Dear Graham ISD Community,
Thank you to everyone for supporting our school community this week as we grieve the loss of beloved Graham High School teacher Michelle Lowrey. It has been a difficult week for the Lowrey family, our staff and all the students and alumni who were fortunate enough to have Ms. Lowrey as a teacher. Her passing after a serious medical situation last weekend was a shock to our GISD family, but we appreciate the care and compassion shown by the community this week. Michelle’s Celebration of Life will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Graham High School Gymnasium. As a reminder, if you would like to share a memory of Ms. Lowrey with her family, click here. Our amazing educators are creating a book of memories for her sons. Please submit your memories by 5 p.m. today, Thursday, Feb. 12. Please continue to keep her family, coworkers and students in your thoughts and prayers.
I want to thank our campus principals for attending Wednesday evening’s School Board meeting to share mid-year academic updates with our Trustees. Middle of year student data is utilized to assess student progress, identify growth areas, and refine instructional strategies to ensure continued academic achievement. I am excited about the progress our students are making, and thankful our district prioritizes personalized learning through our Strategic Plan.
We are excited about work this month to replace the old gymnasium floor at Graham Junior High School. It was damaged by a condensation leak back in the fall and temporarily repaired to allow fall sports to continue. It’s now being fully replaced using funds from the insurance reimbursement.
Trustees also voted last night to approve the purchase of five new school buses, partially funded with a grant and equipped with three-point seat belts and cameras. Learn more about the grant GISD was awarded in the School Board Meeting Highlights story below.
Committed to Excellence,
Dr. Johnston
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Michelle Lowrey, a visionary educator who devoted her life to her students. Ms. Lowrey held her students to the highest standards because she knew what they were capable of achieving. Whether navigating engineering design or the complexities of life, she was a steady force in the lives of our lady blues and steers. We invite you to celebrate the educator who believed in our dreams even more than we did.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. - Thursday, February 12: Morrison’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: 11 a.m. - Friday, February 13: Graham High School Gymnasium
* In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Michelle Lowrey Scholarship Fund c/o: Ciera Bank, Graham, TX
* To share a memory of Ms. Lowrey with her family, click here. Please submit by 5 p.m. today, Thursday, Feb. 12.
* Staff and Students are encouraged to wear Graham Colors.
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On Wednesday evening, the Graham ISD Board of Trustees approved an expenditure of $435,715 for the purchase of five new school buses. The total cost of the buses is $795,900, but the difference will be paid using funding from a state grant.
GISD applied for the Texas Clean School Bus Grant in the Fall of 2025. School officials were notified in January that the grant had been awarded for replacement of five buses in the amount of $360,185. The new buses will be fully equipped with three-point seat belts and cameras.
The Board also held a public hearing for the Graham ISD Annual Texas Academic Performance Report
(TAPR). You might recall that Graham ISD increased to a B Rating as part of the state’s accountability system. School districts in Texas are required to hold public hearings to annually review the TAPR. Dr. Janel Madeley made the presentation, emphasizing that GISD students made significant gains in Reading/Language Arts and Math across multiple grade levels and campuses tested. Click here to review the full TAPR slide presentation.
In other business, the Board of Trustees:
- Approved employee pay during the recent ice-storm emergency closure in accordance with Graham ISD Board Policy DEA (Local). As a result of the storm, GISD was closed January 26-29;
- Voted to pay the $10,000 deductible to replace the old gymnasium floor at Graham Junior High School. The floor was damaged last fall during a condensation leak from the overhead air conditioning unit, temporarily repaired so students could use the gym during the athletic season and is being replaced this month through a $160,000 insurance reimbursement;
- Postponed discussion of a Senate Bill 11 Resolution until the next meeting;
- Approved the Consent Agenda, which consisted of previous meeting minutes, an enrollment report, financial reports, and budget amendments; and
- Met in Closed Session as permitted by Texas law.
The School Board’s next regular meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4. The Board does have a special session and workshop scheduled for Feb. 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
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Graham ISD proudly recognized two student athletes from the cross country program who earned academic honors. These include:
- Ellie Weatherman - THSCA First Team Academic All-State and TGCA Academic All-State
- Zoe Stovall - THSCA Honorable Mention Academic All-State and TGCA Academic All-State
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The Facility Planning Committee met at Graham Junior High School on Feb. 4. The group toured the junior high school campus and heard program updates from Technology Director Chris Rasile and Athletic Director Clay McChristian. Chief Financial Officer Gary Browning gave a school finance and budget update, encouraging members of the FPC to visit the district’s finance information site for a more in-depth view of facts: dollarsandsense.grahamisd.com
Stuart Keogh of ZondaHome presented the district demographic report. This report showed a steady decline in enrollment for GISD over the next decade. A chart and specific details about the financial implications of this decline are provided in this week’s Finance Corner further below.
The FPC is serving in an advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees. The group meets monthly to study facility needs across the district. This work includes, but is not limited to a review of facilities under the following scope: academic and enrollment, student programs, safety and security, capital improvements and transportation, and technology.
The committee will next meet March 18 at Graham High School to tour the campus and hear a presentation by the district’s financial advisors as well as program overviews of fine arts, safety and security, transportation and maintenance. FPC members will also get an overview of land owned by GISD. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. You can follow the work of this committee on the Facilities Planning Committee webpage.
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From time to time, Graham ISD schools may have to implement procedures to reunite students with their families following an emergency situation. This process is called Reunification. When at all possible, Reunification will occur at the school campus where your child attends. However, if the campus is no longer an appropriate location for Reunification, GISD will determine an alternate location to reunite students with their parents/guardians and begin transporting students to the alternate site using school buses. Graham ISD will prioritize utilizing alternate Graham ISD facilities for Reunification, but has partnerships with other facilities in Graham that are well-equipped to allow for Reunification.
If a “Reunification” directive is announced, the district will first share information with the staff supervising and relocating students, then directions will be shared with families. Parents will always receive pertinent information via ParentSquare in the event of implementation of the Standard Reunification Method. Once parents hear official confirmation directly from the district about where and when the Reunification will take place, parents/guardians are asked to bring photo identification to the Reunification site and park in the designated area for parents. Proceed in a calm and orderly fashion to the check-in area where you will show your photo identification to confirm authorization to sign out and pick up your child.
IMPORTANT: In a Reunification, only those individuals with photo identification who are authorized to pick up the child will be allowed to do so. To ensure that all students are accounted for and turned over to the appropriate parent/guardian, no neighbors, friends or family members who are not listed as the child’s emergency contact will be allowed to pick up the child. Once identification and emergency contact authorization is confirmed by a GISD staff member, either a staff member or an authorized emergency volunteer will retrieve the child from the class waiting area and safely reunite them with their parent/guardian or authorized emergency contact.
Depending on the circumstances of the emergency situation, student drivers may or may not be able to immediately access their personal vehicles to depart a campus. If student drivers are reunited with their parents at an off-campus location where they were taken by school bus, arrangements will be made and communicated to families for retrieval of personal vehicles only after first responders and/or the appropriate law enforcement agency in charge have given the “all clear” and approval to begin this process.
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Depending on the nature of the school or community emergency, Reunification requirements are extensive and could last several hours, while in other cases Reunification could be limited to ensuring that students can return home safely. In some cases, campus administrators may determine that it is appropriate for students who usually ride buses home to do so. Understanding and following Reunification procedures will help GISD more efficiently and successfully reunite students with their families. Waiting for official communications from GISD is crucial to avoid misinformation or rumors being spread that delay or prevent parents/guardians from going to the correct location to reunite with their child(ren).
Be sure you keep your child’s emergency contact list up-to-date and monitor ParentSquare for directions. If you ever have questions about any of the district’s Standard Response Protocols, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your campus principal.
Watch for #GrahamSafe announcements through the ParentSquare mobile app.
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As we are in the colder months, we want to ensure our students and staff remain healthy and able to attend school. A few small habits can make a big difference in keeping our classrooms and homes germ-free!
Here are some top strategies for staying well:
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Prioritize Hand Hygiene: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
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The "Elbow Cough": Remind children (and ourselves!) to cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of the elbow—never into bare hands.
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Respect the "24-Hour Rule": If a student or staff member has a fever or has vomited, please stay home until you are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.
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Boost the Immune System: Focus on consistent sleep, hydration, and nutrient-dense meals to help the body fight off seasonal bugs.
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Disinfect Shared Spaces: Regularly wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and phones.
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District Openings for 2026-2027
GISD
- Elementary Curriculum Coordinator
- Diagnostician
- Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
GHS
- Math Teacher (2)
- CTE
- Athletic Trainer
GJHS
- 4-8 Generalist / Boy’s Athletics (2)
- Band Director
- Math
Woodland
- Math, 4th
- RLA, 4th (2)
- Counselor
Crestview
GISD Substitute Teacher Orientation
Thursday, Feb. 19 from 8:30 - 11 a.m. at the Graham Learning Center
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To prepare for the future needs of its students and community, Graham ISD has partnered with ZondaHome to conduct a comprehensive demographic study. As North Central Texas continues to see shifts in housing and population, this study serves as a vital roadmap for the district to manage facility planning, staffing, and budget allocations effectively.
As part of this study, Zonda collected vast amounts of data regarding housing, student yield, birth rates, historical enrollment and the local job market. Once the data was collected, Zonda was able to form predictive data that will inform the future outlook for Graham ISD.
The table below from the demographic study shows historical enrollment data alongside future enrollment predictions. Trends show that Graham ISD can expect an average annual decrease in enrollment of 243 students over the next 10 years with enrollment decreasing from 2,142 this year to 1,899 students in 2035. How does this impact future budget planning? Enrollment impacts district funding with each student enrolled accounting for an average of about $9,000 per student. If this trend persists a decrease of 243 students would mean a decrease of approximately $2.18 million of funding during that time. Graham ISD will need to be proactive to adjust to these changes.
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The trend of declining enrollment goes back 10+ years shown in the table below. |
Crestview and Woodland Elementaries came together for our Science Fair at Woodland Elementary! It was a display of curiosity, creativity, and some seriously impressive thinking for our 3rd-5th graders! Students showed what it looks like to wonder, test our hypotheses, revise and explain their learning with confidence. Thank you, Mrs. Beauchamp and Mrs. McGee for all your hard work behind the scenes to make our Science Fair come together and to our families for supporting these projects at home. Winners will be progressing to the Regional Science Fair at Midwestern State University on Friday, Feb. 13. Good luck! |
Last week, teachers across the district engaged in collaborative planning during the district professional learning day. They used middle-of-the-year data to guide instruction and enhance student learning outcomes by analyzing trends and sharing effective strategies to ensure continued growth and success for all students. |
Linda shows up every Wednesday come rain or shine to open car doors for our Pioneer students. Thank you, Linda!
- Submitted by Donna Gatlin
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This dynamic custodial duo are always ready to lend a hand. This time of year, they are opening and closing gyms throughout the evenings and weekends for youth basketball. Berry is always ready to meet someone to retrieve keys, or open gates, or meet the needs of GISD staff and students. Thank you, Thompsons, for your service to GISD!
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We are incredibly thankful for our Assistant Principal, Mary Roberts, and the leadership she brings to Crestview Elementary. Mary leads with dedication, consistency, and a genuine heart for students and staff. She works tirelessly behind the scenes and alongside our team to ensure our campus runs smoothly and our Stars are supported every day.
Thank you, Mary, for your commitment, leadership, and all you do to help Crestview shine!
- Submitted by Misti Thompson
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We are so thankful for our ARD facilitators, Jayme Reger and Harmony Chestnut, and the incredible work they do to support our students and families. Their knowledge, organization, and advocacy ensure that every student receives the services and support they need to be successful.
Jayme and Harmony approach each ARD with care, professionalism, and a student-first mindset, making a meaningful difference across our campus. Crestview is truly better because of their dedication to our Stars!
- Submitted by Misti Thompson
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Lynn volunteers at Pioneer every Tuesday and Thursday morning opening car doors. Thank you Lynn, we appreciate you!
- Submitted by Lauren Holland
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Have a Graham ISD student or staff member that deserves a shoutout in an upcoming newsletter or social media post? Take a few moments to share information about the achievement or contribution the staff or student made and share photos if you have them using the form provided below. |
- Friday, Feb. 13: GISD Closed, No School
- Friday, Feb. 20: No School for Students, Elementary UIL Competition at Woodland, Professional Learning Day for Staff
- Wednesday, Feb. 25: Board of Trustees Workshop & Special Session
- Friday, Feb. 27: GISD Closed, No School
- Wednesday, March 4: Board of Trustees Meeting
- Friday, March 6: GISD Closed, No School
- March 9-13: Spring Break, No School
- Wednesday, March 18: Facility Planning Committee Meeting
Check out the Online GISD Calendar for a more comprehensive list of upcoming academic, athletic, fine arts and extracurricular activities.
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Graham High School presents Masquerade Ball for Junior-Senior Prom! The event will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 7-11 p.m. at Graham Country Club. |
If you still would like to pay class dues for your student, please click below. |
Pay $20 Dues - Link Below
Please note: user must have the Paypal app to access this payment form.
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues
Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up.
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues
Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up.
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues
Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up.
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues
Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up.
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues
Please note: user must have the Venmo app downloaded.
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Find your dream dress, shoes, and jewelry for prom! The four-day shopping event will take place March 4-7 at First United Methodist Church in Graham. See shopping times below and be sure to register! |
Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, March 26 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Graham Learning Center. This organization is open to community members who are 65 years and older and want to connect with Graham ISD! We look forward to seeing you in March! |
400 Third Street | Graham, TX 76450
940-549-0595
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