Volume V, Issue 17 (June 12, 2020)

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” ― Maya Angelou

Vol. V June 12, 2020

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

SHINING A

LIGHT

Teachers honored with Lamplighter Awards by students

T

he 2020 Lamplighter Awards have been presented to their recipients!

Congratulations to every teacher who has been chosen by their grateful students.

Founded in 1994, the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit comAwards|Continued to page 13

Be sure to check out the essays written by the students throughout this issue!

Texas provides $1B in pandemic food benefits Because of school closures from COVID-19, Texas received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide more than $1 billion in pandemic food benefits to families with children that have temporarily lost access to free or re-

THE

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ongview oice

DOZIER

duced-price school meals.

“The P-EBT letters have been sent out and the deadline for applying is June 30,” said LISD Director for Child Nutrition Phyllis Dozier. “All of our elementary students are eligible because we are a Community Eligibilty Provision (CEP) district, which means all elementary students eat free.”

Meals|Continued to page 21

Opinion Foundation Award

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Help 4 Foundation Scholarship 7

COVID-19 Testing Social

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Image courtesy of Global Graphics in Longview

By Mayor Andy Mack

D

ear Lobos, We have really been through it the last few months, haven’t we Longview? Whoever would have thought five years ago that we would be impacted by a global pandemic in 2020? I sure didn’t see this coming and I doubt most of you did either.

We have weathered a lot and are still weathering so much.

• Our businesses being closed • Schools being closed – albeit learning still taking place • Worshiping with our church “virtually” • “Social distancing” being a term we are now familiar with • Time apart from friends and family • Jobs being defined as “essential” or “non-essential” • Working from home • Our high school seniors having special moments taken from them • All sports (from little league to professionals) being cancelled • Record numbers of unemployment claims being filed • Curbside pickup being the “norm” • Masks being worn by the general public • Nursing home residents being sequestered with no visitors • Healthcare facilities setting up drive-thru tents and testing • Healthcare facilities restricting visitors and procedures • Countless illnesses resulting from a mysterious new virus – and even deaths as a result of it And now on top of all of that, we are dealing with difficult conversations and thoughts from every corner on racial inequities, law enforcement procedures, good cops, bad cops, riots and protests (to name a few).

How in the world are all of this would be part we supposed to process of my tenure. But God all of this? definitely knew. None When I find myself of this has been a surspinning with all that is prise to Him. And none going on around me in of what you are going the world, I think about through is a surprise to Who I can count on to be Him either. unmovable, unchangeable Throughout my lifeand unstoppable: and that time in Longview one MACK is the Rock that is higher of the things that has than I. bothered me was the division PSALM 61 that I saw throughout Longview Hear my cry, O God,listen between the Northern, Southern, to my prayer;from the end of Eastern and Western portions the earth I call to you when of our City. I never could undermy heart is faint. Lead me to stand why my hometown – which the rock that is higher than I, was and still is FULL of people for you have been my refuge, a that I love – in all different zip strong tower against the enemy. codes – could be divisive at times.

Let me dwell in your tent for- It just didn’t make sense. ever! Let me take refuge under Through a conversation with the shelter of your wings! Selah a friend in discussing these For you, O God, have heard things in early 2015 the term my vows; you have given me the “One Longview” was born. If heritage of those who fear your you have been around me or name. reading my posts for any length Prolong the life of the king;of time you have seen this term may his years endure to all a million times. When I congenerations! trast 2015 Longview to 2020 May he be enthroned forever Longview and all the trials before God; appoint steadfast and tribulations that we have love and faithfulness to watch experienced of late, I feel like over him! our dream of One Longview is So will I ever sing praises closer than ever. to your name, as I perform my In the past several months I vows day after day. have seen you organize food drop I want you to know how offs for your neighbors to help proud I am of our City. So them get what they need safely. many times throughout the I have seen you get thoupast few months of uncertainty sands of masks for our healthI have been thankful once again care and first responders at the to live in Longview. Despite be- drop of a hat. ing distant physically from one I have seen you coordinate food another, we have remained one drive-thrus where over 1,500 peoin heart and spirit. I do believe ple received free groceries. our City is an example for cities I have seen you organize all across the country to attain lunches and dinners for our to emulate. healthcare heroes.

In late 2014 when I decided I have seen you provide these to run for Mayor, of course I lunches from local restaurants never could have known that who had been closed in order to

support them.

I have seen you donate your hard earned money in order to make sure we have a July 4th fireworks display to celebrate our freedom.

I have seen you gather in living rooms and backyards to worship together.

I have seen you coordinate drive by parades to celebrate one another’s birthdays.

I have seen you lock arms in protest with those of a different race and nationality than you because you see no color.

I have seen you empathize with one another in new ways.

I have seen you open up to conversations that make you uncomfortable because you long to connect with others different than you.

I have seen in you what it looks like to disagree with someone, but still believe they have the right to express their opinion.

I have seen law enforcement officers deliver water to protesters to help cool them off.

I have seen you respect those who feel differently than you because you love big.

This was what I dreamed of and this is what I continue to dream of. We aren’t all the way there yet, but we are progressing and for this I am thankful.

So, One Longview, keep doing what you are doing.

Longview loves big. Really big. I love you all, Longview.

And thank you for loving me.

I am proud of you. #OneLongview

Andy

— Dr. Andy Mack is a 1978 graduate of Longview High School. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon for more than 25 years, he is owner-operator of East Texas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Longview.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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BRAMLETTE LAMPLIGHTER Key’Marion Pickron nominated the teacher who helped him

By Key’Marion Pickron Fifth Grade, Bramlette

I

t is my fifth-grade year at Bramlette STEAM Academy, and I am so excited. Summer is over, and a few months have passed since I last saw my friends. I am not only excited to see my friends, but I am also excited to see my new teacher. I had heard about her from my brother who was in the fifth-grade last year.

Today is August 19, 2019. I walk into class, and there she is. She has a chocolate complexion and short hair and is a little overweight. I can tell that she doesn’t play. I know she likes superheroes because she has on a red shirt with heroes on it.

She is funny and sometimes sarcastic. She is pretty and very smart. I have just met Ms. Walker.

Ms. Walker helped me through hard times and when I thought I couldn’t do schoolwork, she helped me. Sometimes I would be angry and upset, and she would try to make my day better. Some mornings I was hungry, and she would look in her closet and find something to feed me. She even made a store for the class to reward our good behavior. I always earned the most rewards for my good behavior because

I was determined to be the best student and make Ms. Walker proud.

The most significant event of my fifthgrade year was when I ran for class president. I wasn’t feeling sure about my chances of becoming class president because I didn’t know if people would vote for

me. Ms. Walker, however, was not having it. She didn’t accept my doubts. She knew I was capable of more. I pushed myself to become class president, and I did it! Ms. Walker was beside me the entire time.

I am happy to know Ms. Walker, and she will always be a part of my life.

Interact Club receives Foundation Award The Longview ISD Foundatin, Inc. proudly presents the eighteenth annual Cornerstone Award to the Longview High School Interact Club.

The Interact Club and its members volunteered to assist with the Foundation’s 2019 Green Out t-shirt sale, selling shirts on campuses and at the LISD convocation, and serving at the annual Bash before the Clash hamburger tailgate hosted by VeraBank thus helping the foundation raise money for its Great Rewards for Great Ideas Grant Program,

Campus Initiative Grant Program, and John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grant.

The Longview High School Interact Club is truly a cornerstone of the Foundation’s success.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

ETMPA LAMPLIGHTER Sebastian Martinez nominated his favorite teacher

By Sebastian Martinez Kindergarten, ETMPA

M

y favorite teacher is Mrs. Alvarez. I like coming to the Montessori school because she is here waiting for me.

Mrs. Alvarez does exams for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. She helps us learn more about math and writing every day.

Mrs. Alvarez wears glasses like me. She likes to wear vests and scarves when it is cold.

Mrs. Alvarez looks pretty when she goes to meetings. My mom sends tamales to Mrs. Alvarez because she really likes spicy chicken tamales. She gives me thank you cards because I give her the tamales.

I like that Mrs. Alvarez is my teacher because she taught me to write very beautifully.

I will always love her.

Help us help you! Ayúdanos a ayudarte!

By Francisco Rojas For obvious reasons, Family Engagement plans have taken a different direction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the current situation we are facing as a community, there are still several things that we can do to help us reach out to LISD families and engage with them. In order to reach out with a purpose bigger than just checking up on our families, the Family Engagement Team has put together a brief and simple 5 question survey that will help us identify needs, concerns, and wishes among our LISD families.

This Family Engagement survey was sent out at the beginning of last week via email

to all Magnet campus families. We understand that there may be several families that haven’t had the opportunity to check their email, ROJAS and that’s why we would like to hear from you if this is your case.

We will be glad to have you complete the survey by the phone if you reach out to our Family Engagement Coordinator at 903-803-5966. The information gathered from this survey will help us serve and be a greater support for your family. We will be able to get several families connected

with resources, address needs, and work on the Family Engagement plan for the next school year.

— Francisco Rojas is the LISD family engagement coordinator and can be reached at 903-803-5966.

————

By Francisco Rojas Por obvias razones, los planes del equipo de Relaciones Familiares y Escolares han tomado otra dirección durante la pandemia COVID-19. A pesar de la situación actual que enfrentamos como comunidad, aún hay cosas que podemos implementar para alcanzar a muchas familias y conectarnos. Para poder contactar a las familias con un propósito mayor a simplemente ver cómo se encuentran, el equipo de Relaciones Familiares y Escolares han desarrollado una encuesta sencilla y breve compuesta por 5

preguntas que nos permitirán identificar necesidades, preocupaciones y anhelos entre las familias de LISD. La encuesta de Relaciones Familiares y Escolares fue enviada por email al inicio de la semana anterior a todas las familias de los campus Magnet. Entendemos que hay varias familias que no han podido revisar su correo electrónico y si este es tu caso, nos gustaría que nos puedas contactar para llenar la encuesta por teléfono llamando a nuestro Coordinador de Relaciones Familiares y Escolares al (903)803-5966.

La información recolectada de esta encuesta nos ayudará a servirles de mejor manera y ser un mayor apoyo para su familia. Podremos conectarlos con recursos, apuntar a las necesidades y trabajar en nuestro plan de acción para el próximo año.

— Francisco Rojas is the LISD family engagement coordinator and can be reached at 903-803-5966.

The Mancha family has some good news!

The patriarch of the Mancha family is making a steady recovery since his release to a rehabilitation center (post COVID-19 diagnosis).

Jesus Mancha’s family was able to hear his voice for the first time in two months thanks to a Passy-Muir Valve.

It allows for better speech and improved swallowing for those with a trach.

According to his daughter Jessica Mancha, “he’s been enjoying ice chips with his speech pathologist.”

To push the ventilator weaning process, he started trials on the trach collar on Thursday, June 4. A trach collar works the same as a nasal cannula; the difference being that it is attached to his trach instead of his nose.

He is breathing 100% on his own now.

If he can tolerate this, he will be off the ventilator.

We are so happy for the Mancha family and we will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers!

THANK YOU THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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During this difficult time for our community, we are so thankful for the many local restaurants who are offering delivery, drive-thru, and carry-out service for the convenience and safety of our families. Longview ISD is glad to say ‘Thank You’ for being such wonderful community partners!

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Did we miss your restaurant? Send your business name, address and phone number to ask@lisd.org.

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Bodacious BAR-B-Q

904 N 6th St 903-753-2714

1300 W Loop 281 903-759-3914

2227 S Mobberly Ave 903-753-8409

2

Bubba’s 33

3

The Butcher Shop

4

The Cace Kitchen

5

Cafe Barron’s

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Carter’s Bar-B-Que

200 E Loop 281 903-232-1606

102 Lehigh St 903-758-6066

415 N High St 903-212-7720

405 W Loop 281 F 903-663-4737

519 S Eastman 903-236-3271

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Casa Ole’

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The Catch

410 W Loop 281 903-236-3491

3312 N Fourth St 903-663-2940

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Chiangmai Thai Kitchen

103 W Loop 281 #430 903-663-6622

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Chick-fil-A

11

Chipotle

507 E Loop 281 1740 W Loop 281 3500 McCann Rd

415 E Loop 281 903-663-7664 12 Chili’s Grill & Bar

2800 Judson Rd 903-663-2221 13 Cotton Patch

1228 McCann Rd 903-236-4009 14 Cowboy Chicken

3080 Eastman Ste 100 903-663-0777 15 Edible Art

504 W. South Street

903-234-2114 16 Fat Boyzzz

607 North Access Road 903-619-3301 17 Flying Burger & Seafood

322 E Hawkins Parkway 903-475-1537

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Fuji

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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

3098 N Eastman 903-663-9888

310 E Hawkins Pkwy 903-663-7545

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Goung Zhou

2002 Judson Rd 903-247-8000 21 Hot Dog Express

106 E Marshall Ave 903-753-8081 22 Jason’s Deli

103 W Loop 281 903-663-5161 23 Jucy’s Hamburgers

2701 N Eastman

3356 Gilmer Rd

816 W Marshall Ave

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Little Mexico

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Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

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Mi Casita

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Papacita’s

3495 McCann Rd 903-758-2194 25 Lizzy’s Diner

2900 Tuttle Blvd 903-663-1154

310 E Hawkins Ste 100 430-625-8053

324 N Spur 63 903-758-8226 28 Newk’s Eatery

110 E Loop 281 903-753-7000

305 W Loop 281 903-663-1700

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Pizza King

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Posados

1100 E Marshall 903-753-0912

110 Triple Creek Cir 903-234-9115 32 Raising Cane’s

212 E Loop 281 903-238-8800 33 Roma’s Italian Kitchen

102 E Tyler St 403-625-7240 34 Rotolo’s Pizzeria

3407 N Fourth St 101 903-212-7448 35 Saltgrass Steak House

411 E Loop 281 903-232-1513 36 Schlotzsky’s

1429 W Loop 281 903-297-8030 37 Slim Chickens

204 E Loop 281 903-824-1735 38 Tuscan Pig Italian Kitchen

401 S High St 903-651-1833 39 Whataburger

105 TX-63 Spur

3123 Eastman

3308 Fourth St

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

DISTRICT WIDE • International Baccalaureate project partners with “We Help Two” and sells “funky socks” to help supply legs and feet to amputees all over the world.

• LISD schools earned 40 total distinctions on state accountability ratings, an increase from 34 earned last year, and the highest in the region.

• Each year HUNDREDS of out-of-district students transfer INTO Longview Independent School District, citing “education opportunities” as their reason.

• Local corporate partnerships with Eastman and Komatsu and Longview Manufacturing Academy.

• Went totally ‘green’ on all building projects resulting in a $200,000 award from SWEPCO for energy conservation.

• Raising Highly Capable Kids parenting class in partnership with Longview Chamber of Commerce.

• Brand new partnership for innovation with East Texas Advanced Academies which will bring new funding and ideas to public education.

• LIFT program annually paying out close to $1 million in staff bonuses for improved testing scores.

• Signing Santa to help deaf ed students communicate with “Santa.”

• Hosted Adjunct Fair for SFA to help employ Adjunct staff in Longview and through Longview ISD. • Purchased multiple pieces of strategic real estate, without increased debt, for future expansion.

• State and National Technical Student Association winners.

MONTESSORI

LONGVIEW HIGH • Longview High School celebrated a class of over 100 International Baccalaureate Diploma students for 201920.

• The senior IB Diploma students have all completed at least 150 hours of service learning activities, culminating over 6500 hours of community service for 2019-20.

• The IB students participated in the campus service learning project, We Help Two, and were able to sponsor 5 clients with prosthetic legs in developing countries.

• Longview High School began the application process to become an IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) school and to offer the IB Career-Related Programme school.

• Longview High School graduated 51 seniors who will also graduate with Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees from Kilgore College for 2019-20.

• Additionally, 80 seniors graduated with at least 24 hours of college credit.

• For the 2019-2020 school year, 594 unduplicated LHS students took a total 7,950 credit hours. This averages slightly more than 12 hours each. These numbers are for hours taken at Kilgore College. Other students took hours through Stephen F. Austin University, University of Texas, and LeTourneau.

• 251 members of 2020 Senior class took 3,617 hours.

This averages slightly more

• Every year of Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox tenure the LISD budget has been “in the black.”

• LISD farm-to-table program, partnering with local farmers for cafeteria produce.

• Hosted “Axe”epted East Texas meet and greet for area students attending SFA in Fall 2019.

• Partnerships in education with UT, SMU, Texas Tech, SFA, KC, Letourneau, and UT-Tyler.

• Longview ISD middle school students earn “Duke Scholar” honors every year.

than 14 hours each. These numbers are for hours taken at Kilgore College. Other students took hours through Stephen F. Austin University, University of Texas, and LeTourneau.

• 99 more of the 2020 LHS seniors qualified for the KC Connection Scholarship that allows them to complete their Kilgore College Degree or Certificate at the reduced tuition rate of 60% of regular tuition. These scholarships represent an average of $1,500 each year per student.

• LHS opened the GO Lab for students to use as needed for course work.

• Longview High School hosted it first Magnet Showcase Night.

• Largest FREE public Montessori school (for 3-to5 year-olds) in the nation, provided free of charge to Longview area children.

• Eight-week Montessori training for other districts in Texas hosted by ETMPA.

Principals, did we miss your school’s achievements? Please send us your brags and we will include them!

ask@LISD.org

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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J.L. EVERHART LAMPLIGHTER Josselyn Alvarez appreciates Mrs. Velazquez’s help

By Josselyn Alvarez Fifth Grade, J.L. Everhart

I

love Mrs. Velazquez very much because she was good to me when I was in her third-grade class. She was my first teacher at J. L. Everhart Elementary School.

Mrs. Velazquez taught me to speak and write English. To help me, she gave me a list of numbers with their names as the first thing I learned. She helped me improve my grades and learn English so that I can speak well.

Mrs. Velazquez has a gift. She always helps others and makes them feel better if they are sad. When I became sad, she talked with me until I felt much better.

When she gave birth to her daughter, she missed a few weeks of school and left us with a substitute who only spoke English. I felt fearful without Mrs. Velazquez, but I calmed down because I knew she would return and that I would be okay. I was fine. Mrs. Velazquez made sure I was.

When I see her at school now, I always say hello to her. I miss her so much that sometimes I want to go to her classroom

and teach her third graders what she taught me. Those students are lucky to have her as their teacher.

LISD Foundation announces scholarship recipients

By Kay Ray LISD Foundation Director Each May, the Longview ISD Foundation awards scholarships through its Lobo Memorial Fund to Longview High School seniors.

In January 2020, Emily Myers, Longview High School alumnae and chair of the Lobo Scholarship Fund committee within the Foundation, announced the scholarship to Longview High School seniors. After reviewing and assessing the applications, the students’ essays, resumes, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, Mrs. Myers and the Lobo Scholarship Fund committee determined the scholarship recipients.

The Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. proudly announces that it has awarded eight $1,000 scholarships to members of the LHS Class of 2020. The scholarship recipients are: Fatima Akilo who will Fund|Continued to page 20

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Boys & Girls Club re-opening for summer The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Pines has announced that they will re-open for summer programming on June 1, at the Carlile Center in Marshall and the Gregg County Center in Longview.

Dates: June 1 to July 31, 2020 Times: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Who: Incoming 1st-6th Graders Cost: $500 (Paid in 3 installments)* Includes: Breakfast & Lunch Programs: Fun, Education & Recreation *Assistance available for those who qualify Registration is open now at BeGreatEastTexas.com. For any questions, call Shelly at 903-935-2030.

Club CEO, Chad Patterson spoke about the decision to reopen the Club.

“Our number 1 priority is the safety and wellbeing of the children and staff. In response to Governor Abbott’s most recent announcement to reopen Texas in the PATTERSON state’s Phase

2 plan, we’ve been diligently analyzing the risks and benefits of our decision,” said Patterson.

After consulting with numerous local, county, and state authorities, the benefits outweigh the costs in terms of the wellbeing and development of the children according to Patterson.

“Our pledge and plan will be to follow the minimum guidelines set forth by the Gover-

nor’s office, with the continued guidance and support by local health experts. We are committed to delivering a safe and effective program to meet the critical needs of children: academic loss recovery, safe and secure environment, caring and encouraging adults, two meals and snacks each day, sports and recreation, and tons of fun,” he continued.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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HUDSON PEP LAMPLIGHTER

Karson Bulich looked forward to class thanks to Mrs. Bickerdike

By Karson Bulich Fifth Grade, Hudson PEP

S

chool—a place most children would avoid ANY day—but in Mrs. Bickerdike’s third grade class, that wasn’t the case. I looked forward to seeing the memorable, problem-solving, amiable teacher every day!

Mrs. Bickerdike was not like any “normal” teacher. When I explain why, you will see what I mean. It all started one fateful day—the first day of third grade. I walked in, and Mrs. Bickerdike greeted me with a big, cheerful smile. “Oh, great! Another one of THOSE years,” I muttered to myself.

Little did I know that this was to be the greatest year of my student life.

During the year, I learned my fair share about Mrs. B. Most days I saw the angelic, loving teacher, but another day, I saw a strict—and kind of scary—demon teacher from WHO KNOWS WHERE!! Mrs. Bickerdike figured out a trick to use to avoid being that demon teacher: her cooking. You must be thinking, “How do you, a mere student, know about her cooking?” and if I am totally honest, I shouldn’t know, but this teacher was far from normal. IN A GOOD WAY! Given that we were all third graders, we were chatty and rambunctious much of the time. Mrs. B, however, thought a cool system to keep us well-behaved. If we got a compliment from another teacher or the principal, we would get a “letter.” Once we got enough letters to spell a word, Mrs. B baked us some delicious brownies or bring us some Klondike bars. Pretty amazing, right?

But the story doesn’t end there. You see, third grade me—and present day me—writes for fun. Many days in third grade, I spent my recess writing about my pet hamster Hammy. These stories might be about, well, anything from saving the world from robots to rescuing the President of the United States.

This little hamster has done it all. Guess who encouraged me to write those stories?

Mrs. B. She also urged me to read my stories to the class. I was nervous, worried that no one would like them, but Mrs. B gave me the courage I needed. Holding two sheets of notebook paper filled with words, I walked to the front of the room. I looked at the faces of my classmates, and then Mrs. B announced

what I was doing. I started to read out loud.

The class loved my stories! Hammy and I were class celebrities now. Then something truly crazy happened. Mrs. Bickerdike told me that perhaps at the end of the year, I could bring Hammy to school. And it happened! Hammy the Hamster went to third grade with me.

I could go on and on and on and on about Mrs. B., but I am afraid I might break the computer’s memory drive. I write this essay to show you—no, to prove to you—that Mrs. Bickerdike made me and others good students and good people. I guess I will say it now: put your hands together for Mrs. Bickerdike, the winner of the Lamplighter contest!

Bramlette celebrates Principal Mumphrey In the first week of June, teachers from Bramlette STEAM Academy gathered to celebrate their beloved principal, Nikita Mumphrey. The celebration began with a drive-thru parade, followed by a moving slideshow with teacher testimonials, and then a luncheon.

“We didn’t get to celebrate her because of the closures,” said teacher Mesha London.”This was something special we could do for her to show her how much we care.”

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

JOHNSTON-MCQUEEN

WARE EAST TEXAS MONTESSORI ACADEMY

JUDSON

601 W Garfield Ave.

259

EAST TEXAS MONTESSORI PREP ACADEMY

LONGVIEW HS

400 N Eastman Rd.

J.L. EVERHART

281

JOHNSTONMCQUEEN ELEMENTARY

BRAMLETTE FOREST PARK

80

EARLY GRADUATION

BRAMLETTE STEAM ACADEMY

ETX MONTESSORI PREP S. WARD

WARE

422 FM 2751

FOSTER

111 Tupelo Dr.

HUDSON PEP

31 20

NED E. WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY 5230 Estes Pkwy.

J.L. EVERHART ELEMENTARY

149

2919 Tryon Rd. NED E. WILLIAMS

HUDSON PEP ELEMENTARY 1311 Lilly St.

SOUTH WARD ELEMENTARY

1011 S Mobberly Ave. JUDSON STEAM ACADEMY 5745 Judson Rd.

FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL

1644 N Eastman Rd. FOSTER MIDDLE

1504 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

LONGVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

201 E Tomlinson Pkwy.

EARLY GRADUATION HIGH SCHOOL 410 S Green St.

Registration Begins Soon Now, it’s your turn to learn more:

Visit ChooseLISD.org or call 903-381-2200.

Paid for by the MSAP funds.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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SPORTS

From championship to graduation Tyshawn Taylor doesn’t just survive, he thrives

By Monica Ortiz CBS19

L

ongview High School held graduation ceremonies on June 1 and June 2. Tyshawn Taylor, who attended LHS all 4 years, graduated Tuesday night, June 2.

“I’m just really ready,” Taylor said hours prior to walking the stage.

“The best way to put it is ‘I’m hyena happy and peacock proud’ for him to graduate.”

LaDarian Brown his legal guardian said.

“He’s overcome quite a bit. Oh, statistically he should not be where he is, and with him overcoming all of that. I’m extremely proud of him for that.”

Taylor is an athlete to remember. His

junior year, he helped the Longview Lobo football team win a 2018 state title.

Brown says all Tyshawn’s hard work came to light in one special moment.

“Longview wouldn’t have the state championship and coach King would agree if it wasn’t for him doing what he did,” Brown said. “All the boys fought the whole time, but there was a very pivotal play where Tyshawn forced the fumble, and that’s the reason why we were able to pull the victory off in the long haul.”

Even with a state title to look back on, Tyshawn says he’s stayed focused on what matters most to him.

Tyshawn|Continued to page 22

2020 cheer varsity captains announced The Lobo Cheery Varsity captains for 2020 have been announced! Congratulations everyone!

Gracie Washington — Head Captain, Kiaira Coates — Co-Captain, Dashawna Steverson — Co-Captain, Lexie Cannon — Co-Captain, Avery Shirley — Skills and Conditioning Captain

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

HUDSON PEP LAMPLIGHTER Mrs. Coulter was a highlight in fourth grade

By Jordan Nash Fifth Grade, Hudson PEP “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Benjamin Franklin ne of the best things about fourth grade was my teacher, Mrs. Coulter. She made math class an exciting experience for me and my compadres. At first, some kids didn’t like math and thought it was boring, but Mrs. Coulter turned their frowns of boredom upside down! Although she was a fun-loving teacher, she was somewhat strict. In a way, she reminds me of a Cucharita, you know, those spicy Mexican candies that comes on a plastic spoon. Sweet ‘n spicy!

If you ask me, fairness means people treat everyone equally and give everyone the same choices and opportunities. Mrs. Coulter was a perfect illustration of this simple but important trait. She didn’t judge her students by their race, gender, hobbies, or even grades. She judged us all by who we were. In the past I have run into people who think because they’re different, they are less than others, and that’s completely, utterly bogus. Mrs. Coulter always told us that our differences make us who we are, and we should use those differences to stand out from the crowd. Each of us is the only one the world’s going to get, so each of us should embrace what makes us unique and use it to inspire others.

Mrs. Coulter wasn’t just my teacher; she was a confidant. As I have already stated, she didn’t have any prejudices about me or my personality; she knew me for me. She also accepted the fact that math wasn’t everybody’s strongest subject, but she still pushed us to our limits. I was one of those students for whom math wasn’t my favorite subject. Math was my “eh” subject.

Mrs. Coulter, however, took me step by step on every math problem, and thanks to her, I was beginning to make 100s on every

O

single assignment. She had to be one of the most accepting, patient teachers I have had.

I have friends who absolutely, positively HATE school. Of course, there’s a lot not to like about school from waking up before the sun rises to not eating until noon. I get why some students don’t like school. The two hours and forty-five minutes I spent with Mrs. Coulter were “a breath of fresh air” as she would say. I’ve heard that some people don’t like certain subjects or school entirely because the teachers don’t make the lessons engaging enough for their students to want to learn. However, not all teachers aren’t like that. Not being engaged isn’t even a possibility when in Mrs. Coulter’s class. At times she would even ask us what we wanted to do the next day, and she would incorporate her math into the concoction we wanted. She was literally the Hermione Granger of mathematics!

Boring wasn’t even in her hefty vocabu-

lary. She tried to stuff as much knowledge into our little noggins as she could because she wanted us to be able to accomplish great things.

Alexandra K. Trenfor once said, “The best teachers are the ones who tell you where to look but not what to see.” That is true for all teachers and educators around the world. Mrs. Coulter is the teacher who teaches her students how to think but not what to think. I don’t mean to sound too cliched, but she played too big of a role in molding me into an independent youngster.

For all you PEPsters out there, I am going to go ahead and pull a “Whitaker” and say that I am so proud and happy to announce Kim Coulter as my Star Teacher.

A HUGE shout out to all my teachers from PEP: Ms. Kelly, Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Bledsoe, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Player, Ms. Massey, Mrs. Cooley and Ms. Dodson for helping me on my journey as a PEPster.

Waiver application approved by board Longview Independent School District trustees have approved a waiver application for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) concerning at-risk students in the 2020-21 school year.

The measure passed unanimously during the board’s regular meeting June 8th.

As a result of STAAR tests being canceled for the 2019-20 school year, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are still required by the Texas Education Agency to provide early notice to parents or

guardians of students in grades 4 and 7 who are identified as “at risk of failure on the first administration of an assessment required for grade advancement in the next school year.”

Latitia Wilson, LISD Director of Research, Planning, and Accountability, said “given that the STAAR administrations for April, May, and June 2020 are canceled, the at-risk determination will need to be made through means that do not involve state testing results from the current year.”

“The current rule requires this notice to be issued before

the end of a school year, thus the waiver request to delay the notice requirement until the start of the 2020-21 school year,” she said.

Longview ISD campus clo-

sures began March 16th and continued through the end of the 2019-20 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board|Continued to page 24

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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Free COVID-19 testing scheduled in Longview Free COVID-19 testing will be available at locations across Longview on June 9, 11, 12, and 13.

Drive-up testing will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at Foster Middle School (1504 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) and on Thursday, June 11 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (2500 McCann Road).

In order to be tested on June 9 or June 11,

a person must first register and get screened for multiple symptoms of COVID-19, including shortness of breath, fever, chills, body aches, vomiting, sore throat, and loss of taste/smell.

The number of tests will be limited both days.

Registration will open June 8 for the June 9 testing date. Registration will open June 10 for Test|Continued to page 17

AWARDS |Continued from page 1 munity organization whose mission is to request, receive, maintain and use funds to maximize the quality of education available in the Longview Independent School District. Using generous contributions from businesses, community members, Longview ISD employees, parents, alumni, and friends of the district, the Foundation funds the Great Rewards for Great Ideas grant program to advance new, innovative approaches to teaching.

Since 1996, the Foundation has funded 716 grants through Great Rewards for Great Ideas, returning $780,885.75 to Longview ISD teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses so that they can provide the very best education possible for their students. The Longview ISD Foundation has also funded forty-six Campus Initiative Grants for a total of $136,673.08 to enhance programs that align with campus and district improvement plans to increase student achievement. Since fall 2019, the Foundation has funded five John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grants worth $25,991.13 for fourth and fifth grade and middle school students. While enhancing educational opportunity for all students, the Foundation is moving ever closer to the $1,000,000 mark returned to LISD classrooms and campuses.

With the Lamplighter Awards, the Longview ISD Foundation pays tribute to students and the educators who are special to them in their school lives and invites the community to celebrate those dedicated, nurturing educators. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Lamplighter Awards, the Foundation asked students to remember a special educator who holds a magical place in their hearts and minds because he or she exhibits one of the twenty characteristics past Lamplighter Award student honorees think educators should possess and write essays about those educators.

Those characteristics are: • Possessing knowledge of the subject he or she teaches • Displaying kindness or compassion • Making learning interesting and fun • Accepting all students • Believing in students and wanting them to succeed • Creating a sense of family in the classroom • Encouraging students, especially when students struggle to learn • Inspiring students to learn • Having high expectations for students, demanding the best from students, pushing students to go beyond their comfort zones, or never giving up on students • Helping students when they experience problems at school or in their personal lives when appropriate • Spreading happiness to students and making students feel good about themselves and others • Going beyond the classroom to educate students, perhaps in UIL events or other school Awards|Continued to page 20

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

CHOOSE

R LONGVIEW

SCHOOL

APPLY NOW

ChooseLISD.org

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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JOHNSTON-MCQUEEN LAMPLIGHTER To Myles King, Mrs. Small is unique

By Myles King Fifth Grade, JMQ

I

am Myles King, and I attend Johnston-McQueen Elementary School. I am proud to nominate Mrs. Small, my fifth-grade science teacher, for the 2020 Lamplighter Award.

I first met Mrs. Small when my older brother Mason had her for fifth grade science. I was just five years old, but I remember the smile she had on her face when I went with my mom and dad for a parent teacher conference with her. While she talked to my parents, she found something to occupy me.

The next year I began kindergarten at Johnston-McQueen Elementary School.

Kindergarten students were not required to do science projects, but Mrs. Small inspired me to do one any way. The name of my project was Milk Rainbow. Completing the project was so much fun, and it was cool to watch the colors interact and move around in the plate that was part of the project. My kindergarten teacher allowed me to show the project to my classmates when I finished it. I especially remember Mrs. Small being so proud of me.

Mrs. Small has inspired me throughout my elementary school years. I remember one time my mom was the substitute in the library, and she had after school duty. My mom instructed me to stay in the library and not let anyone in. When Mrs. Small came to the library to return something, I told her she couldn’t come in just as my mom had instructed. She asked, “Are you the library police?” I said, “Yes, ma’am.”

After that when I saw her in the hall, she

would always say, “Here is the library police.”

When my fifth-grade year began, I was upset because Mrs. Small was no longer a fifth-grade science teacher. She was a STEAM teacher. I still got to see her and be in her STEAM class every other week, but I was excited when she was switched to be my fifth-grade teacher. I was struggling to understand science until she stepped in and helped me get back on track.

Mrs. Small is a unique person. She has a way about helping not only me but also my classmates understand science. She is a compassionate teacher. I struggle with reading because of my dyslexia, but

Mrs. Small is always there to encourage me to work harder. Sometimes I came to class with a bad attitude because I was struggling with an assignment, but she took the time to help me understand that I can make better choices and be a better student. Mrs. Small always finds a way to make every student feel special.

Mrs. Small may be a science teacher, but to me she is a hero. She may not know it, but she changed my outlook on school and helped me be an outstanding student.

Her kindness, understanding, and compassion make her the best teacher I have ever had. I am honored to be a student in her class.

Report: Closures shrinking public education

By M.B. Pell

the shutdown is taking a profound toll on the nation’s system NEW YORK — Jennifer Pan- of education, Reuters found by ditaratne’s third-grade daughter surveying nearly 60 school dishad been seeing a reading spetricts serving some 2.8 million cialist once a week before her students.

Florida school closed abruptly in Almost overnight, public March due to the novel Coronaeducation in the United States virus. has shrunk to a shell of its forSince then, her child has had mer self, the review found, with no contact with the specialist. teacher instruction, grading, Panditaratne is left to download attendance, special education her daughter’s special education and meal services for hungry material and sit with her as she children slashed back or gutted does her school work—in bealtogether. tween her own calls as a mariThe survey encompassed time lawyer in South Florida. school districts from large ur“Is it the same material? ban communities, such as MiSure,” she said. “But is it being ami-Dade County Public Schools administered by a professional and the Houston Independent who knows what they are doing? School District, to the smallest No.” rural settings, including San More than two months after Jon Municipal Schools in eastschools across the United States ern New Mexico and Park Counbegan closing in an effort to slow ty School District 6 in Cody, the spread of the Coronavirus, Wyoming. The survey reflects

what is happening only in those But educators there learned districts that responded. through Google Classroom • A large majority of reand phone calls that only sponding districts, 47 of 57, about half of their 3,000 reported they are providstudents are participating ing elementary and middle in virtual school and comschool students with half pleting assignments. or less the usual face time • Public schools play a cruwith teachers. Eight of cial role in feeding Amerithose districts said students ca’s poor children—but the receive little to no direct lockdown is gutting that instruction. In Philadelphia, role. About three-quarters tens of thousands of eleof districts reported they mentary and middle school served a cumulative 4.5 pupils receive little to no million fewer meals a week. live instruction—and high In Washoe County, Nevada, schoolers receive none at the school district providall. ed 251,000 meals a week • Fewer than half of disbefore the shutdown. Since tricts even take attendance, then: Just over 39,000 a and many of those that do week. say fewer kids are showing • About a third of districts up for class. Riverbank Uniaren’t providing federally fied School District in Stanrequired services to their islaus County, California, no longer takes attendance. Report|Continued to page 28

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

OBITUARIES Longview ISD offers our most sincere condolences to our extended Lobo family TOMMIE D. ALLISON Tommie D. Allison, 77, of Carthage, TX, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2020, in Longview, TX. He was born on Jan. 10, 1943, in Panola County, TX, to the late December and Minnie Lee Beard Allison. Mr. Allison married Faye Nell Beck on Jan. 25, 1966, in Carthage.

He was a member of the Johnson ALLISON Chapel C.M.E. Church in Holland’s Quarters. Tommie worked most of his life for the Thomas Allison family in the farming and ranching business. He enjoyed fishing, family, and watching westerns. Mr. Allison was also preceded in death by sisters, Lorine Odom and Gracie Mae Robinson; and brothers, LeRoy Allison, Dave Allison, Willie Allison, A.D. Allison, Lee Artic Allison, and Goree Allison.

JERRY D. HAWLEY Jerry Don Hawley was born March 30, 1938 in Longview, TX to Frank and Sybil Hawley.

He died peacefully on Saturday, June 6, 2020, after a two-year battle with Leukemia.

Jerry played football for the Longview LOBOS and Midwestern University in San Marcus, TX. He came back to Longview HAWLEY and married his wife of 60 years, Ima Jean Hawley in 1960. He began his career with the Allstate Insurance Company in 1965 and retired after 35 years in 2000.

As a hobby, he loved growing various Bonsai trees and beautiful Azaleas. After retirement, he began working out at the Parkway Fitness Center and the Christus Good Shepherd Healthy Institute. Later he added yoga to his fitness plan.

Mr. Hawley was a member of the Oakland Heights Baptist Church where he became a deacon in the early 70’s. He was deeply involved in the Education area of both Oakland Heights and later, Macedonia Baptist Church. He taught Sunday School and was the Sunday School Education Director and Superintendent for years. He was very creative in reaching the community for Christ by using many different high attendance campaigns such as the Olympics, football and a military theme where each teacher dressed their part in fun skits.

All the while, he had you laughing and enjoying the

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Faye Allison; sons, Tommie Allison, Jr. (Shelia) of Big Spring, Matthew Allison (Teresa) of Lamesa, and Marcus Allison of Carthage; daughters, Natonia Beecham (Jerome) of Longview and employee at Ned E. Williams, Natarsha Allison (Carlos Brown) of Carthage, LaShunon Hall (Chris) of Overton, Reshay Allison (Derrick Pellum) of Carthage, and Shanetra Simmons of Carthage; brothers, Raymond Allison (Renae) of Dallas, and Jessie Allison (Jessie) of Carthage; sister, Earline McCoy of Carthage; 31 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends.

A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Johnson Chapel C.M.E. Church with Rev. Raymond Allison officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment followed in Holland’s Quarters Cemetery.

A guestbook may be signed online at jimerson-lipsey.com. roles being played. He was an excellent leader and encourager. He loved people and did whatever it took to bring them into a right relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his wife Ima Jean Hawley of Longview, two sons, Michael J. Hawley of Tyler and Wade and his wife, Amanda Hawley of Longview, one granddaughter, Sydney Hawley of Tyler, one grandson, Cross Hawley of Gladewater, one Great-grandson, Colson Hawley, a sister, Sandi Martin and her children, Lindsay, Bob, Rease and Jack Young, all of San Antonio. A sister-in-law, Diann Doyle and her children, Deanna, John, Heather, and Kylen all of Bryan/College Station. Dwayne, Lenae, Katelynn and Addilynn Beran, all of Midland. Other nephews, Danny Pierce of Shreveport and Randall Pierce of Caddo Lake.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Oakland Heights Baptist Church, 1600 Judson Rd., Longview, TX at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Michael M. Cook officiating. For the sake of safety, protective masks are suggested and social-distancing will be observed inside the Sanctuary.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Jerry’s medical teams at M.D. Anderson in Houston and Dr. Rama Koya and Texas Oncology in Longview and to his nurse, Michele, with Heart to Heart Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the American Cancer Society for the research and cure of Leukemia or to the Children’s Hospital in Dallas for the cure of childhood cancer.

PUBLIC NOTICES LISD accepting competitive requests for proposals for Contracted Educational Services

Longview Independent School District (LISD) is accepting competitive requests for proposals for Contracted Educational Services and under the guidance of EDGAR and approval of funding made available for services to be rendered. Proposals will be received until 4 p.m., Thursday, July 30, 2020. Awards will be considered NON-EXCLUSIVE, ones by which multiple vendors may be designated as suppliers for the goods and/or services covered under the terms of the contract for the duration of said contract. Contracted Educational Service providers will be used on an as-needed basis throughout the District to provide services to students and staff. Please contact Sheri Broadwater at 903-381-2260 to obtain a proposal packet, or download one from below. Proposals must be addressed as follows: Attn: Sheri Broadwater, and clearly marked “#2001 CS-RFP-CONTRACTED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.” Proposals will be accepted throughout the school year on an ongoing basis until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2020, at the LISD Education Support Center, 1301 East Young Street, Longview, Texas, or mailed to P. O. Box 3268, Longview, TX 75606. Longview ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the bids submitted in the best interest of the District. For more information, go to LISD.org.

THOMAS WILLIAM STENCE Thomas William Stence, 60, passed away on June 7, 2020, while in Marlin, TX for business.

Tom was born January 6, STENCE 1960 to Robert E. Stence, Sr. and Patsy Stence Wildrix.

He was a life-long resident of Longview and graduated from Longview High School in 1978.

Tom was a born-again Christian and a member of the Cowboy Church of Tatum, TX. Tom worked for Satterwhite Construction Company virtually his entire adult life. He was an excellent carpenter and there was nothing he could not build or fix. He built quality log homes all over the United States leading his crew of sons and workers. Tom was not a fan of being in the spotlight but there is nothing he would not do to help friends, family, and even strangers. He definitely had a heart of gold.

Tom is preceded in death by his father: Robert Stence, Sr., grandparents: Roy and Lela Rambo, step-father: Gary Wildrix, daughter: Tracie Stence, and sister: Cindy Stence Still.

Left to cherish his memory is his mother: Patsy Wildrix, sons: Josh (Sheri Perkins) Stence, Jake Stence, Markus (Hailey) Stence, Shawn (Jessica) Mabry, grandson: Kolby Perkins, brothers: Larry (Lisa) Stence, Robert (Jan) Stence, and Ed (Peggy) Stence and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at Rader Funeral Home on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm.

Due to the current Covid-19 crisis the capacity is limited to 100 people and we ask that everyone wear a face mask to protect the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

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SOUTH WARD LAMPLIGHTER Mrs. Odum lifted Francisco Pantoja up

By Francisco Pantoja Fifth Grade, South Ward

O

ne teacher changed my life. She is the fantastic Mrs. Odum, my fourthgrade teacher.

Mrs. Odum helped me with all my struggles and huge insecurities. The day I saw her I thought to myself, “Another typical first day of school.” Boy, was I wrong.

She was the most passionate person I had ever met. She seemed to really care about me. I was still a little skeptical, but then Mrs. Odum and I had a one-on-one talk.

She really understood me. I don’t like being out of my comfort zone, but with Mrs. Odum, I felt safe.

She also has a huge passion for teaching students. She is kind and will go step by step with her students if they have problems and don’t understand. She doesn’t get mad if students don’t understand. She will help them until they get it. Mrs. Odum lifts her students up in everything they do.

She wants her students to strive for the very best.

She helped me a lot with reading and life. I know all about main idea, author’s purpose, and metaphors now. Just ask my fifth-grade teacher.

Most importantly, Mrs. Odum taught me to be a good person.

She said to me, “Don’t let people take you down with them.”

I always remember those words when I am having trouble with others. I know I will be successful in life if I remember what Mrs. Odum taught me. “Be a good person.”

Thank you, Mrs. Odum!

TEST |Continued from page 13 the June 11 testing date. To register, please visit txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400.

Walk-up testing with no appointment required and no pre-screening will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 12 at Community Connections (501 Pine Tree Road) and Saturday, June 13 at Broughton Recreation Center (801 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) Testing on June 12 and 13 will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Those being tested are asked to provide a phone number where they can be reached with their results.

The testing is being facilitated by the Texas Army National Guard.

Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed more than 1,200 soldiers to set up, operate, and take down mobile test collection sites across the state.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; June 12, 2020

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WARE LAMPLIGHTER Ms. Chastain is ‘one in a billion!’

By Anna Hernandez Fifth Grade, Ware

I

have had so many wonderful teachers over the years that I had a hard time picking just one, so I began to make a list of different reasons why I felt each teacher was my favorite. As I created my list, I decided one teacher makes me feel such joy that I can’t stop smiling as I think about all the great traits she has.

Have you ever had a teacher who just makes you feel so special that your heart could burst into pieces? The feeling is like taking that first drink of coffee early on a cold wintry morning or seeing the ice cream truck by your house on a hot summer day. These feelings describe how I feel about Ms. Chastain.

Although I have not had the privilege of being a part of her classroom, she is my favorite teacher. I have so many wonderful things to say about her that I don’t even know where to begin. She is a true bucket filler—never a bucket dipper. As a bucket filler, she helps others without being asked, gives hugs and compliments, and spreads her love and good feelings to others. She always has a smile on her face, and no one will ever know if she is having a bad day. Does she even have bad days?

She always has a positive attitude that is contagious and makes students feel good about how their day will go. I can tell she loves her job.

Ms. Chastain gives everyone funny nicknames and always compliments the students and teachers. She is always encouraging and tries to bring the best out of

each of us at Ware. I might be having a bad day, but as soon as I hear “Anna Banana,” I smile and forget about my bad day.

Teachers are a very important part of our young lives; they are our role models as we look up to them. They are the reason we learn something new every day. Teachers just don’t teach school stuff; they also teach kindness, manners, and respect.

Ms. Chastain is a great example of what a teacher should be. She may not have taught me math, reading, or science, but she has taught me something no one can find in books. She has taught me by her own actions that we can be kind and nice

to one another. She has shown me that there is nothing wrong with encouraging others and that everyone is special in his or her own way. She is always so sweet and has such a bright personality.

I could write on and on to tell why I chose Ms. Chastain as my favorite teacher, but I think everyone gets my point.

She should receive the Lamplighter Award because she has made a big difference in the lives of Ware’s students and teachers. Only a special person can touch the hearts of many, and Ms. Chastain has done just that.

I think she is one in a billion!

Survey: 9 out of 10 parents worry their child is behind

By Camille Phillips Texas Public Radio The vast majority of Texas public school parents say their children’s schools did an excellent job transitioning to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic, but they’re still worried their children are falling behind academically.

In an online poll conducted in April, 87% of the 1,200 parents surveyed said they were concerned their children would fall behind because their schools were closed. The survey released Monday by the nonprofit advocacy group Education Trust also found that 87% of parents believed their schools handled the coronavirus well.

Ivy Morgan managed the survey for Education Trust in partnership with the polling firm Global Strategy Group. She said the seeming contradiction

in parents’ responses reflects the mammoth task schools faced to come up with a way to keep education going remotely with very little notice.

“We are all sort of flying by the seat of our pants right now,” Morgan said. “(Parents) recognize that this is a very tough thing to do. But when we ask questions more specifically about

the sort of concerns that parents have and the resources that they need, we realize that the sort of general perception of the experience doesn’t necessarily match the actual experience that parents are living right now.”

For instance, around 85% of parents said it would be helpful if schools provided instructional materials for English Language

Learners and students with disabilities, but only around one out of three parents said their children’s schools were providing those materials.

English Learners and students with disabilities were at greater risk of lower academic performance before the Coronavirus outbreak. Parents of other vulnerable groups, including students with disabilities, low-income students and parents of color without college degrees were also more likely to say they were especially concerned that their children were falling behind academically.

About 74% of families that make less than $24,000 a year said they were “very concerned,” compared to 62% of all parents surveyed; 71% of Black high school parents said they were very concerned about ensuring Survey|Continued to page 27

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

NED E. WILLIAMS LAMPLIGHTER Eduardo Reyes’ inspiration is Mr. Harmon

By Eduardo Reyes Fifth Grade, Ned E. Williams

A

t Ned E. Williams STEAM Academy, I have one teacher, Mr. Harmon, who has inspired me the most. He has inspired me not just because we are both smart but because we both have a lot in common. We both listen to Post Malone, an American singer, songwriter, and music producer, and watch the television show “Young Sheldon.”

Mr. Harmon encouraged me when I could not do long division. He spent time doing one-on-one practice with me, and by the end of the year, I had almost mastered it.

He made a lot of jokes as he worked with me. When he was in front of the projector, he looked like Kratos, the personification of strength in Greek mythology. He also recreated history scenes, making them funny and interesting.

Mr. Harmon is inspiring. I want to be just like him when I grow up but with a different career. He has told us about different careers we might have. Thanks to him I know what I want to be when I grow up: an aerospace engineer.

Mr. Harmon is also very helpful, especially when he teaches math. One time no one in the class knew the answer to a math prob-

lem, so we went slowly, step by step through the problem. His step by step explanation helps me understand math problems better.

I am glad he realized we needed step by step instruction so we could understand.

I believe Mr. Harmon should win the Lamplighter Award because he works hard.

He hardly ever misses a day on the job, and he is a very likable person. He should win the Lamplighter Award because he has left an everlasting imprint on my life. Some students grow up and want to be like an athlete or celebrity, but I choose to be like my favorite teacher, Mr. Harmon.

AWARDS |Continued from page 13 competitions • Displaying patience and giving one-on-one attention • Teaching students how to study or be organized • Treating students with respect • Being a good listener • Serving as a role model • Understanding when students don’t understand and working to make the subject or skill understandable to all students • Helping students find their academic passions and encouraging them to pursue those passions • Expecting good behavior from all students, forgiving of students who have made bad choices, or refusing to accept a student’s bad behavior that in turn made the student become a better person The Longview ISD Foundation also raises funds for the annual Great Rewards for Great Ideas, the Campus Initiative Grant Program, and the John

W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grant through the generosity of banquet sponsors, continuing education scholarships to LISD educators who are pursuing advanced training and/or certification to enhance their classroom teaching, and the Lobo Memorial Scholarship to Longview High School seniors through the generosity of Lobo alumni and friends of LISD. The Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. would like to thank the sponsors of the 2020 Lamplighter Awards.

Heart of the Community Sponsors — Anonymous Donor; Chick-fil-A; Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP; Monsour Law Firm; Ward Smith and Hill, PLLC Champion Sponsors — AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company; Anonymous Donor; Cherry Hill Med Spa; Sherman and Briscoe Orthodontics; Sloan Law Firm; Southside

Bank; Super 1 Foods; U. S. Title Company, Inc.; VeraBank Sustainer Sponsors — Kona Ice; Louis Morgan Drugs #4; Texas Bank and Trust Advocate Sponsors — Nikki Briscoe; Leslie and Cameron Carlile; Brian B. Dolive, DDS; East Texas Professional Credit Union; Forbes & Butler Visual Communications, Inc.; Hudson PEP Elementary School PTO; The Made-Rite Company; Kay and John Ray; Meredith Roel; Texas Oncology-Longview Cancer Center Benefactor Sponsors — Bar K Ranch Store/Mary and Miles Darby; Dennis-Wade Associates, Inc.; Foster Middle School PTO; Gans and Smith Insurance Agency; Renese and David Henderson; Dr. and Mrs. Martin Hilton; Judson STEAM Academy PTA; LeBus International; Lanie and Jack Lenhart; MALL Energy; Cassandra and LeGrande Northcutt; Paula and Dale Poole; Pallavi and Srini-

vas Rangu; Whitney and Troy Schaap; Madolyn Scott; Dee Anne and John Sloan; Spring Hill State Bank; Weber Landscaping; Amy and Brian Williams Friend Sponsors — Heidi and Kendall Archer; Sally Gossett Barron, LPC-S; Crista and Michael Black; BTH Bank; Leah Hickman; Dr. Kelly Mack; McAlister’s Deli; Kimberly and Brian Mendenhall; Laura and Brett Miller; Emily Myers; Pack and Mail Mailing Center; Sonic Lamplighter Awards donated by The Clowers Company Raffle Items donated by: Henry and Moore Jewelry; Longview Restaurants; Personally Fit by Chris Hill; Pizza King; Longview ISD Culinary Arts Department; John D. Barbe Graduate Sales; Coach John King; National Wholesale Supply-Ronnie Rice; Longview High School Cheerleaders; Longview ISD Foundation, Inc.

who will attend Norfolk State University; Kerris Cameron who will attend Norfolk State University; Robert Hough III who will attend Texas A&M University; and Emma Grace Russell who will attend South-

ern Arkansas University.

The Foundation solicits donations throughout the year to fund these scholarships. The Lobo Memorial Scholarship Program has provided over $80,000 in scholarships to deserving seniors.

Anyone wishing to donate and help a deserving senior attend college may send a contribution to the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc., Attention: Lobo Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 2807, Longview, Texas 75606.

SPONSORS

FUND |Continued from page 7 attend Rice University; Emma Broquie who will attend Texas A&M University; Zoe Brown who will attend the University of North Texas; Anna Burson who will attend Texas A&M University; Kennedy Cameron

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Page 21

FOREST PARK LAMPLIGHTER Ms. Gupton made an impact on Emily Solis’ life

By Emily Solis Eighth Grade, Forest Park

I

have met someone who has made an impact on me, someone who helped bring out the best in me, someone who has changed me for the better. I have met Ms. Gupton, my eighth grade English/language arts teacher and an amazing, encouraging, trustworthy person.

I believe Ms. Gupton is trustworthy because I can respond to the lesson in class without anyone making fun of me.

With Ms. Gupton, I don’t have to be afraid when we learn new concepts in her class because I am in a comforting place.

I know she will be there for me. I can tell her anything without being scared.

Ms. Gupton isn’t only trustworthy; she is also encouraging. If I don’t understand a new skill or concept we are learning, she will encourage me to try my best and give it my all. She does not allow me to give up. She can make the schoolwork understandable to me.

I say that Ms. Gupton is amazing be-

cause she does not like to see us stressed or angry because of a bad grade we earned. If we make a bad grade, she still believes in

us and knows that we can do much better.

I can say with confidence that Ms. Gupton deserves the Lamplighter Award.

MEALS |Continued from page 1 Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) provides eligible families with a one-time payment for each child who previously received free or reduced-price meals. P-EBT works the same way Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits do and will help families get the food they need

during the current pandemic.

“The application link was emailed to all eligible parents and we mailed the link to parents that did not have email addresses. The P-EBT makes it possible for parents to receive $285 per child to help with food expenses.

If parents have not received the link, they can contact our office at

LONGVIEW ISD

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MONTESSORI

APRENDE

JUEGA

Un gran lugar para crecer

COMPARTE

nes ¡Inscripcioos v e u n de s, estudiante ! a r o ah

REG IS

Del 8 al 30 de junio

Subirá sus documentos vía PipeFile

www TRANDO E N .lisd. org/e LÍNEA tmpa

o er ten corre a be De ón de activ i o c ec nic dir ectró el

Estudiantes NUE-

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Pre-kinder y Kinder

Sus niños son nuestros niños Del 8 al 30 de junio, LISD tendrá su ronda virtual de inscripciones 2020-2021 de estudiantes nuevos al distrito, que entrarán a Pre-kinder y Kinder. Favor de utilizar el siguiente enlace para inscribir a su estudiante y subir los documentos requeridos.

www.lisd.org/etmpa Se requieren los siguientes documentos: *Tarjeta del Seguro Social *Acta de nacimiento *Certificado de vacunación actualizado *2 recibos de sueldo recientes (solo Pre-kinder)

*Recibo de servicios reciente *Identificación del padre

Llame a Dr. Burnett al 903.803.5000 para dudas sobre requisitos de inscripciones y elegibilidad

903-381-2200 and we will email/ mail the link to them.”

P-EBT will be administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas

Department of Agriculture and Texas Education Agency.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, go to hhs. texas.gov.

Page 22

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

FOSTER LAMPLIGHTER

Mr. De la Garza’s class is anything but boring

By Siri Undavalli Eighth Grade, Foster

B

OOM, POP, POW! Mr. De la Garza is like a firework going off 24/7.

Bursting with energy, his firework will always light my lamp and keep it shining bright. Sometimes learning and school can be a bit boring, but not for students in Mr. De la Garza’s class. Learning in his class is like running a marathon. There is a lot for me to learn, a lot of hard work to do, and some tricky concepts I must face, but in the end, I know I have put everything I have on the line. I’m left feeling proud of my accomplishments when I do well on my assessments. When I finish the race, I know it will be worth it, and I will give credit for all my success to Mr. De la Garza.

In class, we participate in interactive projects and activities which help us understand the world around us in a fun way.

Once we learned how various metals turn a flame into a variety of colors because of their composition. We placed various metals over a flame and observed the resulting colors. Mr. De la Garza connected this information to how fireworks obtain their color. Now I have a deeper understanding of why metals work in this way. Mr. De la Garza’s exciting way of teaching makes me look forward to attending his class.

Although science has always been my favorite subject, Mr. De la Garza has gone above and beyond to enrich my learning experience.

One characteristic I enjoy most about Mr. De la Garza is his humor. No matter how bad the day has been, I walk into his class and everything turns around. Mr. De la Garza’s body language is humorous.

If I ask a question or am responding to his question, instead of interrupting me, he moves his pointer finger in a wiggling manner to show approval. After I finish speaking, he says, “Yes, yes!” and discuss

with me why my answer is correct or incorrect. His humor ensures a friendly, fun environment that allows us to learn and succeed.

Another quality that makes Mr. De la Garza shine is the patience that he gives to his students. He gives each student one-onone instruction. The care and patience in which he presents his lessons is like food to hungry children. His students want to gobble it up. One day I was confused about the electromagnet spectrum. I admit I was becoming frustrated because I didn’t understand. The day had already been a little rough for me; I had a headache and an immense amount of homework. I just wanted to head home, but I knew I would have to finish the rest of my day whether I liked it or not. I asked Mr. De la Garza a detailed question about the spectrum, but instead of giving me a terse response, he sat down and took time with me to analyze my confusion. He worked with me until I

Tyshawn |Continued from page 11 “Learning is the most important thing, and just being around friends working together,” Tyshawn said.

He entered his senior year in the fall of 2019, and like other students across the country, it was cut short because of COVID-19.

“A couple of friends and I, we wake up, we work out like 4:45 in the morning and go to the hospital,” Tyshawn said. “We were feeling like dang we can’t go work out, we can’t even just go to school like normal, it’s just over.”

“It took a lot from him,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of experiences that he won’t get to have. You have prom, you have just a normal graduation.

It’s you know, just finishing up your senior year it’s a lot of things that he didn’t get to experience because of this pandemic that has taken place.”

As Tyshawn’s senior year came to a close there were protests around the nation, protests against police killings of black Americans. A conversation Brown says he’d already had with Tyshawn.

“Being a police officer quite naturally, I’ve informed them on exactly what they need to do and how to handle themselves amongst the police,” Brown said, referring to Tyshawn and his group of friends. “I always say police all of us are not the same.

All of us don’t look at the world the same way. We’re human beings behind the badge.”

Despite all of the distractions, just like winning a state title, Tyshawn fought to the finish. On Tuesday night, he moved his tassel from right to left.

understood thoroughly, bringing the bright sunshine my rainy day was longing for.

Without Mr. De la Garza’s patience that day, I would have had a stormy day. I am tremendously grateful for the patience he displays every day in his classroom.

While Mr. De la Garza is appreciated for these characteristics, the list of traits making him an extraordinary person goes on and on. I have just handpicked a few qualities to highlight his true personality.

Mr. De la Garza should receive the Lamplighter Award for his humor, patience, positive attitude, and benevolence that he shares with the people at Foster Middle School. I am forever thankful for him and his cheery personality.

Teachers like him don’t come around often. Thank you, Mr. De la Garza, for being the fireworks that burst in my life. Your many colors inspire me and keep my lamp of knowledge burning.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Page 23

JUDSON LAMPLIGHTER Ms. Williams has a ‘vibrant spirit’

By Grecia Aguilar Eighth Grade, Judson

I

magine sitting in a room where the sun’s rays always beam, in a room that is never gloomy, and in a room where spirit always peaks. On August 19, 2019, I began an unexpected journey. On that day I met Ms. Williams, the most spiritual, vibrant human being to exist on planet Earth. I knew from the second I saw her that she was unique, a teacher like no other. Her aura radiated ecstasy.

Ms. Williams fits the description of the teacher of a student’s dreams. She’s comprehensive, entertaining, and firm. She knows when to have an elegant time and makes ELA class amusing for us teens.

There is never a day when her vibes are stale. Ms. Williams is accepting of all and does not discriminate against others.

She’s compassionate and attentive, and she pushes her students to be their best selves because she has faith in us.

You may be asking yourself, “How does she do it?” Ms. Williams makes us get out of our comfort zones and makes the shy sing while making the exotic learn control. When working, she goes along with us to make the class learn with ease.

Therefore, what we learn seems simple, and it is!

I can recall when I was going through a brutal time in my life not too long ago. I was struggling to the point where I considered doing hurtful things to myself. I

was losing the progress over what I had conquered and was relapsing. I was not stable and felt unsafe and alone. I knew I needed help, but I was too timid to ask for the help I needed. One day I walked into class, and it was as if she, Ms. Williams, knew. She said, “As young people, we should not take in problems that do not concern us.” I felt a great awakening; I felt relieved that day. The weight that had held me down suddenly vanished.

Ms. Williams is the type of person people can become friends with the sec-

ond they meet her. She is the person who leads and continues the conversation. She is the one who reaches out to others before they reach out to her. She carefully observes what others have to say, and she is lenient with the time God has given her.

Ms. Williams is gifted in many ways, and I wish the earth had enough trees to supply me with the paper needed to write a novel about Ms. Williams. Perhaps one day I will become a famous author with a book that is a best seller. I know Ms. Williams believes in me. That’s a fact.

Fauci: It is time to think about reopening schools

By Annie Grayer The idea of keeping schools closed in the fall because of safety concerns for children might be “a bit of a reach,” said Dr. AnFAUCI thony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In a phone interview with CNN Wednesday, Fauci noted that children tend to have milder symptoms or even no symptoms when they are infected with Covid-19.

What’s not yet clear is whether children get infected as frequently as adults, and whether they often pass the infection on to others. Ultimately, he said, the

decision to reopen schools needs to be predicated on the level of infection in each community.

In the past academic school year, 48 states recommended schools close through the rest of the year as Coronavirus began its rapid spread.

Some, including schools in Montana and Idaho, opened their doors again for a few weeks before the academic school year finished with the thought of gaining experience in reopening that could be used in the fall.

“I hesitate to make any broad statements about whether it is or is not quote ‘safe’ for kids to come back to school,” Fauci told CNN. “When you talk about children going back to school and their safety, it Fauci|Continued to page 24

Page 24

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

EARLY GRADUATION LAMPLIGHTER Mrs. Ceballos was a great role model for Aaliyah Brightman

By Aaliyah Brightman Senior, Early Graduation

T

he teacher who has had the most impact on me is Mrs. Ceballos.

She is very nice and understanding. She is a great role model. She listens to her students and doesn’t see us just as a score. Instead, she sees us as her own children.

When students are down or sick, she always asks about their well-being. She encourages me to do my work every day, although I would rather be on my cell phone. Before I came to this school, I thought everyone was going to be mean to me, but Mrs. Ceballos gave me comfort.

When I struggled in English, she sat there and talked to me about my mistakes and helped me improve.

Mrs. Ceballos believes in everyone and wants all of us to succeed. We all have our own bonds with her, ones that can never be broken no matter what. She also has a way to make Study Island fun. Even when got this.” Her encouragement makes me it’s time to test, she smiled and said, “Y’all want to do well just so I can see her smile

when she sees that I passed and used all I have learned.

BOARD |Continued from page 12

ELECTIONS AGREEMENT

Board members also approved a revised interlocal agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office for the rental of equipment and software support.

Gregg County and Longview ISD will conduct a joint election on Nov. 3rd following the proclamation issued from Gov. Greg WELGE Abbott on March 18th.

Dennis Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services, said the revised agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office allows for cost efficiency by renting the electronic voting equipment and associated software.

“Gregg County Elections Office will also be responsible for the counting of paper mail ballots,” he said Estimated cost of the contract is $3,015.82, but Williams added that “there may be changes made to the contract closer to election date.”

Terms for Place 2 trustee Ava Welge and Place 4 trustee Ginia Northcutt are expiring, MILLER with both members planning to run for re-election.

Northcutt drew no opponent, but local attorney Brett Miller has filed to run against Welge in Place 4.

Trustees are elected to serve three-year terms.

IN OTHER NEWS

Board members also approved naming Ginia Northcutt as the district TASB delegate for 2020-21, and Shan Bauer as alternate; Time Use Tracker for the May 11th board meeting; Budget Amendment No. 10 for donations to Longview ISD totaling $4,548; and minutes from the May 11th and 28th board meetings.

Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. July 13th.

For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees go to w3.LISD.org.

FAUCI |Continued from page 23 really depends on the level of viral activity, and the particular area that you’re talking about. What happens all too often, understandably, but sometimes misleadingly, is that we talk about the country as a whole in a unidimensional way.”

Fauci seemed to think that keeping schools closed in general was not necessary.

“Children can get infected, so, yes, so you’ve got to be careful,” Fauci said. “You got to be careful for them and you got to be careful that they may not spread it.

Now, to make an extrapolation that you shouldn’t open schools, I think is a bit of a reach.”

Fauci said it’s not premature to start the conversation about reopening schools now.

“I think we need to discuss the pros and the cons of bringing kids back to school in September,” he said.

FOR MORE INFO

Stressing the importance of not generalizing, Fauci laid out the spectrum of scenarios for what a return to school in the fall could look like.

“In some situations there will be no problem for children to go back to school,” he said. “In others, you may need to do some modifications. You know, modifications could be breaking up the class so you don’t have a crowded classroom, maybe half in the morning, half in the afternoon, having children doing alternate schedules. There’s a whole bunch of things that one can do.”

Talking about classroom layouts specifically, Fauci underscored the need to “be creative” and create plans based on the degree of infection in the community.

He suggested that one option is to space out children at every other desk, or every third desk in order to maintain proper social distancing.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Page 25

LONGVIEW HIGH LAMPLIGHTER Discouraged turned into knowledge in Ms. Barrett’s class

By Hyndavi Jatavallabhula

Senior, Longview High

O

ne of the most dangerous traits we as humans have is our biases.

We enter almost everything we do with a mental picture or a stereotype that reflects our expectations of a situation. I have held many biases and stereotypes throughout my life: that senior year would be easy, that thousand-word essays can be written overnight, or even that math gets easier with practice. Sadly, for students everywhere, most stereotypes hold gross over generalizations and rarely any truth.

Despite their paradoxical nature, stereotypes have allowed for humans to function in a world where things seem magical—the random growth of plants, the spontaneous appearance of fruit flies on an overripe apple, and even water droplet on their skin after they get too hot. Stereotypes allowed for early humans to generalize reasons for those phenomena through mental pictures of cause and effect, but the reason I understand these occurrences is for one very special reason: I am enrolled in Ms. Barrett’s International Baccalaureate biology class.

My most dangerous assumption was that biology would be a natural talent of mine. I began the class with expectations of earning A’s across the board and regarded a 90 as a birthright to any student who turned in his work. I was in for a rude awakening once entering Ms. Barrett’s class.

Ms. Barrett is the embodiment of having high expectations for her students. I made a 16 on the first quiz in IB biology; then I received a 0, 12, and 6. I was, however, a high-performing student in the class despite what my grades reflected.

Most of the students resented Ms. Barrett for continuing to give them poor grades while the rest were just confused by the grades. I was unbelievably discouraged by the class.

Later in the grading period, we were tasked with creating a mesocosm, an experiment that examines the natural environment under controlled conditions.

I slaved away for weeks on my lab report, using every critique, every resource, and every example Ms. Barrett had given me.

I submitted my report with such pride and accomplishment but also with uncertainty. The following week I received my lab report back with a note that read, “Hyndavi, I know you think I am hard on you, BUT I am beginning to get a glimpse of the beautiful brain I know is there. You are beginning to write like a scientist, and I am very excited to witness that growth. Keep your chin up, push forward, and MAKE it happen. Good job?

95/109.”

Nothing will ever equate to the confidence that this simple note gave me. Ms. Barrett noticed my hard work, and whether my report was 95 material, she chose to use that moment as a teaching moment to

teach me that hard work and dedication are rewarding.

Fast-forwarding a year, our class is endowed with knowledge. Ms. Barrett continued to have high expectation for our class, even completely revising her class set-up. A substantial part of learning biology comes from a student’s unique learning style. Completely aware of this, Ms. Barrett began to dedicate assignments to studying habits, ensuring that we learned effective studying techniques.

Every student benefited from learning how to study.

While Ms. Barrett prepared us for the IB biology test, that is not all she did to deserve the Lamplighter Award. A few weeks ago, I was listening to my daily podcast, a habit I developed to stay current on worldwide science events, I was introduced to an idea that I found revolutionary: a seaweed that could solve climate change. Most teachers adhere strictly to their lesson plans, but Ms. Barrett considered this idea with me for over thirty minutes, connecting it to our current curriculum. She is now researching the topic of this seaweed for me to help me conduct as IB Internal Assessment experiment. This scenario is a prime example of the ways that Ms. Barrett truly listen to her students and encourages them to explore ideas in any way they seem fit.

Moreover, Ms. Barrett’s class lectures have become famous among the students in the class for ending like sermons do.

She explains the way DNA replication works or the mechanism of plant transpiration, and then she ties a perfect little bow on the lecture. The world makes far more sense after leaving her class. More importantly, because of Ms. Barrett, I have a greater respect and admiration for human, plant, and animal life. Ms. Barrett constantly stresses the intentional design of every living organism and the beauty in our natural world. I never would have thought that the words

“translocation or transfer ribonucleic acid through a ribosomal unit” would be English, much less a concept that I would come to admire.

I want to thank Ms. Barrett. After her encouraging words, her careful guidance, and eloquent teaching style, I am confident in my ambitions to enter a biology-based occupational field. I had stereotyped science teachers as callous, pragmatic, and even bland, but Ms. Barrett’s flowery personality and creative mind are traits she often shares with us, and for that I cannot be grateful enough.

No one is ever grateful to be wrong, but I most certainly am. Redemption story, success story, rollercoaster, growing pains are all descriptions of my invaluable time with Ms. Barrett. Most of all, she has given her students life lessons in a class dedicated to the study of life

Page 26

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

LONGVIEW HIGH LAMPLIGHTER Ms. Mancha has made connections over generations

By Abigail Archer Senior, Longview High

B

uena suerte y mi amos son dos de las frases mñs escuchadas en la clase IB Español IV. “Good luck” and “my love” are two of the most heard phrases in the IB Spanish IV class. Before every test, before every presentation, before every essay we hear, “Buena suerte mis amores.” This phrase is only one of the many phrases I hear Ms. Mancha say every day that brings me comfort.

Ms. Mancha has every quality that an admirable, unforgettable teacher should possess. She is patient, caring, and extremely knowledgeable. Her classroom is welcoming, personal, and fun. Whether it be connecting with me, keeping up with my personal life, or simply teaching, Ms. Mancha is a teacher who has greatly impacted my life in ways I will never forget, and I believe she is very deserving of the Lamplighter Award.

Ms. Mancha has not only taught me for the past three years, but she also taught my mom, my dad, and their siblings. One could say Ms. Mancha has known my family longer than I have. I have even been trying to convince her to stay to teach through both my younger brother and sister’s high school years rather than retiring. I have enjoyed hearing stories about my older family members.

Ms. Mancha has only positive comments about her time spent with my family and their progress in her class. Having a competitive nature, I love hearing the progress of my family members because it makes me work harder to maintain my grades. This hard work has contributed to my overall understanding of Spanish.

Both my parents remember Ms. Mancha’s class as challenging yet rewarding because of its teacher, and I couldn’t agree more.

The atmosphere in Ms. Mancha’s classroom makes Spanish one of my favorite classes. Walking into IB Español IV every day, I hear, “Hola clase. ¿Como estan?” or “Hello class. How are you all?” That phrase quickly became one that I looked forward to hearing three years ago when I first had the privilege of learning from Ms. Mancha. She goes above and beyond to establish a personal connection with each one of her students by checking on us when we are absent and making sure everyone feels included. These personal connections last all throughout the class period. As we leave Spanish for the day, she uses her students’ names to tell them goodbye. Her personal farewell makes me feel important.

At the beginning of class, she always asks about our week, whether that be as simple s the results in our UIL sporting event the night before or how our families are doing. Every Tuesday as I leave class during soccer season, she wishes me luck in the game, and every Thursday when I see her again, we talk about the

results. This special attention places Ms. Mancha on a pedestal higher than most teachers at any school. Likewise, during football season, she tells me to have fun cheering on the sidelines. At home games in season, I can always spot Ms. Mancha in the stands, supporting her students involved in the Friday night lights. She supports us no matter the weather, and we all know Texas weather can be hot and humid one day and cold and raining the next. My family has season tickets to the Lobo football games, and Ms. Mancha sits in front of them. At half time, I go to see my parents and grandparents in the stands only to find them already in conversation with my teacher. These conversations prove that she cares about me because she is going out of her way to talk to me and my family outside of the normal school day.

Teachers like Ms. Mancha are one in a million; there are a few teachers who have taught generations of students, created personal connections with each one, and are still prodigious teachers in their subjects. Ms. Mancha easily qualifies in each of these categories. She is patient, making sure that we fully grasp a concept before moving on. Since my sophomore year, she has been teaching me to listen to and speak the Spanish language, and every year that tasks gets harder. I cannot thank her enough for sticking with me, helping me know the difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses or helping me navigate through each of the subjunctive tenses. My understanding of this language has grown exponentially over the last three years, only because I had the most capable teacher in the world. Because of her teaching, I was able to take my education with me as I traveled to Ecuador on a mission trip. I could better understand the native people and had an easier time trying to communicate with them.

Every quality a good teacher should

possess is a quality that Ms. Mancha not only possesses but also excels in. She cares for her students, finding personal connections with all of them based on their individual personalities. Patience courses through her veins, and she approaches challenges and setbacks with grace and ease. Organization comes naturally for Ms. Mancha as she is prepared for classes months in advance. She has shown me how people should care about their relationships and treat others around them. There is no teacher better qualified to teach IB Spanish, and I have been very pleased to have Ms. Mancha as my teacher and role model.

No hay un mejor maestro calificado para enseñar IB, y he sido muy bendecido de tener a la Señora Mancha como mi maestro y modelo seguir.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

Page 27

SOUTH WARD LAMPLIGHTER Mrs. Odum makes her students feel special

By Maria Gonzales Senior, Longview High

M

y legs were shaking as I walked into the class; my face was red, and my mind was out of place.

This is the day I met the teacher who would change my life forever. Not only was this my first day of school but also my first time ever learning a new language in a country I wasn’t familiar with. Mrs. Hernandez was the perfect teacher in my eyes; she was bilingual and eager to teach.

I, however, was unsure of what was going on.

I was only twelve years old and in the fourth grade at South Ward Elementary School when I met the person who made a great impact on my life. Unaware that I didn’t know English, she continued to teach the lesson. I didn’t know how to react, so I just stood there and tried to go with the flow of the classroom. Later that day, she came to me during lunch and apologized, which made me feel very special, and that’s where it all began.

She had the qualities of a teacher: she was caring, kind, and patient and also had the ability to engage students to learn. She would reward her students for achievements, making every individual feel special. She included us in her life, but most importantly, she was very compassionate. We developed a very good relationship in no longer than a week. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone.

Mrs. Hernandez taught me almost everything I know because as far as I re-

member, I didn’t know English, not even a little, but with her help, I was slowly learning. I remember I always won first place in the spelling bee. I once won a contest as the student who read the most books, and I received the privilege of going to the library with her. That day was amazing because at the end she invited us for milkshakes. The day was made even more special because she invested her own time and money to make us happy.

It’s very scary when one moves to another country for better opportunities and

SURVEY |Continued from page 19 that their children were on track to go to college.

Care was made to ensure the survey was representative of Texas’s overall public school parent population.

“This pandemic has made very clear that (racial and economic) inequities exist and they sort of persist even in the ways in which schools are supporting parents and students now,” said Morgan. “COVID-19 has been a terrible tragedy across the country across the world, but in particular communities of color, low-income communities are being disproportion-

ately impacted.”

Morgan said she hopes that school leaders and policymakers use the survey to inform their plans for the future.

She also said these impacts go beyond the pandemic.

“There are inequities in the education system.

It doesn’t stop there,” she said, referencing the protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.

“Everything — they’re all intertwined.

“We really do need to make sure that we’re listening to the parents in the communities that we’re serving.”

gets bashed for not knowing anything at all, but with her, my lack of knowledge was fine. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone and stood up for me when I was the new kid alone in the corner while being made fun of for not being able to pronounce words.

I will never forget Mrs. Hernandez, for she is definitely a role model. Thanks to her, I am here, and I will continue with my education. She deserves to be honored as she continues to change lives. I would like to thank her for the effort she made during the year she taught me.

Page 28

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 12, 2020

REUTERS |Continued from page 15 special needs students, such as physical and occupational therapy, like they did before schools were closed.

“One of the many things keeping me up at night is, how are we providing education to those who most need it?” asked Michael Lubelfeld, superintendent of the North Shore School District 112 outside Chicago.

In the School District of Philadelphia, superintendent William Hite already sees young children falling behind, including those missing critical faceto-face teacher time through the district’s early literacy program.

For older students, he worries that the loss of the school structure’s safety net could lead to delinquency and crime.

“This is in no way a sufficient replacement of teacher instruction of students in classrooms,” Hite said. “I think the impact has already been felt here.”

Several education researchers who reviewed the survey results said that, if anything, the responses likely represent a rosy picture of what is actually happening in the nation’s schools.

Betheny Gross, associate director at the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington, believes the results reflected more “optimism” than may be warranted. “This is reflective of what superintendents think is happening,” Gross said, while the reality may actually be worse.

Gross cited the high percentage, 84%, of districts reporting that at least some students are still receiving at least some live instruction. She said her own review of material posted online detailing what administrators across the country expected instruction to look like during the closure revealed that only a “small share” of districts were setting a standard that included live instruction.

While few children have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and serious complications for them have been rare, public officials shut down schools to prevent the disease from spreading. Nineteen children under the age of 14 died from COVID-19 from February 1 through May 23, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a figure hovering just above 0% of all U.S. virus deaths.

Data on how school closures affect the disease’s spread in the community is limited because the pandemic is still under way.

But researchers at University College London found evidence from past epidemics, previous research and modeling of coro-

navirus transmission in other countries that closing schools has only a slight impact on preventing contagion.

To be sure, public schools, like businesses and governments, were forced into a sudden new world with the pandemic’s spread.

Teachers, parents, researchers and district administrators told Reuters that while distance learning can improve, for the vast majority of students it will fall far short of in-person instruction. If students are not in front of teachers next school year, the public should expect only a fraction of the live instruction, special needs services going unfulfilled and far fewer meals served.

“I just don’t know how we call off school next year,” said Gregory Cizek, who studies education at the University of North Carolina.

<District/Charter Name> <Contact Name> <Phone Number> <Email>

For students, parents and

2020 Census Infogram DENVER/DALLAS REGION

• • •

Looking for 2020 Census Resources?

Help us continue to boost participation by reminding your network that it has never been easier to respond. Resources are below and at 2020census.gov.

Census Digital Action Guide Spring 2020 Partnership Social Media Guide Web Badges and Banners in English and Spanish

Census Bureau to Resume Some 2020 Census Field Operations in Additional Locations Starting June 1, the Census Bureau will begin a phased restart of more field operations at the ACOs listed below.

With these additions, field activities have restarted in at least one office in every state. For Update Leave, 98.2 percent has resumed and half of the Update Leave workload has been completed.

• AZ: Flagstaff, Maricopa Central, Maricopa South, Maricopa West, and Tucson • CO: Aurora, Colorado North, Colorado Springs, and Denver • KS: Overland Park and Wichita • MT: Billings • ND: Bismarck • NE: Lincoln • NM: Albuquerque and Las Cruces • OK: Cleveland County, Oklahoma County, and Tulsa • SD: Sioux Falls • TX: Arlington, Austin, Collin Co., Dallas, Dallas Co. NE, Dallas Co. NW, Denton Co., Fort Bend Co., Fort Worth, Hidalgo/Cameron Co., Laredo, Lubbock, Montgomery Co., San Antonio East, San Antonio North, San Antonio West, Tyler, Waco, and Williamson Co. • UT: Orem and Salt Lake City • WY: Casper

JUNE 2, 2020

Response Rate Fun Facts (June 1) • Utah was second with the highest cumulative Internet self-response rate at 59.2 percent, just behind Minnesota at 59.4 percent • Utah had the second-highest cumulative total selfresponse rate at 64 percent, behind Washington at 65.7 percent • Emmons County, ND had the highest daily total selfresponse rate at 3.2 percent, followed by Hettinger County, ND at 3.1 percent and Fillmore County, NE at 2.9 percent • Los Alamos County, NM had the highest cumulative total self-response rate at 81.2 percent, ahead of counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota • Los Alamos County, NM was the top west county by area with a self-response rate of 79.5 percent

Denver Region Response Rates Arizona

56.9%

Colorado

63.1%

Kansas

64.5%

Montana

51.5%

Nebraska

66.7%

New Mexico

48.1%

North Dakota

59.5%

Oklahoma

54.1%

South Dakota

60.1%

Texas

55.2%

Utah

64.0%

Wyoming

50.6%

National

60.5%

Helpful Links

Join Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and their VeggieTales pals as they talk and sing about the 2020 Census, the importance of counting young children, and the specialness of everyone. Watch the video here and read more here.

2020 Census Response Rate map How to Use the Response Rate Map COVID-19 Operational Adjustments Avoiding Fraud and Scams 2020 Census FAQ Census Newsroom Statistics in Schools Census YouTube Channel Follow the Census at @uscensus.gov

THE LONGVIEW VOICE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; June 12, 2020

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