ages 5 and older. Her arrival marks the first time the clinic has offered on-site behavioral

health services. The clinic, which opened in 2021, has provided family medicine services since

its inception.

The Health & Wellness Center is located in the building that houses the Future Ready Complex

at 5001 Airport Rd. in Georgetown. The center operates as a school-linked clinic and is

available to all GISD students, staff, and their immediate families. It was created through a

partnership between Georgetown ISD and Lone Star Circle of Care, with the shared goal of

providing convenient, accessible care for the district community.

In addition to the new behavioral health services, the clinic continues to offer a full range of

family medicine care provided by a board-certified nurse practitioner and clinical support

staff. Services include wellchild checks, sick visits, and school and sports physicals. The

addition of onsite behavioral health therapy enhances the center’s ability to support patients

experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, and behavioral or emotional challenges.

The clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP. For those

without insurance, a sliding fee scale is available based on household size and income. More

information is available at www.georgetownisd.org/healthcenter.

“Students get full range of the classroom and have complete autonomy,” said Ward. “As I stand to the side and gently guide the mission, I watch the room turn into a dynamic environment filled with high-quality peer interactions.”

While students collaborate, Ward gathers data. 

“One of our district goals is to use timely data and feedback to inform instruction,” said Ward. “During each mission, Mission.IO gives me real-time scores based on collaboration, resilience, innovation and knowledge, which allows me to give students immediate feedback that they can implement in the next round.”

Before students embark on their mission, Ward opens with an “I can…” statement to ensure that everyone is grounded in their learning goals for the day. 

One recent morning, students entered the classroom to find, “I can collaborate with my peers and use critical thinking skills to be successful in our mission” written in big, bold letters at the front of the room.

For Sixth Grader Sadie Smart, this was an exciting discovery.

“My favorite missions are focused on critical thinking because we have to come together to solve a lot of riddles,” said Smart. “It’s cool to work as a team and share our ideas freely.”

This sense of teamwork and curiosity builds confidence in students, and opens opportunities for the future.

“Before I discovered Mission.IO, I wanted to be an interior designer,” said Smart. “But this class is making me reconsider things…I think I want to be a scientist now!”

If you ask Ward, Smart and her classmates have already earned that title. 

“This classroom is a laboratory, and these students are scientists,” said Ward. “We use scientific syntax. We make mistakes. We fail, and we fix. Every scientist that walks through the door enters with a growth mindset, including myself.”

That mindset is having a noticeable impact beyond daily missions.

“Attendance is up because students really want to be here on the days we are doing a mission,” said Ward. “Forbes has high attendance numbers, and I think it’s because we are going out of our way to engage students with activities like Mission.IO.”

The National Competition

On March 23, Ward’s classes used their knowledge and skills to compete in Mission League, a global event where teachers run a special Mission with their class and compete for prizes, bragging rights, and a spot on the leaderboard. 

One of the missions ended in cheers and high-fives as the class watched their team climb to the top of the leaderboard, finishing 10th in the nation. 

You can learn more about Mission.IO and see samples of missions on their website.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS

“Kifford Reimagined” from Benold MS - 4th year competing

• Team members: 8th Graders Elias Bourquin, Peter Handakas, Walter Luke, and Brian Rand

“Neon Nemo Ninjas” from East View HS - 9th year competing

• Team members: Seniors Jack Cherry, Hunter Saffill and Shaun Bruton

“Navy Seals” from East View HS

• Team Members: Senior Parker Steinly, Sophomores Graden Steinly and Alisa Salikhov

  • G. Steinly has been competing for three years, P. Steinly for two years, and Salikhov for one.

The SeaPerch International Competiton will be held at University of Maryland on May 30 - 31st. 

• View, download, and print your cumulative score report.

• If you provided your mobile number on test day, you'll receive a text message with instructions to download the BigFuture School mobile app and sign in. BigFuture School will text you when your scores are ready to be accessed through the app. Sign in and start exploring!

• Read through the BigFuture School frequently asked questions for more instructions and details.

• If you have trouble accessing your scores, ask your school or counselor for help.

For more information about your scores: SAT School Day Understanding Scores for Students and Families

Families across Georgetown ISD are receiving meaningful financial relief thanks to a generous donation from the San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, whose members recently stepped up to help pay off outstanding student meal balances.

The contribution, led by the Fellowship’s Social Justice Team, reflects a shared commitment to supporting students and ensuring every child has access to meals without added stress or stigma.

“We believe that every person is worthy, and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.” said Zach Hunter, co-leader of the Fellowship’s Social Justice Team. “Unpaid meal balances put unnecessary stress on families. We wanted to be part of a solution that supports students and their ability to focus on learning.”
Food is fuel, and this donation will directly benefit Georgetown ISD families by eliminating outstanding cafeteria balances.

Emily Hunter, who co-leads the Social Justice Team, said the effort was inspired by a desire to make a tangible difference for local families.

“What began as an unplanned conversation one Sunday, quickly turned into an opportunity for our congregation to come together and meet a real, immediate need,” said Emily Hunter. “Something as simple as a meal at school can have a big impact on a child’s day. We’re grateful to support students in a way that helps them feel cared for and ready to learn.”

District leaders expressed appreciation for the partnership and the continued support from community organizations.

“This generous act of kindness demonstrates the power of community,” said Nutrition Services Director Mike Thibodeaux. “We are incredibly grateful to the San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for their commitment to our students and families. Their support helps remove barriers and ensures students can focus on what matters most, learning and growing.”

Each STAAR question is based on what students are taught in school, and the test gives a snapshot of how well students understand and can apply what they’ve learned.

STAAR also helps:

• Show how well students are prepared compared to others across the country

• Give schools and teachers important feedback about student learning

• Meet federal requirements that ensure all students are assessed regularly

Who takes STAAR? Students in grades 3–8 and certain high school courses take STAAR tests in:

• Math

• Reading/Language Arts (RLA)

• Science

• Social Studies

Students in grades 3–5 may also take the test in Spanish.

All students in Texas public schools and charter schools are required to participate in STAAR.

Testing Windows:

• April 6–17: Grades 3–8 RLA, English I, English II

• April 13–24: Grade 5 & 8 Science, Grade 8 Social Studies, Biology, U.S. History

• April 20 – May 1: Grades 3–8 Math, Algebra I

⭐Your child’s school will share the exact dates your child will test.

What Families Should Know About State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)

Lo que las familias deben saber sobre las Evaluaciones de Preparación Académica del Estado de Texas (STAAR®)

These scores can be found on the Texas Assessment website and in Skyward. Instructions for accessing your student's scores in Skyward can be found at https://www.georgetownisd.org/parents/skyward-family-student-access/skyward-family-student-access/test-scores-staar-family-portal-access

If you are unable to access your student's scores through Skyward or the Texas Assessment website, please reach out to your student's campus.

Elementary:

Carver ES - Jannette Mata
Cooper ES - Stephanie Hazzard
Ford ES - Veronica De Leon
Frost ES - Edie Little
McCoy ES - Crystal Harlow
Mitchell ES - Melissa Macaluso
Purl ES  - Melody Lusk
San Gabriel ES  - Stephanie Hampton
Village ES  - Cecilia Gartman
Williams ES - Heather Solis
Wolf Ranch ES  - Taylor Colson

Secondary:

Benold MS  - Mattea Lea
EVHS -  Hunter McQuary
Forbes MS - Michael Monclova
FRC - Jennifer McMillin
GAP - Amanda Sanford
GHS - Jena Borho
RHS - Jody Holtz
STEP - James Brush
Tippit MS - Maria Mesa
Wagner MS -  Stephanie Cabrera

Benold MS - Deanna Bingham

Carver ES - Julie Mani

Communications - Jo Ann Hernandez

Cooper ES - Joann Anijs

Custodial - Olivia Melendez

Dyslexia/504 - Kelly Campbell

EVHS - Christine Campbell

Federal Programs - Susan Zamarripa

Forbes MS - Crystal Cortinas

Ford ES -  Karen Cavanaugh

Frost ES - Jarrod Hodgson

Future Ready Complex - Beth Friedrich

GHS - Taylor Hinojosa

Maintenance/Support Srvs.  - Troy Defries

McCoy ES  - Clayevin Malveaux

Mitchell ES -  Leah Garcia

Nutrition Services - Bianca Ramirez

Purl ES  - Rhonda Bond

San Gabriel ES - Rebecca Lambert

Technology  - Lehi Rodriguez

Tippit MS -  Heidi Ence

Transportation - David Carter

Village ES - Erika Acuna

Wagner MS - Karyn Barnard

Williams ES - Shannon Quillin

Wolf Ranch ES - Jionne Harnsberry

A team of three Georgetown ISD (GISD) students has made district history by being the first to earn a coveted spot at the StellarXplorers National Competition. 

Of the 388 schools across the country that entered the competition, only ten teams are moving on to the national level. 

Created by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), the StellarXplorers program inspires students to explore careers in space and other critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Competing teams must solve orbit determination, satellite design, and launch operations scenarios in a series of online rounds. Of the three GISD teams that competed this year, two concluded their season as semifinalists, a feat that only 30% of teams achieve.

And for Team East View High School Navy JROTC, their journey to the national championship continues. 

“Ever since we found out we’re going to Nationals, it’s been a whirlwind,” East View Senior Ava Reed said. “So few teams actually make it this far, and I can’t believe we are one of them.”

Reed competes alongside East View seniors Tamra Naranjo and team captain Jack Cherry, coached by GISD Engineering Instructor Terri Henry. Their team is only the second NJROTC team ever to qualify for StellarXplorer Nationals.

“With just three people, we actually have a small team,” Reed said. “If you look at past national qualifiers, most have four or five. It definitely makes it harder for us to divide up tasks.”

While all prior competition rounds take place on a computer, the final challenge is different. 

“We’ll have eight hours to complete our mission without any internet access,” Reed said. “And when that’s over, we finish the competition with a closed-book academic quiz.”

While some might find the intensity of the competition to be intimidating, Reed is grateful for it.

“I plan to major in mechanical engineering with a focus on aerospace next year, and StellarXplorers has given me valuable insight into what my future could look like,” Reed said. “I’ve really learned how important precision, organization and collaboration are in this field.”

As the small-but-mighty team prepares to head to nationals, their journey stands as a testament to the extraordinary things students achieve when given the opportunity. 

Team East View Navy ROTC will travel to Denver from April 21–25, where they will face the nation’s best in a multi-day competition.

Learn more about StellarXplorers on their website.

Pictured: GISD Nutrition services staff including Kayla Mullins, receiving the check from Ryan O'Farrell. To Ryan's right are Anytime Fitness trainers Michael and Ahnna as well as The Refuge Pastor Jesse Lambert.

A simple idea sparked by one Georgetown parent has grown into a meaningful act of community support for students across Georgetown ISD.

Thanks to the generosity of parent Ryan O’Farrell, trainers and clients from Anytime Fitness - Williams Drive, and members of The Refuge Church, nearly $1,300 has been raised to help pay off outstanding student meal balances in Georgetown ISD through a project they called Initiative 25:35. 

O’Farrell initially set out to make a difference for families who may be feeling the pinch in their budgets.

“With inflation impacting so many households, I knew there were families in our community quietly carrying the weight of unpaid lunch balances,” O’Farrell said. “I wanted to do something practical that would directly support students. When others heard about the idea, they jumped in immediately. That’s what makes this community special.”

The effort quickly gained momentum at Anytime Fitness on Williams Drive, where O’Farrell works out.  

“We have always believed that our membership base is more than a community; It is a force for good,” said Anytime Fitness General Manager Ahnna Keys. “So I brought the story to our team and challenged them to find a meaningful way to help. The response was immediate and unanimous. We would step up.”

The concept was simple but powerful. Every dollar donated would equal one repetition of an exercise chosen by the donor. 

“Squats, push-ups, burpees, you name it,” said Keys. “With every repetition, we were not just building strength in the gym. We were building support for students in our own community.”

Members of The Refuge Church also stepped in to support the campaign, reinforcing the shared commitment to caring for Georgetown families.

“We believe in showing up for our community in practical ways,” said Jesse Lambert of The Refuge Church. “Helping relieve financial pressure for families, even in something as simple as a school lunch, reflects our heart to serve and support our neighbors.”

Community members who wish to contribute to student meal accounts in Georgetown ISD can contact the district’s Child Nutrition Department for more information.

- MORE -

Initiative 25:35 refers to the biblical passage from Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food.”

Families can qualify for free or reduced lunch prices by completing the Free and Reduced Lunch application. 

Qualifying families can receive more than discounted meals for their students. The application helps determine Title 1 funding for public schools and can help students pay for fees associated with extracurricular activities, college admissions tests and applications, and more. 

The percentage of economically disadvantaged students in GISD is 43%.

Under House Bill 3, the TIA program provides a realistic pathway for top-performing teachers to earn higher salaries and helps districts retain and attract highly effective teachers. Designated teachers have an opportunity to earn up to a six-figure salary.

“If the most important thing we do for the children of Georgetown is ensure every classroom has a strong teacher, a major factor in recruiting and retaining top talent is competitive pay,” said Superintendent Devin Padavil. “I’m proud that we were able to move our starting teacher pay to the top third in our market area. Programs like the Teacher Incentive Allotment will help further advance compensation for our veteran teachers who are delivering results in our classrooms.”

The district began the work of designing, developing and implementing a TIA plan in the Fall of 2023 before applying to join the program in Spring of 2024. The plan focuses on math and reading/language arts (RLA) with plans to expand to other content areas in the future.

The district designation system relies on two primary score components: teacher evaluations and student growth measures on standardized assessments. Each designation is accompanied by a different financial award based on the demographics of each school:

• Recognized Designation: $3,000-$9,000 

• Exemplary Designation: $6,000-$18,000

• Master Designation: $12,000-$32,000 

“The Teacher Incentive Allotment is designed to reward teachers for student growth,” shared Dr. Padavil. “The entire reason schools exist is to ensure student learning, growth, and progress. Georgetown has some of the best teachers in Central Texas, and we are honored to see our hard-working educators financially benefit from their efforts in the classroom.”

More

Teachers will receive their annual payout as long as they remain a classroom teacher and have an active designation. TIA designations are good for five years.

Currently, the following positions in Georgetown ISD are eligible for TIA designation:

• Pre-K - 8th Grade Reading/Math Teachers

• Algebra I Teachers

• English I and Il Teachers

• SPED Resource/Inclusion, Dyslexia and Intervention Teachers

Learn more about the district’s TIA plan on our website.

Benold MS - Marc Bickhem

Carver ES - Neida Palma

Cooper ES - Klarissa Trejo

Custodial - Connor Bull

EVHS - Marichuy Alvarez

Federal Programs - Jillian Shanks

Forbes MS - Robyn Hill

Ford ES -  Nicole Chassen

Frost ES - Tim Stengle

Future Ready Complex - John Tamez

GHS - Mike Grant

Maintenance/Support Srvs.  - Fernando Ramirez

McCoy ES  - Andriana Pacheco

Mitchell ES -  Olga Wilson

Nutrition Services - Melissa Larson

Purl ES  - Allonna Bodkin

San Gabriel ES -  Laurie Lloyd

Teaching, Learning & Assess. -  Amy Dedeyan

Technology  - Rebecca Arnold

Tippit MS -  Emily Curtis

Transportation - Damon Bruce

Village ES - Nancy Rodriguez

Wagner MS - Michelle Contreras

Williams ES - Hannah Tate

Wolf Ranch ES - Angela Sandoval

Elementary:

Carver ES - Maddie Lucero
Cooper ES - Shelby Lippold
Ford ES - Kristina Lane
Frost ES - Leslie Walker
Mitchell ES - Rilee Devine
Purl ES  - Hector Cortes
San Gabriel ES  - Trish Rivera
Village ES  - Hyla Bizzell
Williams ES - Judy Estevis
Wolf Ranch ES  - Cassidy Williams

Secondary:

Benold MS  - Christy Farmer
EVHS -  Chef Joseph Sukhendra
Forbes MS - Yvonne Smith
GHS - Jennifer Dehart
McCoy MS -  Lauren Sturdivant
RHS - Crystal Orvis-Bandeira
Tippit MS - Rebecca Macsek
Wagner MS -  Phylis Gage
FRC - Terri Henry

Georgetown High School (GHS) Coach Jeremy Kline has been named the 2024-2025 State and Sectional Coach of the Year for Boys’ Swimming & Diving. Kline was honored with the award at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A State Meet on February 21.

Presented by the UIL and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the award honors individuals who serve as positive role models and reflect excellence in coaching both in and outside of the sport.

“Coach Kline strives everyday to live out the mission and vision of Georgetown ISD and GHS,” Principal Brian Johnson said. “We are grateful for the incredible program he has built and the culture he has created for our swim program.”

Kline started at GHS in 2022. Under his leadership, the swim program has earned two back-to-back state titles, a first in GISD swim history.

“Because of Coach Kline’s influence, the student-athletes he works with exemplify what it means to Lead, Grow and Serve,” Johnson said. “He is a massive asset to our program, our school and the entire Georgetown community, and we are thankful to the NFHS and UIL for honoring him with this deserved recognition.”

GHS Swim had another great run to the state meet this season! Boys Swim finished in 7th Place, and Girls Swim finished in 30th place. Congratulations, Eagles!

Visit with campus administrators and department heads to learn about various career opportunities in the following areas:

• Classroom Teachers all grade levels

• SPED (stipends)

• Bilingual (stipends)

• Paraprofessionals

• Child nutrition

• Early childhood

• Custodial

• Bus driver and bus monitors

You can register here. Your RSVP is not required but is appreciated and will help us plan for the event.

To view current open positions in Georgetown ISD, visit www.georgetownisd.org/careers. 

For more information about the job fair, please see the flyer below. 

For students in kindergarten and grade 1, trained teachers evaluate students through classroom observations. Students in grades 2-12 take TELPAS online assessments. TELPAS assessments will be administered February 16 - March 13, with makeup testing March 23-27. Each campus will share their specific testing dates with their communities.

Results from TELPAS assessments will be available in the TEA Family Portal on June 11, 2026.

You can find more information about TELPAS assessments on their website.

Born without his right hand, Tippit Sixth Grader Kai Pollnitz has always approached life’s challenges with determination. From an early age, Kai knew that his future could be just as full as anyone else’s. What he didn’t know is that his future would include sporting the world’s most futuristic bionic arm.

“I’ve always been able to do things other people can do, but I’ve had to learn them in my own way,” Kai said. “Now, having a bionic arm, many parts of my life have changed.” 

What Kai believed was a doctor’s visit to get a conventional prosthetic arm would turn out to be an orchestrated surprise.

The “doctor”? Youtuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast”.
And the arm? A one-of-a-kind Hero Pro Bionic Arm.

Created by the company Open Bionics, the Hero Pro is a fully wireless, water-resistant arm that can lift up to 55 pounds, is touchscreen-compatible, and can be controlled with an app on your phone.

This specific arm was customized just for Kai, featuring a bold MrBeast design and Kai’s name on the removable cover. 

“There won’t be another replica of my arm in the world,” Kai said. “The cover design is one-of-a-kind, and I can’t believe it’s mine.” 

The arm, valued at $25,000, came at no cost to Kai’s family. MrBeast teamed up with Open Bionics to cover all the costs of the arm, officially making it a once-in-a-lifetime gift.

“I used to hear whispers and get looks as people passed me,” Kai said.“Now that I have this arm, people are curious, but in a different way…They think it’s cool and they want to learn more.”

How it works

The Hero Pro uses sensors to detect muscle movements in the limb, translating these movements into gestures of the bionic hand and fingers. With a mobile app, users can customize grip modes, monitor battery life, track performance, and access training guides. 

As Kai grows, the arm can grow with him. Kai’s family will have the option to pay for new inserts to be sized and 3D-printed to ensure a proper fit over time.

As Kai transitions from one bionic arm insert to the next, his mother, Charlotte Pollnitz, knows one thing that will remain:

“Kai has always been uniquely himself, before the bionic arm and after,” Charlotte said. “He has a heart of gold, and he’s deserving of whatever big things come his way.”

Watch the video of Kai’s surprise

Read Open Bionics’ spotlight on Kai

Check out Kai in the press — KXAN & Hello Georgetown

Learn more about the Hero Pro