Maverick Monthly: April 2026

With April passing and the final month of the 2025-2026 school year upon us, it's a good time for reflection. Our students have had another outstanding year, but it seems like it's only been weeks since we hosted Meet the Teacher. Over the year our students have grown, developed skills, and discovered talents. Each year, I continue to be inspired by the efforts our staff goes to in order to help prepare our students for the world, wherever they choose to explore after graduation.

April itself is marked primarily by testing, and our students and staff faced that challenge head on and did great work. Every year, we continue to see marked improvements in our testing scores, and we continue to be ahead of state expectations. We're proud of how diligently our students study, how seriously they take these exams, and how well our teachers prepare our students.

Outside of testing, we also saw great triumphs in our extracurricular activities. Baseball and softball season came to an end with both teams having seen great growth. The Lady Mavs made it into the playoffs. We look forward to seeing both teams continue to improve next year. EMS Track had a large number of students who made it to the District Meet and had a great showing there as well. EHS Track competed at Area in Jacksboro, and a number of students advanced to the Regional competition. One-Act Play had some outstanding victories, and will soon be performing for the public and for their fellow classmates after a great season.

Graduation is just around the corner, but May will also bring some fun events. Field Days at Siebert will be here soon, along with Picnic at the Park. EHS and EMS have awards ceremonies, scholarship ceremonies, and banquets for Academics, Athletics, Band, and FFA. Then, to wrap it all up, we have the graduation ceremonies for Siebert students, the 5th Grade and Senior walk at Siebert, and the graduation ceremony for the class of 2026.

Looking further into the future, we are excited to announce that Eastland ISD is developing the Maverick Leadership Pathway, a new district-wide initiative focused on recognizing student leadership, service, and achievement. This program will create meaningful opportunities for students to be celebrated for their involvement both in and out of the classroom. More details coming soon.

Everything we accomplish here would not be possible without the hard work of not only our staff, but also every parent, family member, friend, local business, and the community of Eastland as a whole. At graduation, we hope you remember every moment you've spent helping our students, whether it be a simple word of encouragement, a night looking over homework, a day volunteering to help out with a campus event, or a donation given in the hopes of helping someone in need. When our seniors walk across the stage, receive their diploma, and start looking forward to whatever they want to pursue next in life, those little moments and acts of kindness are what helped them make those steps.

From all of us at Eastland ISD, thank you for your continued support.

At the School Board meeting on April 28th, Arabella, Teagan, Jaci, and Avry were selected by 4th Grade teachers to represent Siebert Elementary and lead the pledge!

These students were selected by their 4th Grade teachers for their leadership skills, great attitudes, and their focus in class!

Congratulations to our 4th Grade students of the month!

At the School Board meeting on April 28th, Avery Wells and Aiden Senn were named as Students of the Month for March!

Avery is a member of the FFA as well as participating in the Lady Mavs Cross Country, Basketball, and Track teams. Her teachers note that she is very hard-working, very respectful, and very diligent. She is also noted as being a very honest student with a great sense of humor. Her favorite teacher is Mr. Perry. After graduating she wants to pursue a law degree from the University of Arkansas.

Aiden is a band student and participates in Football, Basketball, and Track. On top of this, he works as an office aide and has been a great help. His teachers say that, while he is quiet, he is a great worker, has a great heart, and takes care of any tasks assigned to him. His favorite teacher is Coach Rodriguez. After graduating, he would like to get a degree from the University of Texas and pursue a career as an architect.

Congratulations to both of these outstanding students!

At the School Board meeting on April 28th, Cameron Rhyne and Kelby Mendoza were named as Students of the Month for March!

Cameron is a member of the Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Cheerleading teams. In Volleyball, she made the Academic All-District Team her Junior and Senior years, and made the 2nd Team All-District her senior year. In Cheerleading, she was Co-Captain for the team her Senior year. On top of this, she works as an office aide and her smile helps brighten the mood around the office. She plans to attend either Hardin-Simmons University or Weatherford College in pursuit of a degree in Nursing. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Lopez.

"Cameron is a wonderful student," Mrs. Lopez said. "I'm very proud of the hard work she puts into everything she does and the positive attitude she brings with her everywhere she goes. She always has a smile on her face."

Kelby is an outstanding student athlete, playing Baseball for the Mavericks all four years of High School. He was a member of the 2nd Team All-District his junior year and will likely receive additional honors his senior year. His leadership on the baseball team, guiding the younger athletes on the team, is noted as being helpful in building the program up. He has been a part of the Eastland Ag-Mech program for three years. He is weighing either going into baseball at the college level or going into the oilfield. His favorite teacher is Coach Morphew.

"Kelby is a one of a kind student athlete," Coach Morphew stated. "He bought into everything we have been trying to create culture-wise, both in the classroom and on the field. Kelby represents our culture by having high character, being committed to being his best, and being consistent with his actions on a daily basis. I'm very thankful to have met and coached Kelby. I appreciate him always being respectful to everyone around him, being a good teammate, and representing Eastland in the best way possible. Kelby, I am very proud of you for working hard to receive Student of the Month. You have a very bright future ahead!"

Congratulations to both of these outstanding students!

At the School Board Meeting on April 28th, Dr. Cody Knott was selected as Teacher of the Month, and Kaylea Carroll was selected as Employee of the month! Congratulations!

Dr. Cody Knott, Director of Bands for Eastland ISD, has been the main driver of the growth and success of the Eastland Band program. Recently, under Dr. Knott's direction, Eastland ISD earned national recognition with the "Best Communities for Music Education" (BCME) Award from The NAMM Foundation for the third year in a row. He is passionate about music and helping students learn and build skills that will help them in and out of the classroom. This is reflected in the students he teaches, with each one putting their all into practice and their performances.

Kaylea Carroll is the health aide for Eastland ISD, addressing medical needs across all three campuses. She goes above and beyond her duties to help students. She is proactive, walking the halls to help wherever she can. The staff also know she can be counted on to lend a hand around campus, even if it's not a medical need. Her willingness to assist others and her professionalism are an asset to all of Eastland ISD.

Congratulations to both of these outstanding members of EISD staff on your well earned award!

Thirty nine Eastland Middle School athletes competed at the District meet in Comanche on April 2nd! Each student athlete put in their best effort, and we are proud of all of them for advancing to this level of competition!

Photos from the District meet can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cZXNQ4YbkQZwF86d9

On April 8th and 9th, EHS Track and Field Athletes competed at the UIL District Meet in Dublin!

We had an amazing group of student athletes who showcased their skills, speed, endurance, and strength. We are proud of every single one of you for the hard work you've put in every day, and for your performance at this event.

Special congratulations are in order for the following JV students for medaling:

Wyatt Bee

Lylah Brewster

Bradyen Jones

Kaitlyn Koch

Austin Franco

Emmerson Maynard

Leo Melendez

Colby Nichols

Carlos Ortiz

Laney Scitern

Additionally, the following Varsity students medaled and advanced to the UIL Area Meet in Jacksboro on April 16th:

Brooklyn Bird

Paxton Brown

Samuel Cruz

Gregory Gideon

Collin Harris

Jensen Harrower

Miguel Hernandez

Lakyne Hobbs

Lauryne Hobbs

Bandy Johnson

Jayci Majors

Glyn McCleskey

Scarlet Messenger

Ella Rodgers

Congratulations!

Photos from the District meet can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JtuaiP8FKjCZRA8o6

On April 16th, EHS Track and Field athletes traveled to Jacksboro for the UIL 7/8 AAA Area Track Meet! We are proud of the hard work of all of our students who competed!

In addition, we would like to congratulate the following Area medalists and Regional Qualifying track athletes:

Bandy Johnson, winner of the 100m hurdles

Girls 4x200m Relay team: Lauryne Hobbs, Jayci Majors, Brooklyn Bird, and Lakyne Hobbs

Glyn McCleskey in the 800m run.

Congratulations to all our athletes on an outstanding track and field season!

Photos from the Area meet can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zGwMAGZW4gZHmxZW7

Congratulations to Glyn McCleskey for breaking the school record in the 1600m run with a time of 4:26.69! The previous record was held by Ronnie Allman with a time of 4:31.29, set 38 years ago in 1988.

On April 10th, the Lady Mavs Softball team held their Senior Night!

Congratulations to Greenly Johnson, Alexis Ojeda, and Jianna Vasquez! Your dedication to the team, your hard work, and your leadership are all major contributions to the success of the Lady Mavs!

Photos from Softball Senior Night can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ak1w2rcdh6xmwpEU8

On April 21st, the Mavericks Baseball team held their Senior Night!

Congratulations to Kelby Mendoza! Your hard work has helped shape the team, and your leadership as a senior has set an example for others to follow.

More photos of Baseball Senior Night can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YUvfezZ2ZsaWri8M7

On April 23rd, after a spectacular send-off, the Lady Mavs Softball team battled against Holliday at the playoff games! The Lady Mavs had an outstanding showing, and we saw some outstanding plays and great teamwork. While the season ended after game two, the team demonstrated how much they continue to improve, game by game and year by year. We are proud of our Lady Mavs, and look forward to an even more successful season next year!

Photos from the Send-Off can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uzaNKGwy1tJwf7wb9

Photos from the Playoff Games can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oAgvKkeqbgmpg9Qr5

The Eastland Middle School Mavericks and Lady Mavs were honored at the 2025-2026 Athletic Banquet! Thank you to the Athletics Boosters for setting up this event, to Siebert Elementary for hosting the event at the Siebert Cafeteria, First Financial Bank for preparing burgers for the banquet, Chicken Express for providing the tea, and to all of the sponsors, parents, and community members who made this event possible! Thank you to everyone who came to the event to support our young student athletes.

Athletic Director Matt Landers and Coach Andy Brewster spoke of the successes of the various Mavericks and Lady Mavs teams and how they have grown throughout the year. Students were given a certificate, shook hands with their coaches, and stood on stage together for photos. Cheer Coach Victoria Cunningham also had the EMS cheerleaders take the stage to be recognized for an outstanding year.

Photos from the event can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UPT6UvP263av9kr77

On April 11th, Eastland High School's One-Act Play team performed "Alice in Wonderland" in Clyde! The One-Act Play cast and crew had a very successful season, advancing through four levels of competition and earned several individual acting and tech awards.

The cast and crew are now preparing for performances for their fellow students, as well as a public performance on Sunday, May 3rd at 3 PM.

The play is a dark, gothic adaptation of the story based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The play runs for 40 minutes. If you would like to come to the public performance on May 3rd to support our young actors, admission is free but donations to the theatre department are always welcome. Parking is available in front of the high school.

On April 20th, Kindergarten students had a wonderful time on Donuts with Dad Day! Special thank you to all of the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, members of the Eastland Police Department and Eastland Volunteer Fire Department, as well as other community members for coming out and showing your support and spending time with our students!

More photos from Donuts with Dad Day can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ft1XijCr2YktaUdM9

Throughout the month, EHS students participated in a number of fun scientific experiments!

Ms. Jarvis's Forensics class ran a number of fire simulations on April 1st! Miniature houses are put together, a scenario is given, and (under careful supervision of Officer Nichols) the house is burned down according to that scenario. Students examine the wreckage to build skills on identifying the causes of fires and whether they were intentional or accidental. Later, students test those skills on photographic evidence of previous classes' experiments, trying to figure out the origin point, cause, and whether the simulated incident was an accident or arson!

On April 2nd, EHS students created floral arrangements for the TSFA Knowledge-based Floral Certification!

The Texas State Florists' Association (TSFA) Level 1 Floral Certification is among the first steps for individuals pursuing a professional career in the floral industry. Completion of TSFA Knowledge-based Floral Certification is required to earn this credential. Designs evaluated during the hands-on exam include a symmetrical arrangement and a boutonniere.

Throughout the year students design 6 seasonal arrangements that help them build skills to pass the hands-on portion. Each arrangement is put into a portfolio to allow them to have a hands-on copy of their designs to present to a florist if they pursue a job in the industry.

On April 10th, Samuel Parker signed with the National Guard! After completing paperwork, he was sworn in. We are proud of Samuel's courage in making this commitment to serve our country!

Eastland ISD has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding support and commitment to music education for the third year in a row! Now in its 27th year, the program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.

The award reaches K–12 communities nationwide, offering both recognition and momentum to strengthen and expand music education programs. In 2026, more than 1,000 school districts and schools, including public, private, charter, and parochial institutions, have been recognized for outstanding achievement in providing access to high-quality music education.

“Music education plays a vital role in shaping well-rounded students here at Eastland ISD,” said Dr. Cody Knott, Director of Bands for Eastland ISD. “Through music, our students learn discipline, teamwork, creativity, and perseverance skills that carry far beyond the classroom. Receiving this designation affirms the work of our educators and community in prioritizing the arts and encourages us to continue growing opportunities for every student.”

Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities, and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.

Eastland ISD serves students in Eastland, Texas, with a strong tradition of academic and extracurricular excellence. The district’s music program offers students at all grade levels opportunities to participate in band, elementary choir, and other musical ensembles such as jazz band. With dedicated educators, supportive families, and a proud community, Eastland ISD continues to foster a culture where the arts are valued as an essential part of student success. None of this is possible without the service and dedication of Kathy Harris, Jenna, and Mario Larios Garcia. The individuals go above and beyond the call each day for our students. Eastland ISD is extremely grateful to have such dedicated music educators.

Thank you to our administration, staff, and community for the continued support of music in Eastland!

Eastland FFA members had a great day at the Cross Timbers District Degree check. Congratulations to our students!

Newly elected District Vice President- Kylee Gaston

Newly elected District Treasurer- Addison Williams

They will be representing 19 schools this upcoming year.

All speakers advanced to Area!

1st Soil Stewardship- Addison Williams

1st Natural Resource- Lauryne Hobbs

1st Plant Science- Collin Harris

1st Agribusiness- Lillie Meyers

1st Junior Prepared- JoLena Cook

2nd Animal Science- Kylee Gaston

Voting Delegates:

Wesley Williams

Mattie McIntire

Allison Chesser

Shelby Hatton

Lelia Hallmark

Greg Gideon

Lonestars:

Shelby Hatton

Lauryne Hobbs

Mattie McIntire

Star Lonestar Agriscience:

Shelby Hatton

Retiring District Officer:

Shelby Hatton

Field Days are almost here!

Pre-K / Head Start: Wednesday, May 13th
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade: Thursday, May 14th
Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grade: Friday, May 15th

Click on the flyers below to read more information from Coach Johnson about Field Days!

One-Act Play, Public Performance: 3:00 PM, May 3rd

Athletic Banquet: 6:00 PM, May 4th @ First Baptist Church Gym

EMS Band Concert: 6:00 PM, May 5th @ The Majestic

5th Grade Instrument Petting Zoo: 4:00 PM, May 6th @ Band Hall

EMS Awards Ceremony: 9:00 AM, May 7th @ EHS Auditorium

EHS Jazz Band Concert: 6:00 PM, May 7th @ The Majestic
Band Banquet: 6:00 PM, May 8th @ The Lumber Yard
Academic Banquet: 6:00 PM, May 11th @ The Lumber Yard

EHS Band Concert: 6:00 PM, May 12th @ the Majestic
Pre-K / Head Start Field Day: Wednesday, May 13th

Senior Scholarship Ceremony: 10:00 AM, May 13th @ EHS Auditorium

3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Field Day: Thursday, May 14th
FFA Banquet: 6:00 PM, May 14th @ Siebert Elementary School

Senior Breakfast: May 15th @ First United Methodist
Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grade Field Day: Friday, May 15th

Baccalaureate: 6:00 PM, May 17th @ First Baptist Church
School Board Meeting: May 18th

5th Grade / Senior Walk at Siebert: 8:15 AM, May 21st

Graduation: 7:00 PM, May 22nd, CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!