Longview High School Families – Morning Traffic Update
Due to icy conditions, the Crossover Bridge on Hawkins connecting the Longview ISD Athletic Offices to Longview High School is closed this morning.
🚫 Please do not drop off students in the athletic office parking lot until the ice clears and the bridge reopens.
Thank you for helping us keep students safe as conditions improve. We will share updates as available.
We’re looking forward to seeing you Thursday, January 29. 🌤️ Our teams have been driving roads, checking campuses and facilities, and visiting our neighborhoods. Today’s thaw will support safe travel tomorrow morning.
Buses will run regular routes. 🚌
We remain in contact with local officials and will keep monitoring overnight. If anything changes, we will communicate immediately through official channels. 🔎
Details: https://www.longviewisd.com/page/emergency-weather-procedures
Weather Update 🌨️ Out of an abundance of caution, we will be CLOSED on Wednesday, January 28. There are NO school activities tomorrow including athletics. District teams drove back roads across multiple areas today and did not find conditions safe for families or buses. We are also offering meals for Longview ISD students at four locations across the district.
Student Sack Lunch & Snack Pickup Info 🥪
⌚️ 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
📍Ned E. Williams Magnet STEAM Academy
📍Foster Middle School
📍Forest Park Middle School
📍Judson STEAM Academy
IMPORTANT: Please enter through the front parking lot and have your student(s) ID number ready. A team member will be there to help.
Change to School Calendar 📅
Monday, April 6 will now be a regular school day to make up this weather related closure.
Events Updates 🚨
LEAD Academy High School graduation is scheduled for Thursday, January 29. More details regarding practice will be coming from the campus.
Elementary UIL and the Choose Your Adventure Enrollment Fair are proceeding as scheduled for Saturday, January 31.
Weather Update 🌨️ We are continuing to monitor road conditions for Wednesday, January 28. District teams are driving routes across multiple areas of the community and coordinating with local safety officials as conditions improve today.
Because temperatures may drop again overnight, a final decision will be made once we have enough information. We will communicate as soon as that determination is made.
Our emergency weather decision process can be found here: https://www.longviewisd.com/page/emergency-weather-procedures
Weather Update 🌨️ Out of an abundance of caution, all campuses and district offices are CLOSED Tuesday, January 27. Our transportation, safety, and facilities team members drove routes across multiple areas to test road safety and inform this decision. For more information, visit our Emergency Weather Procedures: longviewisd.com/weather
Weather Update 🌨️ All campuses and offices are CLOSED Monday, January 26. We will reassess conditions and share an update following our Emergency Weather Procedures as seen here: https://www.longviewisd.com/page/emergency-weather-procedures
Make sure you get our weather alerts (text START to 98900). We’re watching a winter weather advisory that could impact travel and bus routes. If we need to adjust the school day (delay, early release, or closure), we’ll share the decision as early as possible. Here’s the important part: you can’t get the message if you’re not subscribed.
Do this now:
· Save 98900 in your phone as “Longview ISD”
· Make sure 98900 isn’t blocked
· If you previously opted out or think you might have, text START to 98900 to resubscribe (guardian must be listed in Skyward Qmlativ)
· Check Skyward Qmlativ to confirm your phone/email are correct (and do the same for any other guardian)
If one guardian gets alerts and the other doesn’t, it’s usually because they unsubscribed earlier or their contact info isn’t right in Skyward Qmlativ.
If you want to update your contact information, call your campus today.
For more info on our emergency weather procedures, visit longviewisd.com/weather.
We’ll keep families updated as conditions change. 💚
Weather Update 🔎🌨️❄️ We are monitoring upcoming weather conditions for this weekend and any potential impacts to school operations next week. If a delay, early release, or closure becomes necessary, we will communicate as early as possible through phone/text/email, the Longview ISD app, our website, and Facebook.
Want to know how weather decisions are made? Our Emergency Weather Procedures page explains the process and what we consider:
longviewisd.com/weather
✅ Reminder: Please make sure your contact information is up to date with your child’s campus so you receive alerts.
Reminder, Longview ISD families: No school Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 📣
As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, we’re also getting ready for Black History Month. Our Black History Month landing page is now live with the link to pre-order shirts:
Reminder: The deadline to order a Black History Month shirt is January 25, and all proceeds support student programs within Longview ISD. We hope you have a safe and meaningful weekend.
Longview High School senior Parker Mecham was honored as the Rotary January Student of the Month and received his award from Rotarian Ms. Ava Welge (see attached photo of Ms. Welge and Parker Mecham).
📸 Group photo includes: Rotarian Ms. Ava Welge, parents Mrs. Kari Mecham and Dr. Ben Mecham, honored student Parker Mecham, LISD band director Ms. Rhonda Daniel, and Rotarian Dr. Joseph Pistone.
The Rotary Club also honored Mr. Davonte Mims as the Rotary December Teacher of the Month. Mr. Mims is a biology teacher at LEAD Academy High School and was presented his award by Rotarian Mr. Gordon Northcutt (see attached photo of Mr. Mims and Mr. Northcutt).
Congratulations, Parker and Mr. Mims—thank you for representing Longview ISD with pride!
🛒 Order now: https://lisdbhm26.itemorder.com/shop/home/
📦 Pickup: Your campus of choice or the Longview ISD Admin Building. Youth sizes are available.
Don’t forget to send us your photos wearing your Black History Month shirts! 📸 Email photos to Liz Ross at eross@lisd.org
so we can share and celebrate together.
Choose LISD is officially OPEN for 2026–2027! 🎉 Families can now submit applications at chooselisd.org to choose the best-fit campus for their child.
Application Windows
🗓️ Round 1: Jan 6–Feb 13
🗓️ Round 2: Mar 16–Apr 30
Students attending a campus outside their attendance zone—including Out-of-District transfers, Choice applicants, and ALL Hudson PEP students—must complete a Choose LISD application.
For all the information about enrollment all in one place, visit longviewisd.com/enroll 🔗
We can’t wait to help your family explore all that Longview ISD has to offer! 💚📚
The payments, issued on Friday, December 19, through the district's Longview ISD Incentive For Teachers (or "LIFT") program, recognize measurable performance, campus achievement, and specialized credentials earned during the 2024-25 school year.
"This is not a bonus for showing up," said Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard. "These dollars reflect results. They reflect growth. And they reflect the expectation that excellence in Longview ISD will be recognized in a meaningful way. We are thankful for the visionary leadership of our board members. Their continued focus on student outcomes has paved the way for our teachers to be awarded for their hard work in advancing our students academically."
In total, $3,177,509.61 was distributed across four LIFT award models, benefiting hundreds of educators and staff members throughout the District.
The most significant portion of funding, $2,583,891.27, was awarded through the Campus Academic Distinction Designation model. That model compensates staff assigned to campuses that earn academic distinction designations from the Texas Education Agency, based on student performance relative to comparable schools statewide.
"When campuses outperform their peers across Texas, that success belongs to every adult who made it possible," said Dr. Sheppard. "This model rewards collective effort and shared accountability."
Districtwide, campuses earned a combined 52 academic distinctions, with multiple schools earning six or more designations.
An additional $549,890.01 was awarded to 95 teachers through the LIFT Pay-for-Performance Teacher model, which recognizes student academic growth in core subjects using value-added measures rather than raw test scores.
"Growth matters," said Dr. Sheppard. "We are rewarding teachers whose students are making real academic gains, especially in challenging instructional environments."
The District also distributed $28,824.30 to nine educators through the Career and Technical Education certification model, which rewards teachers whose students earned industry-based certifications approved by the Texas Education Agency.
"Career readiness is not optional," said Dr. Sheppard. "When our students graduate with recognized certifications in hand, that is a direct reflection of the expertise and commitment of our CTE teachers."
Another $14,904.03 was awarded to five teachers working with high-stakes STAAR End-of-Course re-test students, recognizing successful instruction in some of the District's most demanding academic settings.
"These teachers are working with students who cannot afford to fall short," said Dr. Sheppard. "Their success has life-changing consequences, and it deserves recognition."
The LIFT program is funded entirely through local dollars approved by the Board of Trustees. It is designed to support Longview ISD's broader strategy of recruiting, retaining, and rewarding high-performing educators.
"This is a statement about who we are as a school district," added Dr. Sheppard. "We invest in people who deliver results for students, and we do it transparently, strategically, and at scale."
Our sweet Deaf Ed students from East Texas Montessori Prep Academy and Johnston McQueen Elementary School had some very special visitors today — and our hearts are full. ❤️
Thank you, ETMPA, for hosting such a wonderful event for our kiddos!
Every holiday season, children share their Christmas wishes with Santa. But most Santas don’t know sign language, which means many deaf and hard-of-hearing children miss out on the joy of telling Santa their wishes themselves.
We never want our littles to miss that magic. Each year, the Regional School for the Deaf invites a Signing Santa who can communicate with our students in sign language. For some of our children, today was their first time ever being able to truly communicate with Santa — and the smiles said it all. 🎅💛
After listening to each child’s wishes, our Signing Santa surprised them with gifts chosen just for them.
A lobo-sized THANK YOU to the incredible volunteers at Grace Creek Church for helping make this event possible and donating gifts for our students. Your kindness made today unforgettable. 💚🐺❤️
Happy holidays from our Longview ISD family to yours! 🎁❄️
Stay tuned! 📻
🏫 Campus Honorees
Liza Salas — East Texas Montessori Prep Academy
Mary Montiel — Clarence W. Bailey Elementary
Michael Steele — Bramlette STEAM Academy
Susan Springs — Hudson PEP Elementary
Rita Phillips — J.L. Everhart Magnet Elementary
Melanie Martin — Johnston-McQueen Elementary
Charlotte Pentecost Kennedy — Ned E. Williams Magnet STEAM Academy
Karina Garcia Ortiz — Ware Elementary
Diane Venson — Forest Park Middle School
Jody Sanders — Foster Middle School
Colby Jester — Judson STEAM Academy
Jordan Thomas — Longview High School
Lakeshia Houston — LEAD Academy High School
Cynthia Smith — DADE Center
Christy Scott — Principal Award (Hudson PEP Elementary)
Jeanette Denton — Playing for Keeps Early Childhood Center
🏢 Departments & Leadership Honorees
Candice Seals — Business & Finance
Angela Pridgen — Special Education Services
Precious Hicks — Curriculum & Instruction
Randy Henson — Operations
Shawn Brown — Child Nutrition
Molly Mastrilli — District Nurse
Mae Johnson Lewis — Human Resources
Brian Pitts — Technology
Dustin Taylor — Communications
Melanie Hamilton — Chief of Schools
We're proud of our ACE's — your excellence makes Longview stronger and our students’ days brighter. ✨
👏 Longview High School standout Cohen Hardish dominated the Super Smash Brothers bracket, finishing Top 5 out of 124 competitors — an incredible achievement on a major stage!
🚀 Forest Park Middle School’s Rocket League squad — Jose Sifuentes, Hugo Robles, and Byron Rodriguez — powered through a tough bracket to earn an impressive 3rd place finish, proving that the future of Longview Esports is bright.
This event marks another milestone in the growth of our esports program and Longview ISD’s commitment to creating opportunities in competition, teamwork, and pathways into college-level gaming and digital media.
Longview vs. DeSoto
🕖 Kickoff: 7:00 PM
🚪 Gates Open: 6:00 PM
📍 Waco ISD Stadium — 1401 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
🎒 CLEAR BAG POLICY (Enforced at Waco ISD Stadium)
🎟️Buy Tickets: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/wacoisd/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50Lzg1NA==
Please review before you travel:
NO backpacks allowed
One clear bag per person (up to 12" x 6" x 12")
One-gallon clear plastic bags also allowed
Small clutch or purse permitted (up to 4.5" x 6.5", does not have to be clear)
All bags will be searched
Metal detectors will be used at all entrances
Let’s travel safely, represent Longview with pride, and PACK OUT Waco ISD Stadium! Bring the energy, bring the noise, and let’s cheer our Lobos on to the next round! 🐺💚
