Near the end of Longview ISD’s second annual State of the District luncheon at the Holiday Inn Infinity Center, Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard asked attendees who had graduated from public schools to stand.
Nearly the entire room rose. She asked them to remain standing if public education had worked for them. They stayed on their feet.
“Public education works, and the proof is right here in this room,” Sheppard said.
That shared experience ran through the luncheon, from students taking the stage to accomplished graduates thanking the teachers who helped them get there.
Before the program, campus tables in the foyer and hall gave guests opportunities to interact with school representatives before entering the event space. Attendee tables were decorated with Longview college-style pennants, branded stickers, and cookies made by the Longview High School culinary team, which only added to the immense student talent and Lobo identity to the celebration.
Inside, guests networked as the Longview High School orchestra played softly. Green lighting across the ceiling and around the stage transformed the room into a setting that reflected the district’s bold identity.
The premiere of “The Standard,” featuring Texas High School Hall of Fame head football coach and athletic director John King, set the tone. King’s voice carried across the room as images of students and district successes brought its message to life: In Longview, excellence isn’t a moment. It’s the standard. Cheers and tears accompanied the video, turning the start of the luncheon into a shared celebration of what Longview ISD students can accomplish. Especially seeing that many in the room also shared the experience of being alumni.
“Our team wanted every Lobo, young and old, to feel something when they watched this, and I can’t think of a better voice to bring that message home than Coach King’s. It’s hard to capture everything a school district does in a few minutes, but this video shows the work behind student success. Seeing people get emotional reminded us all how deeply that Lobo pride runs. We’re grateful to everyone who supports our students and gives us a story like this to tell,” said Skyler Hefley, director of communications.
Longview High School senior Jordan Nash served as master of ceremonies, guiding guests through a program that kept students at its center. The opening ceremonies featured an invocation by a Ware Elementary student, the Longview High School JROTC Color Guard, and pledges led by students from Clarence W. Bailey Elementary and Bramlette STEAM Academy. Johnston-McQueen Elementary student Andersyn Yoder presented an oral reading, and Longview High School theater students performed selections from “The Addams Family,” followed by a performance by their orchestra.
“We wanted this event to be so much more than something where adults talked about students. We wanted our community to see them lead. Jordan guided the entire program, and the performances showed the talent in our schools. Bringing our students, families, and community partners together in that way is what made the day special,” said Liz Ross, director of community relations.
Before Sheppard’s address, a video introduced ELEVATE 2030, the district’s strategic plan, and the priorities guiding its work. Sheppard then connected those goals to progress in academics, college and career preparation, and facilities.
Her presentation highlighted Longview High School’s 2026 accountability score of 95, an A rating, and the 541 students in its graduating class, who reported $6.87 million in scholarships. She also shared growth in college, career, and military readiness, from 72% for the class of 2024 to 85% for the class of 2025, and 797 industry certificates earned in 2025–26.
Sheppard outlined opportunities being built for future students, including an expanded early-college pathway with Kilgore College and progress on the district’s bond projects. Construction updates included the James Paul Brewer Career and Technical Education Center, Trent Williams Indoor Multipurpose Center, natatorium, Early Childhood Learning Center, and Transportation Center.
The updates also reached the everyday student and family experience: a new esports and digital learning arena, a redesigned Longview High School cafeteria, the district’s own police force and front-office customer-service training led by Communications. Sheppard also reported a balanced $152.2 million budget for 2026–27 and a one-cent reduction in the operations tax rate per $100 of taxable property value.
Sheppard asked guests to help create those opportunities, not simply celebrate them.
“You can become a mentor. You can open a door to a career for a student,” Sheppard said, pointing to ways businesses and community members can get involved.
Mentoring Alliance’s De’Onte Garrett, Crates Essentials leaders Cameron Black and Aidan Carlile, and Longview ISD Foundation Executive Director Kay Ray followed with ways the community can support students and teachers. Sheppard had explained why that help matters: students can have college acceptance letters and financial aid packages but still need help paying for the essentials that allow them to leave home and start college.
The district highlighted Mentoring Alliance after-school programs at four elementary campuses, Crates Essentials’ support for 20 graduating seniors with laptops and dorm essentials, and 12 Foundation classroom and campus grants totaling $27,099 for 2026–27.
The celebration also honored distinguished alumni Toysha L. Walker, a member of the Longview High School class of 1992 and president of Walker Quality Management Systems, and Judge Demetrius Eric Blacklock, class of 2004 and presiding judge of the South Oak Cliff Veterans Court in Dallas. In their video acceptance messages, Walker and Blacklock reflected on the teachers, families, and community support that shaped their lives and encouraged today’s students to pursue their own ambitions. The honorees then received their plaques on stage. Family members and friends joined the applause, and the recognition brought another emotional moment to an event centered on the possibilities a Longview education can create.
For Nash, a senior preparing for graduation, the alumni recognition offered a view of what comes next.
“Today has reminded me that the lessons and relationships we build here will stay with us long after we leave Longview High School,” he said.
Longview ISD thanks its two gold sponsors, Credit Union of Texas and PROCEDEO, for supporting the luncheon, along with the students, staff, campus teams, and community partners who helped bring the event to life.