Longview ISD students returned to campuses Monday, Aug. 17, officially opening the 2026-27 school year with first-day traditions, community support and a shared show of Lobo pride across the district.
At Ware Elementary, Kilgore College football players joined campus and district staff in the morning car line, opening doors and greeting students as they arrived. Across Longview ISD, families paused for first-day photos, teachers welcomed new classes and employees helped students settle into the start of a new year.
Employees across schools and departments also wore matching Longview ISD shirts provided by Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard, creating a visible symbol of unity throughout the district. The shirts were given to staff to represent their shared commitment to students and to starting the school year together as one district.
“Starting a new school year is about much more than opening our doors,” Sheppard said. “It is about renewing the commitment we make to every child and every family. Our employees are prepared, our community has shown up, and now our students are here. This is when all of that work becomes real.”
Families, alumni and community members who want to share in that districtwide Lobo pride can also purchase the official Longview ISD shirt at longviewisd.com/shop. Orders must be placed by Sunday, Aug. 30 at midnight.
Monday’s opening followed weeks of preparation across the district. Campus teams worked with district leaders to review master schedules, instructional priorities, transportation rosters, attendance plans and facility readiness, while safety and communications teams coordinated first-day traffic plans, campus support and family messaging.
Employees gathered Friday at Lobo Coliseum for the district’s annual Staff Convocation, where Longview ISD recognized achievements, welcomed new employees and kicked off the year around a shared commitment to serving students. Campus teams then spent the final days before school preparing classrooms, organizing materials and completing arrival and instructional plans.
Students and families also returned to several visible changes across the district. At Longview High School, students began using more than 4,300 square feet of expanded indoor cafeteria space delivered through Bond 2024.
The first day also marked the beginning of the first full school year for the Longview ISD Police Department under Chief Benjamin Kemper.
“Safety begins with preparation, presence, and relationships,” Kemper said. “Our officers want students, parents, and employees to know who we are and understand that we are here to support them. On a day that can feel busy and emotional, our job is to help create a calm, welcoming environment so students can get where they need to be and start learning.”
By Monday morning, the weeks of preparation had become the daily work of school: teachers met new classes, bus drivers began their routes, child nutrition employees served students, custodians and office staff kept campuses moving, and campus leaders and support teams helped students begin the year.
“The beginning of school gives us a fresh opportunity to build trust, set high expectations, and help every student see what is possible,” Sheppard said. “A strong first day matters, but the real work is what comes next, helping students learn, grow, and succeed every day.”