CISD Informed — Nov. 21, 2025

Dear CISD Community,

As we head into the Thanksgiving Break, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for your dedication to CISD, your commitment to our schools and your focus on student success and wellness. We are lucky to live in a community that believes in and supports our students and staff. Our deep sense of community and unity truly sets CISD apart.

This sense of community was also on proud display across our schools this week. Families gathered for Thanksgiving meals at Wilson, Denton Creek and several other campuses, and many campuses held drives to benefit those in need in our community. Mockingbird Elementary held its annual Rakesgiving, where students serve as good neighbors by raking the lawns of the homes surrounding the school. These experiences embody the unity, service and Cowboy pride that make CISD such a special place.

This spirit is an essential part of our district’s culture and the future success of Cowboys United. Over the past several weeks, Cowboys United has been in full motion — from community surveys and focus groups, to marketing efforts and campus engagement activities — all designed to strengthen our connection with current families and reach prospective families to encourage them to enroll in CISD.

In January, we will take an important next step with the CISD School Choice Fair and Cowboys United: Every Voice, Every Block outreach effort, which CISD and Cowboys United volunteers will connect with every household in our district. I encourage you to consider filling out the application included in this newsletter to be a part of this and other opportunities as part of Cowboys United.

And to quote the famous words of Jimmy Johnson, “How ‘bout them Cowboys?” We’re proud of our Cowboy football team who is in the playoff hunt. I wish them the very best as they take on Richardson tonight in Round 2 in Carrollton. Cowboy Fight Never Dies!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Dr. Leanne Shivers

Superintendent

The Coppell ISD Weekly Round-Up is your snapshot of the latest district happenings — from engaged learning in our classrooms to achievements, events, happenings and more. Stay connected each week as we celebrate why there's no place like CISD. This week features the Little Library event at Canyon Ranch Elementary , the STEAM connections event at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Slamming for a Cause poetry preparations at New Tech High @ Coppell, "Balloons over Broadway "parade at Valley Ranch Elementary, and Thanksgiving meal celebrations with families at Wilson Elementary and Denton Creek Elementary.

Coppell ISD’s Cowboys United initiative is in full swing, and we need the strength of our community to help carry this work forward. Designed to build CISD pride, belonging and shared identity, Cowboys United is focused on celebrating what makes our district exceptional while supporting efforts to recruit and retain families.

To bring this vision to life, we need you. Cowboys United is seeking volunteers who are ready to help us engage every corner of our district. Upcoming opportunities include serving as an ambassador, volunteering at district and community events, assisting with Every Block, Every Voice block walking in January to connect with all households, supporting the CISD School Choice Fair on Jan. 21, 2026, and more.

If you are interested in serving and helping champion CISD’s future, please complete the volunteer application at go.coppellisd.com/CowboysUnitedVolunteerApplication.

Your involvement will help us share the story of CISD’s innovative programs, community culture and academic excellence and share and expand choice and enrollment options that set our district apart. Learn more at www.coppellisd.com/choice.

With recent CISD graduates heading home for Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break, the district is inviting our alumni to share their stories as part of the Cowboys United campaign. We are gathering testimonials that highlight the impact CISD has had on our graduates' lives and we would love to feature your voice. We welcome photo uploads — professional headshots, senior photos, or casual favorites — and graduates may also submit a short video testimonial.

Alumni can submit their testimonials at go.coppellisd.com/CowboysUnitedAlumniTestimonial. We look forward to sharing the stories that showcase why Coppell ISD is the choice.

During the Nov. 17 Board Meeting, Trustees received key district updates on the budget and Cowboys United, and celebrated student achievements across academics, athletics and fine arts.

Board Recognitions and Awards

The Innovative Learning Spotlight featured New Tech High @ Coppell’s “Pages of Culture” project, led by AP Literature teacher/facilitator Samantha Beatty. Seniors Andy Coffey, Gabby Gunderson and Omar Andre Sanchez shared insights from their project-based learning work exploring a country's culture through literature.

Trustees also recognized excellence in both athletics and the fine arts. Trustees recognized the Coppell Varsity Team Tennis program, including Head Coach Alyssa Noonan, Assistant Coach Chris Terry and team captains Alexandra “Lexie” Patton, Rhea Guru, Kasi Kavali and Tushar Pathuri for their 3rd place state finish. Girls Cross Country Coach Landon Wren and junior Maya Easterwood were honored for Easterwood’s 3rd place state finish. Trustees also celebrated the Coppell Varsity Band, led by Director Kim Shuttlesworth, for their 9th place state finish alongside student musicians Alexa Jacob, Shruthi Avadhanula, Akshara Pillai, Lindsay Yoo and Rohit Kuchibhotla.

Superintendent Reports and Updates

Trustees heard an overview from Superintendent Dr. Leanne Shivers on Building Efficiencies and a possible Boundary Re-alignment. Chief Communications Officer Angela Brown also shared an update on the timeline for the Cowboys United plan.

Board Action and Consent Items

Trustees approved an Affiliation Agreement between Coppell ISD and Stephen F. Austin State University, the November 2025 budget amendments and the Financial Report for October 2025.

For access to the presentations and more information, visit www.coppellisd.com/boardbriefs and for the full agenda and video of the meeting, visit www.coppellisd.com/board.

Coppell High School’s journalism programs became the top story during the National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville Nov. 13–16. Members of KCBY-TV and The Sidekick brought home some of the nation’s top scholastic journalism honors, proving once again that CHS student journalists know how to chase a story and deliver it with award-winning impact.

KCBY earned the prestigious Broadcast Pacemaker award, often called the Pulitzer Prize of high school journalism, during the convention. CHS was one of only six schools nationwide, and the only school in Texas, to receive the honor. KCBY’s most recent episode of the 2025–2026 school year also placed 7th in the broadcast Best of Show competition.

In the individual “Story of the Year” categories, The Sidekick received 10 national recognitions and KCBY earned one. Winners and their award-winning entries include:

• Broadcast Sports Story of the Year
  1st Place – John Amundson, Pranav Ganji, Larry Liu, Jack Mancuso and Aryas Raut, KCBY, Cowgirls Win State Soccer Title

• Illustration of the Year
  2nd Place – Sofia Exposito, The Sidekick, Not Your Stereotypical Woman of Color

• Blog of the Year
  2nd Place – Maddy Park, The Sidekick, Older Presidents’ Cognitive Abilities Restrict Their Competency

• Multimedia Sports Story of the Year
  4th Place – Minori Kunte and Hiral Patel, The Sidekick, Jain Exemplifying Taekwondo Excellence

• Environmental Portrait of the Year
  4th Place – Rhea Choudhary, The Sidekick, Lakeside Elementary Carnival Creating Educational Opportunities

• News Story of the Year
  5th Place – Caitlyn Concepcion, The Sidekick, Board Approves Pinkerton Consolidation

• Newspaper Page/Spread Design of the Year
  Honorable Mention – Manasa Borra, The Sidekick, How Coppell Athletes Balance Success, Sacrifice

• Photo Slideshow of the Year
  Honorable Mention – Kayla Nguyen, The Sidekick, Cowgirls Pummel Lady Cavaliers in State Championship, 6-2

• Podcast of the Year
  Honorable Mention – Rhea Chowdhary and Wendy Le, The Sidekick, Once a Cowpoke, Always a Cowpoke

• Multimedia Journalist of the Year
  Honorable Mention – Rhea Chowdhary, The Sidekick

• Best Use of Social Media Promotion
  Honorable Mention – Wendy Le and Kavya Lokhande, The Sidekick

Congratulations to KCBY-TV advisers Irma Lazos- Kennedy and Steven Jones, and The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford.

CMS East 7th grader Vihaan Vishwaanth recently earned an impressive 6th place finish in the nationwide final of the National Geography Bee, organized by the North South Foundation and held at the University of Dallas. His accomplishment highlights both his deep knowledge of world geography and the dedication he brings to academic excellence.

Coppell ISD is celebrating an extraordinary achievement from the Coppell Choir program. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the district proudly hosted the TMEA Pre-Area Auditions — and Coppell singers rose to the occasion in remarkable fashion.

Ten Coppell Choir students advanced to the fourth and final round of the prestigious TMEA All-State audition process, which will take place this January at the University of Texas at Arlington. This milestone is especially notable, as the Pre-Area round is considered one of the most demanding stages of the competition. Only the top five singers in each voice part move forward, and out of 40 available advancing spots, Coppell students earned an impressive 10 positions, along with five alternates.

This success showcases the incredible dedication, talent, and perseverance of our student musicians and reflects the continued excellence of the Coppell Choir program. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding singers and their directors Bona Coogle, Aaron Cornado and Katherine Conkovich for reaching this elite level of recognition.

Cottonwood Creek Elementary kicked off a spirited new tradition on Nov. 20 with its inaugural Cereal Bowl Breakfast, a heartwarming event that brought third graders, families and community role models together following the CCE 3rd graders recent field trip to the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Designed as a special morning for dads and important men in students’ lives, the Cereal Bowl also welcomed members of th CHSe JV football team and Baseball team, who stepped up to ensure every child had a supportive male role model by their side. Jerseys, team spirit and plenty of smiles filled the cafeteria as guests enjoyed a breakfast lineup that was, quite literally, "grrreat."

The third graders shared writing inspired by their Cowboys Stadium adventure, combining reflections on the field trip with football trivia and friendly conversation over bowls of their favorite cereals. The event proved to be a “cereal-sly” fun way to strengthen connections, celebrate student learning and build community.

With strong turnout, generous donations of cereal and milk, and the support of campus staff and volunteers, Cottonwood Creek’s first Cereal Bowl was a memorable success, and one that promises to become a beloved Cottonwood Creek tradition.

Coppell ISD is spotlighting engaged learning that is happening on our campuses.

Wilson Elementary classrooms were buzzing with hands-on learning as third graders in Michael Upchurch’s STEAM class selected their own Maker Space stations, including block building, LEGO marble mazes and computer coding. Next door, third graders in Morgan Kimbrell's class dug into historical fiction by reading I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011. Across the building, first graders in Courtney Huseth’s class practiced writing and spelling skills through engaging activities focused on proper names, capitalizing the first word of a sentence, the silent “sneaky e” and choosing when to use“c” and “k.”

Austin Elementary 4th graders took center stage in a preview performance of their musical performance to the entire school on Nov. 20. Led by music teacher David Barnette, the show featured an exciting mix of genres including Motown, Reggae, Country and Blues, delighting the entire school audience. Experiences like this highlight how fine arts play a vital role in fostering creativity, confidence and a well-rounded education for elementary students.

Canyon Ranch Elementary was recently recognized by Solution Tree as a Promising Practices Professional Learning Community at Work® for its success in raising student achievement. Canyon Ranch's commitment to implementing the PLC at Work process has been a major contributing factor in making a visible, positive impact on student learning.

PLCs are schools and districts in which educators recognize that the key to improved learning for students is ongoing, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:

1. Focus on learning

2. Build a collaborative culture

3. Create a results orientation

“This designation is an exciting milestone on our journey to becoming a fully recognized Model PLC School,” said Canyon Ranch Principal Ashley Minton. “I am incredibly proud of our amazing teachers and staff for their dedication to working together as a professional learning community. The work they have been doing is already making a meaningful impact on student learning, and I know it will continue to strengthen as we work toward becoming a Model PLC School.”

Promising Practices schools are recognized for building a strong foundation based on the PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least one to two years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.

Recognized Promising Practices schools are listed on AllThingsPLC.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Collaboration tools, articles, research, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than 20 years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed.

Coppell ISD is launching the Cowboys United campaign to shape the district’s future together. We invite parents, guardians, and community members to take a few minutes to complete our Cowboys United Survey and share what you value most about CISD and what you want to see in the years ahead. Your input will help guide district priorities and ensure we continue to serve our students and community with excellence. Visit go.coppellisd.com/CowboysUNITED-Survey to take the survey. The deadline to participate is Monday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. Thank you for being an essential part of our Coppell ISD community.

Also, as part of this campaign, CISD is hosting Elementary Learning Walks, where current and future families are invited to step inside our schools and see the engaged and joyful learning happening in our classrooms. You can learn more and sign up to attend at www.coppellisd.com/page/elementary-parent-learning-walk.

Our Coppell ISD educators have submitted 45 innovative classroom grants, and your donations can make them a reality this school year. From STEAM labs to literacy to outdoor learning, your contribution directly impacts students and teachers. Click this link to explore and donate today: www.Give4GrantsCISD.org. Let’s fund them all and help shape the future of CISD.

Upcoming Little Library Events are scheduled as follows:

• Monday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Little Library at Mockingbird
• Friday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Once Upon a Library at Lakeside
• Friday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Little Library at Wilson Elementary
• Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Little Library at Denton Creek Elementary
• Monday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Cowboy Holiday Playdate in the Pinkerton Cafeteria

Current and future families are invited to the Cowboys United School Choice Fair on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Coppell High School. Representatives from all Coppell ISD schools will come together under one roof to showcase how our programs and offerings are why Coppell ISD is the choice for all of our families.

• Nov. 24-28 — Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 15 — Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• Dec. 19 — Student Holiday/Staff Workday
• Dec. 22-Jan. 2 — Winter Break
• Jan. 5 — Student Holiday/Staff Workday
• Jan. 6 — First Day of the Spring Semester
• Jan. 21 — CISD School Choice Fair at Coppell High School from 6 to 8 p.m.