Crowley ISD Boardroom Rewind

North Crowley High School’s Indya Mayberry shined at the UIL State Track & Field Meet May 4 in Austin.

Mayberry brought home two gold medals and achieved record-breaking times in two events:

• First place in the 100m with a record-breaking time of 11.21, breaking a 22-year-old Conference 6A record
  
• First place in the 200m with a record-breaking time of 22.82 , breaking a 43-year-old record
  

Photo Courtesy of University Interscholastic League: Indya Mayberry broke two records while competing at the UIL State Track & Field Meet in Austin earlier this month.

Smith most recently has served as principal at Orr Elementary School in Tyler ISD. Also in Tyler ISD, she has worked as academic dean at Tyler High School, district ESL instructional specialist, master teacher at Hogg Middle School as well as a reading interventionist and English Language Arts department chair.

She also has worked as an English teacher and basketball and volleyball coach in Tyler, Conroe, Pine Tree, Fort Worth and Newton ISDs.

Nicole Montgomery was selected to serve Richard Allie Middle School as its newest principal for the 2024-25 school year.

Montgomery is currently the principal of David L. Walker Elementary School. She has 30 years of experience in education, also serving as associate principal and assistant principal at Crowley High School.

She has 24 years of teaching experience and six years of administrative experience serving in Crowley ISD as well as Everman and Fort Worth ISDs.

Trustees approved several other hires at Thursday night's meeting, including:

• Roxey Norflis will serve as the executive director of Elementary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning. Norflis is currently principal of J.A. Hargrave Elementary in CISD.

• Kenyail Carr will serve as the executive director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning. Carr is currently K-12 director of Math & Science in Fort Worth ISD.

• Rebekah Hunt will serve as the director of New Teacher Support. Hunt is currently the executive principal of Leadership Development in CISD.

• Dalena Brigance will serve as the coordinator of Elementary Math & Science. Brigance is currently a Math coordinator in CISD.

• Haley Pennington will serve as the coordinator of Elementary English Language Arts & Social Studies. Pennington is currently an English, Language Arts & Reading coordinator in CISD.

• Demisha Thomas will serve as the coordinator of PK-12 Science. Thomas is currently a science coordinator in CISD.

Crowley ISD rolled out the red carpet to celebrate our All-Star employees on Thursday afternoon.

District and campus leaders cheered for Teachers and Employees of the Year, Service award recipients and retirees as they walked the red carpet. Honorees received plaques and had their photos taken with the superintendent, district leaders and school board members.

The Board of Trustees honored student leaders from Crowley High School and North Crowley High School who have served as student trustees during the 2023-2024 school year.

Graduating seniors were awarded with special black and white stoles to wear at graduation in recognition of their service.

Students are selected by campus administrator's' recommendation, based off of feedback from campus teachers and staff. Once selected, the student remains in place through graduation.

In addition to serving at two school board meetings, student trustees are responsible for gathering feedback from fellow students and bringing any celebrations, upcoming events, considerations and improvements to the attention of district leadership and the school board.

Student trustees told CISD school board members Thursday night that being a part of the Student Trustee program helped them develop their confidence and showed them that their voice does matter.

"This is my second year and definitely my favorite," Rose Jones, Crowley High junior, said. "It's amazing to see what myself and these students next to me have been doing for the district ... I'm so grateful to be part of this district and this amazing program."

The 2023-24 Student School Board Trustees include:

Sarai Abram - Senior

Guadalupe Gomez - Senior

Neveah Hamilton-Roberts - Junior

Ethan Hunt - Junior

Rose Jones - Junior

Vincent James - Sophomore

Jaidyn Mayfield - Senior

Jordan Montgomery - Junior

Mikayla Nicholas - Junior

Tommy Tran - Senior

The district recognized CISD staff who have graduated from programs designed for aspiring educators.

Launched during the 2022-23 school year, Crowley ISD piloted a Teacher-In-Residence program to meet the growing need to fill classroom vacancies. Aspiring educators were placed in classrooms and simultaneously enrolled in an Alternative Certification Program while under the support and guidance of campus and district leadership teams.

In addition, in accordance to TEA's TCLAS grant, six CISD paraprofessionals were provided an opportunity to work in their current roles while going back to school to earn a bachelor's degree and teacher certification.

LaRoya Brackins, minister with Grace Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, speaks to the board about her church's donation.

Grace Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church gave Crowley ISD $1,000 to eliminate the negative food service balances for students at North Crowley High School and June W. Davis Elementary School.

Checks for $800 for North Crowley High School and $200 for Davis Elementary cover the lunch debt amounts with some money left over.

LaRoya Brackins, minister with the church, said they currently have another $1,200 earmarked for this effort as well.

"Thank you, Crowley ISD, for allowing us to support your students in this manner," Brackins said.

Rendering shows an example of the accessible playground design for elementary schools in CISD.

Trustees approved the Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) delivery method for the construction of accessible elementary playgrounds for students of varying abilities.

The accessible playgrounds will be installed at all Crowley ISD elementary schools as part of the voter-approved Bond 2023 package.

For the Elementary Playground Replacement project, there will be multiple trade contractors involved, including the playground equipment installer, canopy installer, turf installer, utility contractor, earthwork contractor and concrete contractor. Being typical on a project with multiple sub-contractors, a Construction Manager will need to oversee the coordination and installation of all work performed.

The Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) delivery method allows the Construction Manager to be involved early in the design process and also establishes a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project, therefore transferring all risk of cost overruns to the Construction Manager.

Crowley ISD is offering a variety of engaging and educational programs for students of all ages this summer.

Visit crowleyisdtx.org/summer to see the opportunties.

Families are also invited to attend a Monday with Dr. McFarland on May 13 at 12 p.m or 6 p.m. on Zoom to learn more.

(L-R): June W. Davis, board member; Nedra Robinson, board secretary;

Kelicia Stevenson, board member; Superintendent Dr. Michael D. McFarland;

Dr. La Tonya Woodson-Mayfield, board president; Gary Grassia, board first vice president

Dr. Mia Hall, second vice president ; Daryl R. Davis II, board member;

MEETING VIDEO: To watch a recording of this meeting, please click here.

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