awards. Annabel finished second in the nation for level 3, Carolyn finished fifth in the nation for level 4 and Fanette finished eighth in the nation for level 4. Riley Carter and Jack Hay received silver awards and finished in the 90th or 85th percentile. Jeremy Lotrean, Charlotte Martin, Rachel Moon, Harper Moxcey and Charissa Wang received bronze awards and finished in the 80th or 75th percentile. Nicolas Lane, Eden McDowell and Richa Nag received honorable mentions.
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ATHLETICS
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In a year that saw safety precautions and limited capacities placed on district events, the Carroll ISD Athletic Department set a goal early on to find a way to honor the student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level. "Celebrating this huge moment in the life of our student-athletes and their families has always been a high priority for this district,” Executive Director of Athletics Steve Keasler says. “We had to get creative this year to keep that tradition alive." The athletic department, with the help of Carroll Senior High School’s administration, hosted multiple celebration weeks. These weeks coincided with national signing days, and they involved smaller groups of students and families. Individual sports hosted small events for their student-athletes to sign their letters of intent in front of their family and teammates. These events were special times for the families, coaches and teammates to come together and celebrate. Studentathletes signed to colleges to play sports ranging from football to beach volleyball. Keasler, who attended many of these events, knew this day was an important way to say thank you to the athletes and their families for their dedication to representing Carroll ISD academically and in athletics. “These kids work hard both in the classroom and in competition, and we are extremely happy that we were able to give them their moment in the spotlight to celebrate,” says Keasler. Overall, Carroll ISD had 47 student-athletes sign to continue their studies and also compete at the collegiate level. INSIDE CARROLL • 73
ATHLETICS
DRAGON FOOTBALL MAKES STATE APPEARANCE In a season that was not even guaranteed to take place, ended up being delayed and ultimately saw games around the state canceled due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dragons pushed through all of the obstacles and performed at one of the highest levels in the program’s history. After running through its regular season schedule and the first few rounds of the playoffs, this team faced one of the biggest challenges of the season. Before the state semifinal matchup against Duncanville, Dragon Football Head Coach Riley Dodge tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss the game. In his absence, the Dragon coaching staff stepped up and delivered a winning game plan in the Dragons’ first appearance in the UIL state semifinals since 2011. In this historical matchup, the Dragons defeated Duncanville 34-27 with stellar performances from sophomore running back Owen Allen and the Dragon defense. Executive Director of Athletics Steve Keasler applauds the work of this coaching staff not only leading up to the semifinal game but also throughout the season. “In a year when we were not sure if we would even get to have a season, this group of coaches, top to bottom, stepped up and taught these Dragons how to push through adversity,” says Keasler. “The lessons learned during this season will be impactful for these kids long after they play their final game.” With the win over Duncanville, the Dragons headed to the state championship game to take on one of the top programs in the state: Austin Westlake and Head Coach Todd Dodge. The “Dodge Bowl” was originally planned as a non-district matchup to kick off the 2020 74 • INSIDE CARROLL
season, but due to a delayed start to the season, the game was ultimately canceled. The game that was described as a “knockdown drag-out fight” by Westlake’s Todd Dodge ended with his Chaparrals coming out on top of the Dragons 51-34. Facing a defense that has given up less than six points a game on average throughout the entire season, the Dragons offense came out hot and scored quickly on the opening drive of the game when sophomore Owen Allen took on into the end zone from 26 yards out. The Chaps responded immediately with a long rushing touchdown, and the back and forth fight was on. At the half, the Dragons were behind by one score. Westlake opened the second half with a touchdown and an interception. Converting on the turnover, the Chaps added to their lead and shut down the Dragon offense through the end of the third quarter. The Dragon surged late with 14 unanswered points to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough. Even though the final score wasn’t in the Dragons’ favor, Keasler believes in this team and loves this supportive community. “Walking into AT&T Stadium and seeing the entire city of Southlake in their Dragon Green gave me chills,” says Keasler. “This community loves their Dragons. They support our programs and we are so thankful for that support.” Head Coach Riley Dodge described the week as “program-changing,” and he feels his team is heading in the right direction. With the entire starting defense and many offensive weapons including quarterback Quinn Ewers and running back Allen returning, the future is definitely bright for the Dragons.
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ATHLETICS DRAGON TENNIS DOUBLES TEAM TAKES DOUBLE THE TALENT TO STATE Dragon Tennis doubles players Colin Scruggs and Daniel Weir competed at state in May after dominating at the regional tournament. Colin and Daniel were the only student-athletes from Dragon Tennis to qualify for state and faced quite a bit of adversity to get there. Prior to regionals, Daniel experienced an ankle injury and played through the pain in order to advance. With an ankle that still was not 100% at state, the pair personified the true meaning of teamwork and battled it out with Westwood Tennis. But the duo ultimately fell in the state quarterfinals. Head Tennis Coach Corey Aldridge was incredibly impressed with both boys stepping up to the plate. “Colin stepped up in a big way and was nearly unstoppable with his serve and groundstroke game,” Aldridge says. “I’m super proud of both boys and the adversity they faced with poise, determination and grit.”
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ATHLETICS
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ATHLETICS says he sees potential for a district championship. “It will require a lot of hard work but these kids can do it. I have learned really fast that these kids can handle it. They are intelligent and tough. They pick things up fast and not to mention they can play a little bit too,” Coach Markley says. “If we can cultivate our ‘5 for 1’ culture and build up trust with each other, I think this team can have a very successful season.”
LADY DRAGON BASKETBALL MAKES SWEET 16
CARROLL ISD HIRES NEW VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL COACH After coach Eric McDade left Carroll ISD, the search was on for a new varsity basketball coach. Through the hiring process, CISD hired David Markley, the basketball coach at Chisholm Trail High School, to lead the Dragons in the seasons to come. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I was fortunate to be able to get in the gym with the players for the last few weeks of the school year, and I have really enjoyed my time with them and the basketball staff thus far,” Coach Markley says. “These kids are hungry and ready to build something special at Southlake Carroll High School.” Coach Markley says he sees the identity of the program as “5 for 1.” “[This] holds a lot of meaning for me, but in short means everything we do is about the team and serving others,” Coach Markley says. “Each team has its own strengths, so I believe you need to play to whatever those strengths might be.” During his time at Chisholm Trail High School, Coach Markley led the varsity team to playoff appearances in 2016-2018 and the 5-5A district championship in 2015 and 2016. Now leading the Dragons, Coach Markley 78 • INSIDE CARROLL
For the first time since 2004, the Lady Dragon Basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 of the UIL State Girls Basketball Tournament. Under third-year Lady Dragon Basketball Head Coach Robyn McCoart, the team leaned on defense and a relentless attitude to make for a successful season. “This year’s team motto was simple. We chose the word relentless,” McCoart says. “Everything we did from the practice court to the final game of the playoffs was done with the relentless attitude. That uncommon attitude and effort is the culture I wanted to build when I got here, and now, it’s the standard expectation moving forward.” The Dragons finished the regular season with a district record of 10-2, which put them second place overall in District 4-6A. They cruised through the first three rounds of the playoffs beating Trinity, El Paso Americas and district rival Timber Creek. They held each to under 30 points in each game. Other than the bi-district game against Dallas Roosevelt in 2000, where the Lady Dragons only gave up 25 points, these three games represent the best defensive performance by the team in history. The Dragons played a tough Plano East team in round four. Plano East ranked fourth in UIL 6A Girls basketball, according to MaxPreps. The Lady Dragons ended up falling to the Panthers 56-42. This year’s Lady Dragons team was senior heavy. Seven total seniors were on the roster, including five who had been on varsity with McCoart since her first year in the district. Jordyn Sowell, Brittney Flexer, Kaelyn Riley, Kalila Fambro and Kelsey Boyette all played a part on McCoart’s first Lady Dragon team and have helped grow the program to where it is today. “These seniors worked hard every day in the gym for three years, and they accomplished exactly every goal they set,” says McCoart. “They are the definition of relentless. They know their roles, and they played them to perfection.” Sophomore Camryn Tade was named District 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year and was the only sophomore named to the Class 6A All-Region I team by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Tade averaged more than 15 points and six rebounds a game.
ATHLETICS
BAYLEY TRANG WINS FIRST DRAGON STATE TITLE FOR GIRLS WRESTLING During the state championship in late April, wrestler Bayley Trang was behind 5-0 in the championship match. But with determination, she battled back to win the match and earn the first state title for girls wrestling in the program’s history. “To be honest, my first feeling was shock,” Bayley says. “Going from not even making it to the state tournament last year to actually winning it was a dream come true for me.” Bayley started wrestling in seventh grade and now trains two times a day, culminating in around 15 hours of practice a week. All that practice paid off. Along with her state title, Bayley was named the Region 1-6A Champion at the
regional tournament and earned the title of District 4-6A Girls Most Outstanding Wrestler at the district tournament. “I felt really good going into the postseason. Right before the postseason, I went to Iowa to compete at the Girls Folkstyle Nationals and became an All-American by placing third in the 16U division,” Bayley says. “So I felt that my conditioning was good and I didn’t have any significant injuries to worry about.” With a love for the sport, Bayley says she wants to continue wrestling in college while she pursues her dream of becoming a doctor. “Wrestling is not just ‘fighting’ but it involves strategy as well. It is a chess match,” Bayley says. “Someone may be stronger than you, but if you employ the correct technique, you can beat someone who may be stronger and faster than you.” INSIDE CARROLL • 79
ATHLETICS
SOUTHLAKE CARROLL EARNS SECOND PLACE IN COMPETITION FOR LONE STAR CUP After a year of athletics with a variety of postseason games won and championships strived for, Southlake Carroll came in second place in the competition for the Lone Star Cup. The Lone Star Cup, given annually by the University Interscholastic League, awards points to schools in each classification based on its athletics teams’ performances in district and state championships. The winning school in each classification receives the UIL Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship. Despite the hard work of its athletes, CISD fell short of winning the cup this year after earning 99 points, coming behind Conroe The Woodlands which earned 111 points.
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DRAGON BASEBALL MAKES IT TO THE REGIONAL FINALS In the fourth straight year of playing after graduation, the Dragon Baseball team made it all the way to the regional finals — the last postseason round before the state championship. Though the team is relatively young, that didn’t stop it from dominating all season long. A little more than halfway through the season, the team had already collectively stolen 140 bases and had a stacked pitching staff in Griffin Herring, Owen Proksch, Luke Gornell and Ryan Pehrson, among others. And though the Dragons’ season came to an end, their athletic talent extended past the final inning. Five players — Tyler White, Ethan Mendoza, Owen Proksch, Clark Springs and Gunnar Krug — were named to the 4-6 First Team while Ben Tryon, Tanner Sumer, Max Reyes and Luke Gornell were named to the 4-6A Second Team. Griffin Herring was also named the 4-6A Pitcher of the Year.
ATHLETICS 2021 RETIRED STAFF Thank you for your years of educating and caring for our students.
DRAGON SOFTBALL REACHES REGIONAL SEMIFINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2004
Though the team did not make it to the state championship, Dragon Softball made headlines this year. Playing through the fourth round of the postseason, the young team proved its athletic talent, making it to the regional semifinals for the first time in nearly 17 years. Though the team ultimately fell to Flower Mound in a 12-0 loss, the Dragons still have a lot to be proud of. Following the end of the season, Cameron Timmons, Bella Jones and Morgan Cashon were named to the First Team All-District 4-6A. Mackenzie Rae was named to the Second Team All-District 4-6A while Anna Hunt and Lillian Cooper were named Honorable Mention All-District 4-6A. In addition, 13 Dragon Softball players — Brooke Berwick, Claire Carrick, Morgan Cashon, Lillian Cooper, Abby Guy, Anna Hunt, Bella Jones, Sophie Nolen, Christina Pedano, Mackenzie Rae, Raina Rumalla, Sydney Stagg and Callie Zenoble — made Academic All-District 4-6A.
ANN MARIE ALLEN NANCY CAIRNS JUDY CUMMINS DOUGLAS CURRY KAY DEAN SUSAN DILLER DEBBIE EDGINGTON BETH ELLIOTT DARLA EVANS DAVID FALTYS PENNY FOSTER LISA FULMER MONICA GATTSHALL DEBBIE HOLBROOK CECILY HOLSTROM CAROLYN HRYORCHUK LISA JACKSON DENA JOHNSON JUDY JONES NORA KIRKMAN CATHY KRIEGER LINDA LACAVA MIKE LANDERS DAVID LAUTENSACK LEZAH MEACHAM NANCY MULLINS LINDA PINKERTON MONICA POUCKET RICHARD PRATHER KAREN SEABERG DON SPRADLEY JUDY STEPHENS DONNA SWINDELL BERTHA TAPIA JENNIFER WALDROOP CAROL WANDALL TERI WEBER
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ATHLETICS
CARROLL BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY DEFENDS STATE TITLE The Carroll boys’ cross-country team successfully defended its 6A state title in November 2020, defeating two-time reigning 5A state champion El Paso Eastwood and 2019 6A runner-up The Woodlands at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. It marks the 11th consecutive year the boys’ team has finished either first or second at the state meet. The Lady Dragons finished on the podium for the 18th time in the last 20 years. The girls’ squad finished second, behind firsttime champion Flower Mound. “Our young men and women left it all out on the course,” Carroll Cross-Country Head Coach Justin Leonard says. “We had a lot of seniors running their last race, and they gave it all they had. I’m thrilled our boys were able to defend our state championship, and even though it didn’t quite go our way on the girls’ side, I’m proud of how they competed.” In the boys’ race, senior Antonio Florcruz finished fifth overall, leading the Dragons with a time of 15:31. Senior Solomon Chavez finished 11th in 15:41, followed by fellow seniors Bennett Woolsey (32nd, 16:02), Bryan 82 • INSIDE CARROLL
Fernando (42nd, 16:13.27) and Mason Alexander (43rd, 16:13.28). Sophomores Logan Cantu (52nd, 16:22) and Hunter Hill (74th, 16:39) rounded out the Dragon competitors. Junior Kaylie Cox was the top Dragon runner in the girls’ race, finishing sixth overall with a time of 18:00. Senior Abigail McIlvain finished 21st in 18:33, followed by senior Grace Williamson (24th, 18:42), senior Laurel Hook (33rd, 19:03) and sophomore Ava Bushaw (51st, 19:14). Junior Olivia Jones (54th, 19:19.18) and sophomore Audrey Dunn (56th, 19:19.87) were the Dragons’ final two finishers. Executive Director of Athletics Steve Keasler is well aware of the impact Coach Leonard and his staff have on these student-athletes. “The Carroll Cross-Country Team and Coach Leonard continue to be an example of what a successful program looks like in their sport. The long, and many times early morning, hours of training continue to pay off,” says Keasler. “Coach Leonard and his staff are not only teaching these student-athletes to compete at the highest level but also they are learning important life lessons to carry them after their time in Carroll.”
ATHLETICS DRAGON CHEER EARNS THIRD PLACE IN UIL STATE SPIRIT COMPETITION Last spring, Carroll Dragon Cheer brought back a third-place trophy from the UIL State Spirit Competition. Led by cheer sponsors Julie Cox and Meredith Davis, the cheer team traveled to Fort Worth to compete at the state level. The spirit competition focuses on the traditional game-day role cheerleaders have on the sidelines and in schools supporting athletic teams. The team competed in three categories at the competition: crowd leading, fight song and band dance. The team wowed the crowd and judges with its school spirit and talent and earned recognition as one of the best cheer teams in the state of Texas.
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COMMUNITY CISD REMEMBERS COACH CARL ANDERSON During his time at Carroll ISD, football Coach Carl Anderson was often found hanging out in an area of the school dubbed “Carl’s Corner” with his fellow coaches. After he passed away in late February due to COVID-19, the former Carroll Senior High School Principal Shawn Duhon and Student Council honored him by creating a memorial at Carl’s Corner — complete with photos of the beloved coach, his colleagues and the football team; flowers; and a plaque. “I was devastated and still am,” Head Football Coach Riley Dodge says. “He was one of my closest friends in this profession.” Riley worked with Carl for five years — both at Carroll and previously at Marcus High School. “[Carl was] very knowledgeable of the game, but the most important things to him were his players and helping them achieve their goals,” Coach Dodge says. “[He] meant the world to us. He was respected and admired by this staff and players.” Along with the memorial, a GoFundMe page made after his passing collected more than $20,000 for the Anderson family. After paying the funeral expenses, the extra money went to a scholarship fund for Carl’s grandson, Lincoln. “He instilled a toughness inside all of us,” Coach Dodge says. “He always told me life is too short not to have fun!”
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COMMUNITY
CARROLL ISD ANNOUNCES 2021 SERVICE AWARD, CORE VALUE AWARD WINNERS
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL DOCTOR BRINGS COVID-19 VACCINE TO DRAGON STAFF
In May 2021, Carroll ISD honored several staff members for their work ethic and dedication to education. The 2021 Service Award winners included Auxiliary Service Award recipient Ana Palma, Child Nutrition; Paraprofessional Service Award recipient Judy Stephens, Carroll High School; Distinguished Service Award recipient Ziba Johnston, Jack D. Johnson Elementary School; Community Service Award recipient Jill Webb, Board & Community Relations; and SRO of the Year Award recipient Kim Smith, Walnut Grove Elementary School. The 2021 Core Value Award winners included Excellence recipient Karen Flexer, Carroll Senior High School; Character & Integrity recipient Suzanne Johnson, Old Union Elementary School; Innovation recipient Ken Johnson, Carroll High School; Relationships recipient Denise McCrummen, Special Programs; Open & Honest Communication recipient Susan Hogan, Walnut Grove Elementary School; Open & Honest Communication recipient Julie Thannum, Board & Community Relations; and Compassionate Service recipient Melody Cooley, Carroll High School. Congratulations to these award winners!
When the COVID-19 vaccine was approved for educators, Carroll ISD’s Lead Nurse Karen Flexer went to work to bring the vaccine to the district’s educators. Through a strong partnership with Dragon dad and local doctor, Dr. Niraj Mehta, Carroll ISD was able to host its very own shot clinic for staff. “Within a week of educator approval, we were able to administer the first shot to those who desired to get the vaccine, with a follow-up dose scheduled three weeks later,” Flexer says. “We had enough of the vaccine to share with other educators in our surrounding community such as private schools and daycare facilities.” Nurse Flexer has been seeking partnerships with vendors Carroll had used in the past for staff vaccination clinics, but no one was able to secure the doses. Dr. Mehta had a relationship with a local pharmacist who could get the vaccine and supply doses to district staff. Nearly 400 Carroll ISD staff members signed up for an appointment for the shot clinic and gathered at the Administration Center to receive their vaccine. “The excitement and thankful sentiments were overwhelming,” Flexer says. “After a year of pause, this was an active step our staff felt they could take to get back to normal and to be a positive force in protecting their health and the health of our students and their families.”
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COMMUNITY
ROSIE RETIRES FROM CARROLL ISD Dawson Middle School said goodbye to Rosie the Albino Burmese Python in the spring. The 15-year-old snake outgrew her enclosure at Dawson, so she will be living out the rest of her years at the Abilene Zoo. After the zoo picked up Rosie on May 21, she went into a 90-day required reptile quarantine. Now, she serves as a zoo ambassador for educational purposes. Rosie was a household pet of a Southlake family before living at Dawson Middle School. When Rosie was just shy of 8 feet, her original family asked Dr. Greg Moore, her primary care physician, if he knew of a place that could handle her rapid growth. “Dawson Animal Science teacher at the time, Mr. David Allison, was a routine customer of Dr. Moore’s,” former Dawson Middle School principal Ryan Wilson says. “Their established relationship led Dr. Moore to ask Mr. Allison if Dawson would be a suitable environment for this quickly growing python. The rest, as they say, is history.” At age 5, Rosie became a Dragon. The now 16-foot, 120-pound snake has been held by thousands of Dragons and has touched many lives. Students in the animal science program at Dawson Middle School learned to feed her, handle her and clean her pen. Her enclosure was located on the first floor, so even those who didn’t take animal science classes got to see Rosie shed her skin and live her life. Rosie helped many overcome their fear of snakes. 88 • INSIDE CARROLL
“When I see former students in the community, their first question for me is usually about Rosie,” Wilson says. “But we can’t be selfish. She’s now entering the later stages of snake life and deserves to be somewhere with available expert care and optimum living conditions. She’s been so sweet to us. Now we need to be equally sweet to her.” She will be greatly missed in the Carroll community. Once a Dragon, always a Dragon.
COMMUNITY
CARROLL ROCKET TEAMS COMPLETE 15 SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES The Carroll Rockets I and II teams made program history when they completed 15 successful launches in Fredericksburg last year. Led by rocket teacher Rachel Mahlow, the Rockets I and II teams learn how to engineer their own rockets and launch them at the end of the school year. “The kids work all semester long,” Rachel says. “They learn how to build a rocket, how to make it stable. Every single one of those rocket groups built, designed and launched a rocket in their budget.” By the end of the semester, all of the groups had successful launches and got to celebrate their wins together. Rachel says she’s proud that her students got to take ownership of their hard work. “When they get to the launch site, they know every single thing about that rocket. They built it, they designed it, they created it and it’s theirs,” she says. “I think that’s what makes it even more special.” INSIDE CARROLL • 89
COMMUNITY
OLD UNION ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NAMED REGION 11 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR For more than 12 years, Reigan O’Quinn has faithfully served Carroll ISD as a teacher, counselor and assistant principal. Her hard work paid off last year when the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association named her the Region 11 assistant principal of the year. Leading the Old Union Elementary staff and students for three years, Reigan previously served as the co-coordinator for the K-6 counseling department and team leader for special programs at Carroll Elementary School. “Reigan has spent time in numerous roles through90 • INSIDE CARROLL
out the district, and each of those roles has prepared her to be an essential part of our team here at Old Union,” Old Union Principal Jon Fike says. “Reigan O’Quinn is a special person who works hard to make sure our Old Union Dragons have a great experience every day.” On Wednesday, March 3, Reigan was recognized by TEPSA as the assistant principal of the year for Region 11. TEPSA and Region 11 representatives joined Reigan and her fourth graders at Old Union on Wednesday to celebrate her success. Region assistant principals of the year are eligible to become the Texas representative for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award. To learn more about TEPSA and its awards, visit TEPSA.org.
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COMMUNITY
SITTING DOWN WITH WILLIAM WOOTEN Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services for Carroll ISD William Wooten came to the district in the fall semester last year. He has spent the year overseeing the financial services department, as well as the district’s Audit and Budget & Finance Committees. Before landing in Carroll, Wooten was a United States Naval Officer for 22 years. He then was the Director of Business and Financial Services for DeSoto ISD for five years and the Chief Financial Officer for Ferris ISD for two years. Wooten says he enjoys ensuring that every dollar is delivered to the classroom both directly and indirectly to support student growth. “I enjoy working with such brilliant community members on budget and finance topics,” says Wooten. “In addition, I enjoy visiting campuses to remind myself of who I am actually working for each day — the students!” 92 • INSIDE CARROLL
When he’s not at work, Wooten enjoys reading, walking with his wife and going to Stonebriar Community Church to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll.
CARROLL ROBOTICS WINS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP The Carroll Robotics team won big at the Texas 6A State Championship last spring. Over spring break, the Carroll Robotics team traveled to Houston to compete against 38 other teams at the Texas 6A State Championship. They competed in 15 matches overall, winning 12 with a driver high score of 122 and a programming high score of 97, totaling to 219 points overall for the competition. By the end of the championship, the Dragons not only won the Best Design Award but also they were named overall tournament champions.
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CISD SNAPSHOTS EVENTS | HAPPENINGS | PROMOTIONS
CARROLL ISD CELEBRATES 2021 GRADUATES Carroll ISD’s class of 2021 celebrated their graduation from Carroll Senior High School earlier this May. Valedictorian Carolyn H. Teng and salutatorian Stephen L. Chuang gave congratulatory remarks to graduates, and Alexander Eleftherios Beres, Rishik Bethi, Vivek Narain Chari, Samuel Jack Colvin, Gurarpan Singh Dhatt, Gabriella Feroza Jamall, Imaad Asif Virani and Katie Yufan Zhang were recognized among the top 10 students. The ceremony was also livestreamed for those that couldn’t attend in person. Congratulations, class of 2021!
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Thank you we care sponsors Thank you to the top sponsors of the We Care Program Carroll ISD’s initiative that funds employee appreciation throughout the year.
PLATINUM SPONSORS
gold sponsors
All-Star Orthopaedics Barrows Firm Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Grapevine Community Med Urgent Care Cook Children’s Healthcare System EECU Credit Union Engel & Volkers Roxann Taylor Eyes & Ears Huntington Learning Center i Fratelli Pizza Southlake Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Precision Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Smile Doctors Southlake Driving School T-Mobile Employee Perks Tolleson Orthodontics Tommy Pennington Group
Arbor Pediatrics Camp Gladiator Crumbl Cookies James Keoughan Group RBFCU Serendipity Med Spa Smiles By Martin Southlake Style Starpower - Ed Kellum & Son United Educators Association
#DRAGONSTRONG
We are so proud of our Carroll Olympian!
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