I am so proud to be a part of this community! We had an amazing response this week to our call for donations as part of the districtwide food drive. We had three trailers of food donated at collection sites on all our GISD campuses. Thank you to all our families for donating and to those students and staff who helped us collect and deliver the food. A special shout out to our friends at Southern Bleacher and our Graham High School Key Club who each donated $500 worth of food for this great cause. Many local children and families will benefit this Thanksgiving from your generosity.
Thanks also to all of our families who came out to the Crestview Family STEM Night earlier this week. This event showcased what students are learning through hands-on activities that support science, technology, engineering and math. We enjoyed pizza, interactive activities and collaborative learning during this special event. Enjoy viewing some of the pictures in this newsletter and on our official Graham ISD social media accounts.
Last week we launched our new finance information project called Dollars & Sense. Watch this project launch video to learn more. We hope everyone in our community will become engaged in this fun project. To learn more about Texas school finance and the GISD budget, visit https://dollarsandsense.grahamisd.com.
As we prepare to wrap up learning this next week and enter Thanksgiving break, I cannot thank you enough for partnering with us to support your children. It is our honor and privilege to serve the Graham community. Together we can continue to make a difference in the lives of Graham students.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Committed to Excellence,
Dr. Johnston
School Board Meeting Highlights
Trustees Approve Retention Incentive Payment For Staff
Board Adopts District, Campus Improvement Plans
The Graham ISD Board of Trustees met for a monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 12. During the meeting Trustees adopted a Resolution for a one-time incentive paycheck for employees, demonstrating the District’s support of its staff, enhancing employee morale and improving retention. The proposed one-time retention incentive payment will be in the amount of $1,000 to each current full-time, permanent employee whose employment began on or before Nov. 20, 2025, and who have not tendered their intent to resign from Graham ISD on or before Nov. 20, 2025.
At this meeting Trustees also reviewed and approved the District and Campus Improvement Plans. Each year campuses develop a Campus Improvement Plan to identify student groups that require additional support in order to be successful on student achievement measures. District leaders also collaboratively create a District Improvement Plan to guide district and campus staff in the improvement of student performance for all student groups across the district.
In addition, Trustees heard a report on the Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Trustees received information related to criteria for entrance into the program, the extent to which students are becoming proficient in English, and state assessment data. Graham ISD currently serves 278 students in the ESL/Bilingual programs. The majority of these students are served in elementary schools. GISD Emergent Bilingual students speak three different languages: Spanish (99%), Gujarati, and Vietnamese.
In other business, the Board of Trustees:
Appointed members to the School Library Advisory Council per Policy EFB (LOCAL);
Reviewed TASB Policy Update 126 which includes 28 local policies for Board consideration. Trustees will vote on Policy Update 126 at their next meeting;
Heard a report from Corgan Architects about the ongoing Facilities Assessment and Long Range Facility Planning process;
Heard an update on the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Grant that will help replace school buses meeting criteria outlined in the grant guidelines. Graham ISD has five buses that would be eligible for replacement under the grant. Trustees received an overview of GISD’s bus fleet, safety belt status on these buses, and details of the grant and how it may benefit the district;
Approved a Budget Amendment for the Ed Rachal Foundation Donations for over $21,000 in grants received by our teachers;
Approved the Consent Agenda, which consisted of previous meeting minutes, an enrollment report and financial reports; and
Met in Closed Session as permitted by Texas law.
The School Board’s next regular meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
School Board Recognized Tennis Team Members
On Wednesday, the GISD Board of Trustees recognized the following students for Varsity Tennis UIL District Honors:
Jade Dospapas - 1st Team All-District Line 1
Keigan Garland - 2nd Team All-District Line 4
Jade Dospapas - Academic All-District
Stacey Gonzalez - Academic All-District
Jordan Miranda - Academic All-District
Chris Reyes - Academic All-District
Congratulations to these student athletes from Graham High School on their recent honors and accomplishments.
Facility Planning Committee Membership Confirmed
Next week Pioneer Elementary will host the first meeting of our Facility Planning Committee. A total of 56 parents, students, staff members, community leaders and taxpayers have agreed to serve on this committee and as many as 15 school leaders will serve as liaisons.
The group will meet each month from now until May, studying demographic projections, building capacities, the GISD budget, the condition of current facilities and eventually take part in developing a Long Range Facility Plan to present to the Board of Trustees. This committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Board; they will not be voting or making final decisions. Each meeting will occur in a GISD facility, and committee members will be taking part in building tours. Subject matter experts such as demographers, architects and the district’s financial advisors will share in-depth details with the committee to inform their work.
GISD is grateful to each and every person who will commit their time and attention to this important work over the next seven to eight months. Very soon the district will launch a webpage dedicated to communicating about the work of this committee. On this site the public will find agendas, presentations and reports shared with committee members, as well as a list of each individual appointed or selected to serve.
Safety Corner - EVACUATE
From time to time, Graham ISD schools may implement one of five Standard Response Protocols as part of the district’s emergency response plan. These protocols include Secure,Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter and Hold. We will be using space in our monthly community newsletters to review the procedures and purposes of each of these protocols.
The third protocol explained for the 2025-26 school year is a campus Evacuate order. The Evacuate protocol is typically announced over the intercom system to alert students and staff members to a safety situation that necessitates that they be moved to an alternate location to ensure safety. The primary objective is to ensure that all students, staff, and visitors can quickly, and in a safe, orderly manner, move away from the threat. The most common utilization of an Evacuate protocol is for fire drills. Graham ISD schools must conduct a fire drill every month in which students attend school at least 10 ten days.
During an Evacuate, protocol and practice allows students and staff to move in an orderly fashion from one area to another to avoid hazards in the building. Students are trained that if they are separated from their class during an evacuation, then joining an evacuation line is acceptable. They should be instructed to identify themselves to the teacher in their group after arriving at the evacuation site. Reasons that prompt the need for an Evacuate protocol include fire, chemical spill, gas leak, environmental factors, or mechanical failure.
If you ever have questions about any of the district’s Standard Response Protocols (SRPs), please don’t hesitate to reach out to your campus principal.
For Our Parents: Watch for #GrahamSafe announcements through the ParentSquare mobile app.
Graham ISD is committed to student success, and consistent attendance is a key part of achieving it. When students miss school, they miss valuable instruction, peer collaboration, and critical learning experiences that impact their academic success. The district’s message is simple - if you are healthy, go to school! It’s all a part of a #GoGrahamGo campaign to improve student attendance.
Chronic absences—missing 10% or more of the school year—can lead to lower grades, difficulty keeping up, and a higher risk of falling behind. For GISD, students who miss 16 days a year, which is less than two days each month are considered chronically absent.
As part of our Strategic Plan goal to reach 97% attendance districtwide, GISD is committed to partnering with families to support students and encourage consistent attendance. Watch for attendance messaging on our social media accounts and in monthly newsletters.
By showing up every day, students build strong learning habits, improve academic performance, and set the foundation for a successful future. Regular attendance is the precursor to the “soft skills” that employers will expect and require.
When students stay healthy, they’re able to be in school and learning every day. Many factors impact health including hygiene, sleep, eating habits, and exercise.
Our partnership with families is key to helping students attend and succeed. By working together, we can remove barriers and create a shared understanding that supports every student.
Excellence in Action
Small groups. Big gains.
Excellence in action at the teacher table today in Mrs. Sharpe’s 4th grade math classes.
Nothing beats the look of learning in Mrs. Beauchamp’s 5th grade science class as they were lighting up their circuits and their curiosity.
First grade students in Mrs. Sullivan’s class are leaning in and learning at high levels.
Mrs. Sanchez’s 3rd grade is in-tune with learning.
Across the district, classrooms are implementing data-driven instruction through intentional small-group learning. Teachers are using student performance data to customize lessons, address individual needs, and enhance overall academic outcomes.
The District Educational Improvement Committee (DEIC) recently met to review the District Improvement Plan and provide feedback on district goals, instructional strategies, and student achievement initiatives. Committee members analyzed progress data, discussed areas for growth, and offered recommendations to strengthen the district’s continuous improvement efforts.
The DEIC’s feedback and the district’s focus on data-informed teaching work together to support ongoing student success. Thank you to our members of this committee and their commitment to excellence!
Staff and Student Shoutouts
Dr. Kristina Martin
Mrs. Martin consistently goes above and beyond to support Graham ISD Special Educators to ensure Graham ISD is providing great educational opportunities for our students. In addition to her work as Graham ISD Special Education Coordinator and Lead Evaluator, Dr. Martin supports teachers in the day-to-day operations and instructional delivery in their classrooms. Thank you, Dr. Kristina Martin, for your leadership and dedication to the students and staff of Graham ISD!
-Submitted by Joe Gordy
Elvia Garcia
In our world of special education, there are a million moving parts, and Mrs. Garcia is the one who keeps them all rolling. She works harder than anyone I know, always stays on top of every single detail, and never complains. She loves the kids, and they love her. She is an incredible professional and a great teammate!
-Submitted by Ashlee McDougal
Maranda Roberts
Mrs. Roberts is SUCH a go-getter. She is willing to jump in and help out any way she can, while continually having a positive attitude and relationship with her students. Maranda is always on the hunt for new strategies that will help her students have fun and be successful. She never stops learning, which is what makes her a fantastic teacher and a great teaching partner. Pioneer is blessed to have Mrs. Roberts.
-Submitted by Miriam Ramirez
Have a Graham ISD student or staff member that deserves a shoutout in an upcoming newsletter or social media post? Take a few moments to share information about the achievement or contribution the staff or student made and share photos if you have them using the form provided below.
The Graham ISD Food Drive was a success! Our schools collected enough food donations to fill three trailers!
Thank you to all our families and employees who donated. Also, we appreciate Southern Bleacher and GHS Key Club for both donating $500 worth of food! We have an amazing community and we appreciate all of our Steers & Lady Blues!
Crestview Family STEM Night
Crestview Elementary hosted their Family STEM Night! Students and their families enjoyed the evening by exploring STEM activities including straw flutes, playdough Legos, tangram puzzles, pumpkin catapults, paper airplanes and much more! Thanks to all who engaged in this fun learning experience for all ages!
Athletics Department Staff Appreciation
Our Graham High School student athletes showed their appreciation for their teachers! This is the second year for our students to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff. The support that our staff shows for our student athletes helps them be the best they can be – inside and outside of the classroom!
Ed Rachal Foundation Grant Recipients
Graham ISD is incredibly proud of all the teachers who have earned Ed Rachal Foundation Grants! We celebrate their initiative, hard work, and commitment to enhancing the educational experience for our students. These grants will provide valuable resources and opportunities for students in their classrooms. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects have on our students. Congratulations to all!
Cortney Trammell
Paige Anderson
Kasey Sams
Sandra Paulin
Barbara Rice
Miriam Ramirez
Leticia Barrera
Jennifer Davis
Barbara Lewis
Erin Howard
Christie Andrews
Bethany Bennett
Brittany Norvill
Elizabeth Adams
Anisha Parker
Tessa Boenisch
Lori Brown
Paige Sharpe
Ashley Register
Amy Heathcoat
Susan Riley
Erin Sanchez
Ann Cauley
Kimberly Vacante
Alondra Serrano
Jennifer Freeman
Penny Fowler
Dawna Gage
Saige Piper
Jimi Bates
Robin Johnson
Jessi Tinkle
Maranda Roberts
Kathy Riggins
Brianne Elrod
Amanda Mullens
Maria Anaya
Important Dates
Mark Your Calendar
Nov. 14: No School for Student/Staff Professional Learning Day
Nov. 19: Facility Planning Committee Meeting at Pioneer Elementary
Nov. 21-28: Thanksgiving Break - Begins Friday
Dec. 1: Students/Staff Return
Dec. 5: GISD Closed/No School
Dec. 10: Board of Trustees Meeting
Dec. 12: GISD Closed/No School
Check out the Online GISD Calendar for a more comprehensive list of upcoming academic, athletic, fine arts and extracurricular activities.
PTO and Parent Class Officer News for You
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11th Grade: Class of 2027
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