Crowley Collegiate Academy - Secondary Division Champion

Secondary Division Runner-Up

Jackie Carden Elementary - Elementary Division Champion

Elementary Division Runner-Up

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Join us as Crowley ISD leaders and external experts deliver valuable information to parents and families. All sessions are free to attend.

10:30-11 a.m. 
How to Level Up With Finances
Room: B110
Speaker: Trustee Daryl Davis, II - Crowley ISD School Board

Social Media Awareness
Room: B111
Speaker: Kyle Esco, CISD Digital Learning

Mirror Work For Parents and Grandparents
Room: B112
Speaker: Laurance Bogar, Challenges are Rewarding

Support for Grandparents Who are Caregivers
Room: B113
Speakers: Trustees June W. Davis and Kelicia Stevenson, Crowley ISD School Board

11:05-11:35 a.m. 
How to Level Up With Finances
Room: B110
Speaker: Trustee Daryl Davis, II - Crowley ISD School Board

Social Media Awareness
Room: B111
Speaker: Kyle Esco, CISD Digital Learning

Mirror Work For Parents and Grandparents
Room: B112
Speaker: Laurance Bogar, Challenges are Rewarding

Support for Grandparents Who are Caregivers
Room: B113
Speakers: Trustees June W. Davis and Kelicia Stevenson, Crowley ISD School Board

11:05-12:10 a.m.
All Pro Dad: Powerful Conversations!
Room: B109
Speaker: John Rogers, Crowley ISD Parent

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
Supporting Your Child Through Skyward
Room: B111
Speaker: Amber DeWolfe, CISD Student Information Systems

As Crowley ISD focuses on local history and heroes in our Fort Worth and Crowley area, we invite you to learn from and listen to our local Living Legends discuss Black history.

Living Legends Series
• Dr. Opal Lee – The Grandmother of Juneteenth
• Bob Ray Sanders – Fort Worth journalist and pioneer
• Walter Dansby – Former Fort Worth ISD superintendent
• June W. Davis – Crowley ISD School Board Trustee
• Dr. Michael McFarland – Crowley ISD Superintendent

Visual Arts Contest 
All artwork entries submitted by students for the purpose of judging must be created solely by the student entering the work and must be original works of art. Projects must meet all copyright standards and guidelines. Entries need be labeled on the back of the work with the students name, grade level, school, teacher and current Art Level (Art Level is only required for MS or HS work being submitted to an Art level category).

The theme is Black Resilience, Reliance and Resourcefulness. All entries should be delivered to North Crowley High School between 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2022. For more information, contact Misty Ressl at the following email: misty.ressl@crowley.k12.tx.us.

Divisions
• Kindergarten-1st Grade
• 2nd-3rd Grade
• 4th-5th Grade
• 6th-7th Grade
• 8th Grade (non-Art 1 students)
• Art 1
• Art 2
• Upper Level Art 3 (3/4/AP)

Door Decorating Contest
Entries will be judged on the quality of construction, creativity, design and attention to the theme. All entries must be completed by 4 p.m. on Feb. 18 with an entry form displayed by the door. All campuses will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd-place winners.

The first-place winner representing each campus will participate in the district competition for the selection of one elementary school winner and one secondary school winner. For more information, contact Cosheda Hurd at the following email address: cosheda.hurd@crowley.k12.tx.us.

As we wrapup Black History Month, we are excited to shine the spotlight on a career pharmacist and Health Science instructor at the Bill R. Johnson CTE Center. 

“Mrs. Newsome is the epitome of a servant leader,” Dr. Markeba Warfield, Bill R. Johnson CTE Center Principal, said. “She does her job with the utmost respect. She cares about our students as if they were her own kids, and she loves them with the same intensity. She’s the best!” 

Tell us more about yourself and your family.
"I have been a community pharmacist for 28 years. I met my husband, Marcus, at Texas Southern University and we will celebrate 30 years of marriage this July. We have four children. Randall attended Texas Southern and is a news anchor for WMAR in Baltimore, MD. Raven is a graduate of North Crowley and Sam Houston State University. She owns Reps with Rae Fitness in Houston. Ryan graduated from Arizona State University and is now a youth minister at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. Reoni is a University of Texas-Arlington graduate and teaches Theatre I at Crowley High School."

Who is your hero and why?
"My Mama is my hero. She has been a nurse for over 45 years. She was a songwriter, a theatre producer, a journalist, a business owner of a boutique, salon, a furniture store and a limousine service. She did most of that before I finished high school. With gentle words and graceful influence, she built her home and nurtured her community." 

What do you enjoy about working at Crowley ISD? 
"As a teacher, I enjoy making a difference in the lives of our students. We have a great culture on campus and I love my work family."

What are some career accomplishments you are proud of?
"I have had several accomplishments in the pharmacy industry that came with generous financial rewards. As a teacher, I once received a letter from a student on her wedding day and that experience was priceless." 

As we celebrate Black History Month, what do you want the world to know about the culture and contribution of African Americans? 
"I would like for the world to know that we are more alike than we are different. Celebrating African American history and our contributions is a legacy that we are proud of and it should inspire all people to rise above and be excellent."

What do you hope all students will learn, understand and appreciate during Black History Month?
"I hope that students take full advantage and value the opportunities available here in Crowley ISD. Once upon a time, your reality was your ancestor's dream. My grandmother was a widow who raised six children on a maid's salary. When I was born, she had purchased her own home and six rental properties." 

We can't wait for you to meet our next #BlackHistoryMonth spotlight — Chelsea Ruffin-Hawthorn, a STEM Plus specialist at Sue Crouch Elementary School! Ruffin-Hawthorn, a former TV journalist, is using her media background to inspire and engage her students!

"She is an amazing STEM Plus specialist," Dr. Sylvia Valencia, CISD coordinator of innovation, said. "She is innovative, creative and a leader in the STEM field of broadcasting, producing and journalistic communications. She leads our team in this exciting area of STEM and is currently working on bringing the broadcasting curriculum to all elementary students for next year. I am very proud to have her on our team!"

Learn more about Ruffin-Hawthorn in her Q&A below:

Tell us more about yourself and your family and what's important to you.
My name is Chelsea Ruffin-Hawthorn! Professionally speaking, most colleagues and students call me "Ms. R-H" for short. I was born in Dallas to my mom, Anita, and my dad, Marvin, (my “little big” brother came later.) My mother is a retired educator of 32 years and my father recently retired after 35 years with the Dallas Police Department. My little big brother, Ryan, is a counterterrorism security analyst in Washington, D.C.! I grew up on the East side of Fort Worth; I attended private school and Daggett Montessori in grades Kinder through eighth grade. After middle school, I became a R.L. Paschal High School Panther and graduated Cum Laude in 2011. From there, I completed my college basics at TCC Trinity River and transferred to The University of Arkansas with a full-ride scholarship. In college, I worked at the local TV station as a camera operator/intern and eventually earned my way up to producer and Multi-Media journalist! After my journey as a reporter, I was looking for a new challenge. I began subbing at Fort Worth ISD and was offered a full-time teaching position shortly thereafter. Eight years later, and I’ve served students in grades sixth, fifth, fourth, second, first and Kinder; I’ve taught STEM Science, English Language Arts, Writing and Self-Contained all subjects. My newest journey is STEM; I’ve served as a STEM Plus Specialist and Gifted and Talented Specialist for the last two years in Crowley and I've been in CISD for five years this year! My time in Crowley has brought me great experiences with students, some of my best friends, an amazing fiancé and professional growth. As an educator and a lifelong learner, I truly believe knowledge is power. Authentic learning and the pursuance of an education is important to me. As a future professional school counselor, empathy, understanding and social emotional health are really important to me as well.

Who is your hero and why?
My hero is unequivocally my mom, Anita. My mother is my inspiration; the way she lives her life, helping and supporting others, and her family has served as a blueprint for the type of person I want to be when I grow up. She’s a superwoman; not only did she raise two children and maintain a household, but she’s earned two Master's degrees from Texas Christian University, won Counselor of the Year for the state of Texas, and enriched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of children as a Montessori educator and professional school counselor since 1986. On top of that, even though she’s retired, she has gone back to her roots and is now a professor in the college of education at TCU. I’m in awe of all that my mother is, and I hope to be half the woman she is as I continue through life.

What do you enjoy about working at Crowley ISD?
Some of the things I enjoy working for Crowley ISD, include effective district leadership, an authentic emphasis on the success of ALL children in our district, and, of course, our formidable STEM Plus program, which provides opportunities for ALL children to collaborate, innovate and design within the engineering design process.

What are some career accomplishments you are proud of?
I’m especially proud of my tenure as an educator and the lives I’ve enriched in and out of the classroom. I've served as an educator for eight years and I've taught grades fifth ELAR (twice), first (twice), second/fourth ELAR & Writing in the same year and sixth STEM Science. Beyond education, one of my proudest accomplishments is the Mid-America Emmy awarded to my broadcast team for my writing.

Tell us about your family and your African American Heritage and what makes you proud of it.
My family’s African American heritage is rich and deeply rooted with stories of perseverance and strength. I have ancestors who were slaves, ancestors who were scholars, ancestors who fought for Civil Rights and ancestors who continued to triumph through adversity. Throughout my heritage, you will find peacemakers and change agents. Doctors, educators, leaders and innovators; I feel so proud of my ancestry and heritage. The strength in my family gives me continual strength and encourages me to strive and be an example for others.

As we celebrate Black History Month, what do you want the world to know about the culture and contribution of African Americans?
If the world doesn’t remember anything else, they should remember to see us and continue to expand their knowledge of our history. Black History Month is recognized in the month of February, but Black history is an everyday encounter. That haircare product for the perfect coiffure, those stop lights that keep us safe, that jar of peanut butter that hits the spot or the mailbox that shields your mail are all in existence because of the contribution of an African American innovator who shared their vision with the world. Remember these important contributions and never stop trying to learn more.

What do you hope all students will learn, understand and appreciate during Black History Month?
I hope students absorb all of the stories of triumph and success through hard work. I hope that all students understand that Black history is everyday history, and it’s a part of their history too. I hope that the strength in the face of adversity, shown by African Americans throughout history, inspires their own stories of perseverance in their lives. So many lessons can be learned from our history, and I hope students understand that they can do anything if they want and if they work for it.
#CrowleyPrideUnified

For our next #BlackHistoryMonth spotlight, meet Crowley High School junior Sarai Abram, an aspiring attorney! Abram is a cheerleader, member of the mock trial team and student school board trustee for Crowley ISD. She has attended CISD schools since kindergarten.

"Sarai is quite the young lady," June W. Davis, longtime CISD school board member, said. "She is intelligent, poised and she has a beautiful personality. It has been a pleasure working with her as a junior board member. She has asked probing questions in an effort to understand the process. Sarai has plans to become an attorney, and I have no doubt she will be successful!"

Read more about Sarai Abram in the Q&A below:

What activities do you participate in, and what do you enjoy about them?
I enjoy cheerleading, student council, mock trial and the student board trustee program, among other activities. I love that everything I participate in incorporates elements I have a passion for, such as dancing and writing.

Tell us more about the mock trial team. What do you enjoy about that?
I enjoy the companionship that I’ve found in my teammates, as well as the legal concepts that I learn about every practice, which strengthens my knowledge of how America functions. It has taught me how to carry myself in a professional setting and make informed decisions on matters.
 Tell us about serving as a student school board trustee. What do you do in that role, and what do you enjoy about it? What have you learned?
I sat with Dr. McFarland, our superintendent, as well as other students, and discuss the issues facing, and oversee the future of, Crowley ISD. I’ve gotten to meet with the members of our school board individually and gain firsthand knowledge on how decisions for our district are made, and how to truly be an effective, and therefore, good leader. I like that it gives me, a student, input and a say in matters that will affect my education as well as the learning of my peers, and has led to me developing a closer relationship with the people who are doing their best to improve our schools.

What do you love about Crowley ISD, and how do you believe it helps give you opportunities and choices after you graduate?
There is Crowley ISD, and then there are the people who compose and truly uphold the values of Crowley ISD, and those individuals are what I love about this district. I’m being trained to be a well-rounded member of society, as well as being given avenues to pursue further education, such as scholarships and advanced classes.

Your mother is a Crowley ISD educator. Tell us what and where she teaches, what you've learned from her and what you admire about her.
My mom is a biology teacher at Crowley Ninth Grade, and she’s instilled in me that leading is a practice of servitude, and that I always need to pour myself into everything I do. I greatly appreciate and admire her for how much she embraces my true self-expression, and never attempts to limit my aspirations, but instead, cultivate them!

What are your career goals and plans for the future?
My plan is to delve into the realm of corporate law and maybe even politics, as I see civil and social justice as something very important to me. Achieving a truly fair system is a goal that’s ingrained in my character at this point.

Tell us more about yourself and what's important to you.
Besides my extracurricular activities, I really enjoy reading mystery books and novels that explore theoretical concepts and provoke thoughts about life. I consider fashion to be my second passion, as putting outfits together and exploring the realm of clothing is really fun and relaxing for me. Writing poems and narratives is also something that I partake in, as they provide me with a personal medium to express myself. Family and friends are the most important people in the world to me, and I enjoy spending quality time with them and furthering our bonds, because at the end of the day, those special people keep me going.

Tell us about your family and your African American Heritage and what makes you proud of it.
I’m a descendant of generations of slaves and sharecroppers who were degraded and treated as subhumans, like so many other African American families forced to live lives of cruel servitude in America. But, despite the demeaning circumstances, they strived for more, never giving up their dreams of getting ahead, of fulfilling their goals. I’m proud of being black because, despite the constant oppression and unfairness that my people and I experience, we still persevere and thrive in multiple aspects.

As we celebrate Black History Month, what do you want the world to know about the culture and contribution of African Americans?
African American culture has influenced and seeped into many different aspects of everyone’s life, from the roads we take every day to the many different genres of music that play on each radio station. There are countless contributions in several different areas, and I encourage everyone to do their research on all the black talent and inventions that have graced the world.
 
What do you hope that all students will learn and understand about Black History Month?
I hope people will truly understand the magnitude of hardships that African Americans continuously struggle through day to day, and that, despite that, being Black isn’t a disadvantage, but a link to a rich line of people who’ve accomplished so much. To learn Black history is to learn the reason why we can hold our heads up and smile and laugh, and be knowledgeable about true ingenuity.
#CrowleyPrideUnified

As we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re excited to spotlight just a few of our amazing Crowley ISD family members. Greg Williams is in his first year working in the district as Crowley ISD’s athletic facilities coordinator and assistant athletic director.

He recently came to the district after spending over 30 years teaching and coaching at Lancaster High School where he helped the Tigers win seven boys track and field team state championships, including five in a row from 2008 to 2012. Lancaster was also a four-time state runner-up, while claiming 16 regional championships and 22 district titles during Williams’ tenure. #CrowleyPrideUnified

“We are so thankful to serve the students and staff of Crowley ISD alongside Greg with the tremendous work ethic and passion that he brings to the Department of Athletics,” Daryle L. Moffett, executive director of athletics, said. “He always leads with a spirit of excellence.”

Tell us more about yourself, your family and what’s important to you.
I was born and raised in Waco, Texas. Both of my parents, who still live in Waco, were in education. My father, Willie, was a principal at Wiley Middle School and Waco High School. My mother, Robbie, was a teacher and varsity basketball coach at LaVega High School. She was just inducted into the LaVega Hall of Fame last year. My brother played football at TCU from 1978 to 1982. He is now a pastor of a church in Beaumont. My sister, Cassandra Joy, played basketball at The University of Texas at Austin from 1979 to 1983. She was a varsity basketball coach at Waco High until she died from ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in 2014. I am married to the love of my life - my wife, Yolanda. We have two children and one grandchild. My family is what’s important to me.

What was your childhood like growing up in Waco?
I had a great time growing up in Waco. I was fortunate that a good number of my friends of the same age were in the neighborhood I lived in. We were always together having some type of fun, both indoors and outdoors. Going to my brother's and my sister’s college football and basketball games was always a treat as well.

You are considered one of the most successful track and field coaches in Texas High School history. What does that mean to you?
It was a true blessing to lead one of the top programs in Texas while I was at Lancaster. It is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of my assistant coaches and athletes that I have had the privilege to work with throughout my coaching career. To have a vision of what I wanted Lancaster to be and to watch it come to fruition has truly been one of the greatest joys of my life.

Talk a little bit about your coaching career. Was it hard to make the move after being at Lancaster for 33 years?
I started coaching in 1988 at Lancaster Middle School. After one year, I was promoted to the varsity football staff and became an assistant track coach. I have coached on both sides of football, being both an offensive and defensive coordinator. I became the head track coach in 1997 and kept that role until 2022. All of my years, except for one, have been in Lancaster. Yes, it was a difficult decision to leave Lancaster. That was my life. When you have been somewhere over half of your life, you make a lot of friends and fall into a comfort zone.

You were a part of seven state championships at Lancaster. What are you most proud of in your coaching career?
Seeing the kids’ faces when they accomplish something that they have worked so hard for, also watching how the program became a huge family. When you have team members from different years follow and support kids they don’t even know, just because they are a part of the program, is something special to me.

Talk about how you got into coaching track and field.
I was only a football player in high school. After the season, I would go to work at my father’s school until the end of the summer. My neighbor that lived across the street, Coach Nathaniel Haynes, was the head track coach at our high school. He always asked me to come out and run. I enjoyed making money in the offseason. When I got the job at Lancaster after college, I went back to him for advice on coaching track and field.

You are in your first year being the facilities coordinator at Crowley ISD. What does it mean to you to be in charge of the Multi-Purpose Stadium?
It means that the district trusts me to manage this facility in a way that people in our community can be proud of. I just hope that I have done ok so far.

What has your first year been like at Crowley ISD?
It’s been busy, but it has also been a fun learning experience. I am learning a lot each day.

What do you enjoy about working in Crowley ISD?
I still haven’t met a stranger. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help when I have questions. They really live the motto, “Act Like a Family, Work Like a Team.”

What are some career accomplishments you are proud of?
First is being an advanced placement teacher. I’ve always believed that our kids need to learn how to think critically. Second is the success of our program in track and field at Lancaster and the doors that it has helped open for me. Being the first track coach on the board of directors for the Texas High School Coaches Association was a huge accomplishment. Also, being able to speak at coaching clinics across the southwest means a lot. Finally, I’m also proud of all of the students that track and field opened doors for to get access to college and other life lessons it taught them.

Tell us about your family and your African American Heritage and what makes you proud of it.
Both sets of my grandparents never attended college. I’m not sure if any of them graduated high school. My parents and all of my aunts and uncles have college degrees. That shows me that they were striving for better for their children. Most of my aunts and uncles attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well. Being the youngest in my family, I don’t have many memories like my older brother. A great deal of our family heritage is woven into his sermons and stories from my parents.

As we celebrate Black History Month, what do you want the world to know about the culture and contribution of African Americans?
I would like the world to understand and acknowledge that African Americans are a proud culture that has been through tremendous trials, yet still continues to succeed in all endeavors. I want the world to also understand that all history is important, no matter how shameful it may be. National healing only comes when you face your past and not continually hide from it.

What do you hope all students will learn, understand and appreciate during Black History Month?
I want them to understand that they have only just scratched the surface of what they should know about their heritage. I want them to learn all of the things that their ancestors endured to get them the rights and privileges they take for granted today. I also want them to learn how they can make a positive impact on African American society as well as global society.