Cardinal Nest News
NOVEMBER 2026
Have you questioned how we made it to November so fast? Ready or not, November is here and we are thankful. As we look back on a great October, we have plenty to celebrate and a lot to appreciate at Pottsboro ISD.
This month brings some exciting moments for our district. For the first time in school history, our Cardinal Pride Band is competing in the UIL State Marching Competition! Watching our schools and community come together to support these students has been a wonderful reminder of what makes Pottsboro a great place to live. We also look forward to an important milestone in our superintendent search as the Board of Trustees prepares to name a lone finalist in November.
As we head toward Thanksgiving break, let's take time to appreciate the good around us. Tell someone how much they mean to you. Keep showing up for our Cardinals and each other!
We have a lot to be thankful for in Pottsboro, not just in this month centered on thankfulness, but all year long.
One Nest. Every Cardinal!
The Pottsboro High School Cardinal Pride Band is headed to San Antonio! After earning a spot at the Area Marching Contest and placing third at Area, the band secured its place at the UIL State Marching Competition on November 4.
This marks an exciting milestone for the Cardinal Pride Band as they prepare to take their show, Beyond the Sands, to the state stage for the first time in school history. Months of rehearsals, dedication, and hard work have led to this moment.
The entire Cardinal community is cheering them on as they represent Pottsboro on one of the biggest stages in Texas high school marching band!
The Pottsboro ISD Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting on October 26, 2026.
We began the evening by recognizing our October Students and Teachers of the Month!
Middle School
- Student of the Month: Tate Patterson
- Teacher of the Month: Tiffany Lappin
High School
- Student of the Month: Maelyn Farrington
- Teacher of the Month: Jackie Deen
Mrs. Stephens also recognized our high school students who earned a 3 or above on last year's Advanced Placement (AP) exams. While many students were unable to attend, we are proud of all who qualified for college credit through their hard work. Congratulations to these students and their teachers for their commitment to academic excellence!
Following recognitions, the Board heard Campus Improvement Plans from Mr. LaRoche (Elementary), Mrs. Townsend (Middle School), and Mr. Ard on behalf of Mrs. Edwards (High School). Representatives from Gallagher and Huckabee provided a construction update, followed by the Superintendent's Report from Mr. DeMasters.
The Board then entered closed session with representatives from Impact Education Specialists to continue the superintendent search process. For the latest updates, visit our Superintendent Search page.
The November General Board Meeting will be held on November 16, 2026.
We encourage our community to attend and stay informed about what's happening across Pottsboro ISD!
The search for Pottsboro ISD’s next superintendent is moving forward. Stakeholders shared their feedback through a survey and input sessions, and Impact Education Specialists has compiled that feedback into a report.
You can find the report and a general timeline for the search process on our website using the button below.
On October 27, Pottsboro ISD welcomed community members for a ribbon cutting and open house celebrating the newly renovated Administration Building. While the space may look completely different today, the building holds a special place in Pottsboro's history. Originally home to Pottsboro High School, it later served as the middle school when the current high school opened.
When construction of the new middle school required the demolition of the former administration building, district administrative staff were relocated to various campuses and facilities across the district, with many working out of the PISD Service Center. After several years of working in separate locations and tight quarters, the team is finally back together under one roof.
Rather than lose another piece of district history, Pottsboro ISD chose to give this building a new purpose. The renovation preserves its connection to generations of Cardinals while creating a modern, functional space designed to accommodate the district's future growth.
The open house was an opportunity to share that new beginning with the community whose support made it possible. Guests heard from Interim Superintendent Rick DeMasters and Board President Scott Galyon before touring the building, sharing memories of their school days, and exploring how familiar spaces have been transformed.
This building represents more than new offices. It is a piece of Pottsboro's past, a home for the district's present, and an investment in its future. We are grateful for the trust and support of our community and look forward to seeing this historic building continue serving generations of Cardinals for years to come.
Children enrolled in Pottsboro ISD who need a little extra food for the weekend can pick it up from 7 to 9 a.m. at 501 Spur 316, Suite 104, most Thursdays during the school year. No paperwork is required. Simply text your child's first and last name to 903.821.9243 at pickup.
October was a busy month at Pottsboro Elementary! Our youngest Cardinals learned about fire safety from local firefighters, Pre-K through 1st grade enjoyed field trips, and students had fun dressing up for Red Ribbon Week. We wrapped up the second six weeks with our 2nd Grade Pumpkin Parade and Halloween parties for 3rd and 4th grades!
As we head into November, it's a great time to remind our little Cardinals about being thankful, showing kindness, and appreciating the people around us. We have plenty to be thankful for at Pottsboro Elementary! Don't forget, Thanksgiving Break is November 23-27, so enjoy a full week of family time and a little extra rest. Until then, let's keep up the great work, get to school on time, and make every day count!
October kicked off with Pastries with Parents because what middle schooler doesn't love starting their morning with their parents hanging out at school and chatting with their teachers? All jokes aside, this is always a great event hosted by our Middle School PTO, and everyone had a wonderful time!
October also brought the end of middle school cross country and volleyball seasons, a fun Halloween Dance, and Red Ribbon Week activities.
Looking ahead to November, the Book Fair is coming, boys and girls basketball seasons are getting underway, and everyone has a full week off for Thanksgiving Break, November 23-27!
A quick reminder as we get further into the school year, keep an eye on grades and missing assignments. Encourage your Cardinal to stay on top of their schoolwork. Middle school is all about learning a little more independence, but a reminder from home every now and then never hurts!
October was a busy month at Pottsboro High School, with our Cardinals staying active in just about everything! FCCLA and FFA students visited the State Fair of Texas, where several FFA members also competed in livestock shows and entered ag mech projects. Our theatre students showed off their talents during Coffee House Night, while cross country and volleyball wrapped up their seasons.
As some seasons came to an end, others were just getting started! Archery began practicing, boys' and girls' basketball held their first official practices, and our bass fishing team kept casting, with one team reeling in a second-place finish at Lake Lewisville. Golf and football continued their seasons, and our Cardinal Band gave us plenty to celebrate! After advancing from Region to Area, the band earned 3rd place at the Area Marching Contest and secured a trip to San Antonio, where they will compete at the UIL State Marching Contest for the first time in PHS history!
We closed out October with Red Ribbon Week and Haunted Halls, where six PHS organizations worked together to provide a fun, safe place for our younger Cardinals to trick-or-treat.
November isn't slowing down! We'll begin our third six weeks, cheer on our band as they travel to San Antonio for the UIL State Marching Contest, and enjoy the PHS Theatre production of Clue, November 7-9. Boys and girls basketball games get underway, choir students will compete in the All-Region Choir Contest, and our theatre students will have the opportunity to attend the Texas Thespians Festival. We'll also celebrate PHS Friendsgiving before enjoying Thanksgiving Break, November 23-27.
High school comes with a lot more freedom but also a lot more responsibility! Between classes, extracurricular activities, jobs, and everything else our students have going on, it's easy for things to slip through the cracks. Encourage your Cardinal to manage their time, communicate with their teachers, and take ownership of their responsibilities.
