LISD Expect Excellence Newsletter

I joined Good Morning Texas this past week to discuss the district’s plan to return fifth grade to the elementary campuses beginning Fall 2026, along with broader accountability, staffing, and financial goals. We hope you can attend our community meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Office Boardroom (Door 3) to present the plan and gather public feedback. This gives our parents and our community members an opportunity to hear the reasoning behind the proposal, learn what it could look like in practice, and offer additional ideas.
While on the radio I explained that under the state’s current accountability system, only Levelland High School—serving grades 9 through 12—is evaluated on a standard footing with comparable campuses. I propose that moving fifth grade back to the elementary campuses will “put us on the same measuring stick as most everybody else,” ensuring consistent academic accountability across the district. I emphasized that the district’s approach has centered on collaboration with teachers, staff, and parents. Our “experts” on operations, aka teachers, have played a major role in shaping the proposed plan. If anybody understands the why behind the things that we do, it makes the what really, really easy. We have a strong plan because it incorporates the ideas of the teachers who are on the front lines every day.
We want to hear if someone has a better idea, and if you do, then we need to consider that. That’s why we’re starting early – so we’re not rushing to make decisions in the spring. We’ve got some great people on the right seat on the right bus. Some people may have been driving one vehicle and I need them driving another. I’m proud of where we’ve put everybody because it’s all about our kiddos. In addition to academic and staffing improvements, we are finalizing a new financial plan expected to be released in the coming months. For the financial piece we have a solid, solid plan for that. It’s going to be coming out in the next couple of months and I’m really excited about it. It should get us out of the red and in the black.
I hope to see you tonight! (Courtesy KLVT Radio)

Blessed to be a Lobo,
Dr. Donald Heseman, Superintendent

Levelland ISD

https://secure.smore.com/n/j9n8t-levelland-isd

Levelland ISD hosted a Title III workshop focusing on supporting parent literacy within our community. We are proud to provide families with tools and resources that empower them to support their students and help them succeed both in and out of the classroom. Parents enjoyed a fun, hands-on activity practicing the communication skills their children need for TELPAS. We send out a special thank-you to Ashley Howard, Amy Pebsworth, Joanna Runkles, James Daniel, and Donna Pugh for hosting this impactful event that helps our LISD students grow and thrive.

The anticipation continues in the LMS, South and Capitol libraries. Students are continuing to hear the Texas Bluebonnet Award nominated books from Librarians so that they can vote on their favorite book in January! The Texas Bluebonnet Award is one of the most prestigious children’s choice literary awards in the United States. Each year, 20 books are chosen for the Texas Bluebonnet Award List. Schools and libraries around the state participate in the program, encouraging students to read five books from the list. In January, students vote for their favorite title. Our librarians are making sure each student gets to vote! We are so lucky to have our amazing librarians who promote the love of books every single day!

Dr. Craig Wilson, Director of the USDA Future Scientists Program & Senior Research Associate at Texas A&M University, recently spent two days inspiring the students in Mrs. Gregory and Ms. Wilson's LHS science classes to view our natural world with curiosity and wonder. Students enjoyed a different perspective in his approach to teaching, and they will remember his lessons!

We’re excited to share more amazing artwork from our LISD Art Program! Art encourages creative thinking and emotional expression, and we’re proud to offer art opportunities on every campus in our district. These talented LHS and LMS students enjoy using art as a meaningful outlet each day alongside their academic work. Ms. Jackson's 6th-grade LMS students were challenged to create a hand with each part being a different texture….the palm, wrist, thumb, and fingers. Ms. Jackson says, "I was blown away by their creativity and the vision they had for their hand! My students continue to surpass my expectations daily! Art has truly been a blessing for me!"

Winners for the Textured Hand contest:

1st place (tie) - Jazzi and Aryissa

2nd place (tie) - Aria and Savariah

3rd place (tie) - Khloe, Lola, and Sofia

Mrs. Kristinek's LHS students are transforming LHS into a Christmas extravaganza.

Our LHS women's choir attended an ENMU Music school to see what it's like to be a college music student! LHS Choir Director Joshua Ballard says, "We had a blast and walked away feeling inspired!" LHS Junior Andrea Ornelas wrote this thank you note to ENMU on behalf of the choir: "Thank you, ENMU! We enjoyed the visit. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to be students at ENMU for a day. We enjoyed singing with your choir! Y’all were amazing and so sweet to all of us. We can’t wait to come back next year! Thank you so much for a wonderful day, and we hope you’re blessed with many great days ahead!" We are always proud that our educators help students seek ways to better themselves after high school. Perhaps several of these girls will attend ENMU and go into the music program! Thank you Mr. Ballard, for always pushing your students to learn and grow!

Vicki Estrada, our Speech-Language Pathologist who serves South, LMS, and LHS, is one of Santa's elves for helping out a child or two! Mrs. Estrada donated 12 inches of her hair to Children With Hair Loss (CWHL), a nonprofit organization that provides free human-hair replacements to children and young adults experiencing medically related hair loss. When a child loses their hair due to cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns, or other conditions, the impact goes far beyond appearance. CWHL helps restore confidence, dignity, and emotional comfort. Since 2000, CWHL has generously provided over 10,000 wigs and care kits at no cost to families. Mrs. Estrada has contributed to this large number because this is the 6th time in 15 years that she has donated her hair! Her ongoing commitment is truly inspiring and reflects the compassion she brings to her work each day. If you’re interested in supporting this mission, whether through hair donation, financial support, or by shopping their gift shop and haircare line you can visit: ChildrenWithHairLoss.org. Thank you, Mrs. Estrada for inspiring others to give back a precious commodity.

Levelland ISD is incredibly proud of our outstanding leaders! Throughout the month, you’ll see LISD administrators and educators ringing the bell to help raise funds for The Salvation Army. We deeply appreciate their dedication to this worthy cause that makes a meaningful difference for individuals and families across Texas!

LHS Choir students were caught Keeping Levelland Beautiful! LHS Choir Director Joshua Ballard and his amazing vocalists volunteered their time to pick up trash around the campus! We appreciate the extra effort and pride our kids have in our schools! Thank you so much!

LISD sends out a huge thank you to the Levelland Noon Lions Club for supporting our students! Last week, LMS students Jerimiah Birchfield (6th), Hollyn Howard (8th), Kennedy Rempe (5th) and Sebastian Gonzalez (7th) were honored and presented with gifts from the Lions Club. These students were nominated by their teachers for consistently showing exceptional character and going above and beyond every day. Congratulations to our amazing LMS students on their well-deserved recognition! We're proud of you!

It was a fun night ringing and singing in the Christmas Spirit at the Lighted Parade event! We thank all the campuses, students, student organizations, and parents who came out tonight to support our kids!

LHS YELL members teamed up with NHS members to collect toys for LOVE Levelland as their December community service project. The two organizations donated nearly 100 toys to help make Christmas brighter for others. The YELL & NHS Officers delivered the toys earlier this week. Thank you to so many amazing LHS students who step up to be leaders and care to make a difference!

We send out a huge thank you to Jaime for all the heavy lifting he does to make Bill's BackPacks a success each week. We wouldn't want to try to do it without you!

Email: dheseman@levellandisd.net
Website: www.levellandisd.net
Location: 704 11th Street, Levelland, TX
Phone: 806-894-9628
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LevellandISD/
Instagram: levellandindschooldistrict