In our latest installment of Hometown Pride, we take a look at Crowley ISD Speech Language Pathologist Assistant Julie Grissom (Warner). Grissom is a 2004 North Crowley High School graduate. She also attended Crowley Middle School after moving into the district during the spring of 1999.

Grissom, who has worked in Crowley ISD since 2016, excelled in numerous clubs and activities while roaming the halls of North Crowley, including being a member of the NCHS Key Club, student council, NCHS tennis program and ASL club. Other highlights of her time at North Crowley include cheering on the Panthers to the 2003 Texas 4A Football State Championship in only the program's sixth year of existence and hanging out with friends.

She collected several accolades in high school, including garnering NCHS Sophomore of the Year honors and being named to the homecoming court in 2003. Grissom was also crowned prom queen during the spring of her senior year.

Grissom, who graduated from Baylor University in 2008 with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, can now be found providing speech therapy to students at Deer Creek Elementary School, Richard Allie Middle School, Crowley 9th Grade, Crowley High School and the Bill R. Johnson CTE Center. She has also worked with students at Jackie Carden Elementary and Sidney H. Poynter Elementary School during her tenure.

A typical day for Grissom revolves around planning activities for students of all ages that are engaging yet target their individual goals. She typically sees around 8-10 groups a day between all of her campuses, while also using American Sign Language (ASL) for Deaf Ed students in the district.

“I enjoyed ASL so much in high school that I continued with it at Baylor. I hadn't used it in years until last year when I started working with the RDSPD programs for speech therapy. I love those students so much and ASL has such a rich culture to it that I feel lucky to be a part of it in some way. Last year was my first year not only working with the Deaf Ed program in the district, but also with older students. I’m so used to elementary kids that it has been a little bit of a learning curve, but I love working with the older students as well. It’s wonderful to see them be so involved in dance, football, cheer, etc. I’m so proud of all my students,” said Grissom, who not only uses sign language to communicate with her students, but also with their teachers who she has become great friends with.

As you can see, Grissom’s journey in the district has truly come full circle and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When I was in high school, I was so lucky to have so many great teachers who genuinely cared for me and other students. They had a lasting positive impact on my life and I hope to do the same. Getting through to kids often comes down to understanding what’s going on in their world outside of school. Being from the area and experiencing what it’s like to grow up here helps you do that,” said Grissom.

If you are a graduate of either high school and would like to be featured in this series, please email information including your high school, graduation year and a photo to news@crowley.k12.tx.us.