CODE Keepers of the Week

Nomination from Dana Fitzpatrick:

"We at Dodson are so thankful for the generosity of the Schlusler Family. Not only do they spread joy throughout our campus every year on World Downs Syndrome Day but they also go above and beyond during testing season by stocking our staff workrooms with snacks and goodies. This wonderful family truly exemplifies “being the good you want to see” in this world!"

Nomination from Ashley Bateman:

"She has all TRAITS OF A BRAVE!!! I have had the honor of knowing her the past 2 school years and she is crushing it. You know she is passionate when it comes to her students. She has gone above and beyond when it comes to teaching, communicating, addressing issues when they arise. You truly have touched little minds and hearts and it’s not going unnoticed!!!!!"

Nomination from Tiffany Steele:

"Mrs. Pensky has been an answered prayer since the first time we met her! Our daughter started school with a lot of anxiety, fear, and sensitivities. We were so worried about what our year would look like with all our daughter had been struggling with.

I am so thankful that Mrs. Pensky is our daughter's teacher. She is so very generous with her love for her students. She sees each child for their own beautiful, unique self. She is gentle and sensitive while also providing firm boundaries. When a child struggles, it is never met with anything but humble understanding and patience.

She is an excellent teacher of all subjects as well. I am blown away by all our daughter has learned this year. Our daughter often misses Mrs. Pensky on the weekends and is excited to see her every day. She says that Mrs. Pensky is funny and gives the best hugs.

As of January, I became an employee at NeSmith and I have seen proof of her heart, passion, and skill every single day. She is the best of the best!"

Nomination from Roderick Elementary Front Office Staff:

"Roderick Elementary Front Office would like to nominate Dakota Jones for consistently demonstrating a positive attitude and a strong commitment to his work. Each time he comes to our campus, he is incredibly helpful, always ready to assist in any way needed, and does it all with a genuine smile.

His willingness to go above and beyond does not go unnoticed. Dakota shows the Traits of a Brave, especially being Generous and Humble. He gives his time and effort so willingly to support others, and does so without seeking recognition. We appreciate Dakota and the positivity he brings to our school. We hope he knows how valued he is within our district!"

Nomination from Mrs. Shannon McMahan, Associate Principal at Edge Middle School:

"A big thank you to Mrs. Dugan, Mrs. Hargrove, Mrs. Helms, Mrs. Little, Mrs. Manzanares, Mrs. Shannon, Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Vasquez, and Mrs. Romo, our Sped administrator. When one of our teachers was out for a couple of weeks with a family emergency this team stepped up and filled in the gaps! Each one of these individuals volunteered to help by taking on additional task to make sure everything was taken care of so their team mate could focus on her family."

Nomination from Coach Kristen Christensen, McClendon Elementary educator:

"Michael had a friend who was upset and came to help in his time of need. Michael also was offering advice to his upset friend what helps him. Michael also asked for a calm moment + then was able to vocalize that ready to return to the game."

Nomination from Ms. Stephanie Keese, Community High School educator:

"Za'riyah came into the classroom and found cash sitting at a desk. She told me about it and asked who was sitting at the desk in the previous period. She wanted to know who the cash belonged to and plans to return it to them. I thought her honesty was very generous."

Nomination from Mrs. Dana Fitzpatrick, Dodson Elementary educator:

"Marcella & Carlyle are extremely generous with their time and give up their recess every day to help out with 1st grade (physical education class). Both students are always on board to help teachers and staff with absolutely anything and are great role models for our younger Dodson students."

Nomination from Mrs. Jennifer Aldridge, Community ISD Financial Services:

"Community hosted a basketball playoff game last weekend for two other school districts and the boys really wanted to go. While there they visited the concession stand and decided to share their snacks with the security guard on duty because as they said, “He’s working hard and there might not be anything left when the game is over.”

Then when the game was over both boys asked if they could help pick up the trash in the bleachers so Mr. Abel (Zumaya Rodriguez) wouldn’t have so much to do. Their generousness and kindness truly shined that night. They made their way through the bleachers on both sides and made sure as much trash as possible was picked up and put in the trash cans before leaving the game.

Then as their final act of kindness, on the way out the doors there was a group of cheerleaders from the game with their hands full with their bags and equipment. Both boys ran ahead and held open the doors for them so they wouldn’t have to. These two boys represented Brave Nation in the best way possible!"

Nomination from Mr. Cooper Welch, Community ISD Communications:

"Eight current Community ISD student and one former Brave, all members of Girl Scouts Troop 560, have chosen to create and donate Period Kits for all of the schools in Brave Nation!

These current fifth graders will all be sixth graders entering CISD middle schools (either Edge or Community Trails) next year. They chose to make this donation as part of a 20-hour service and leadership project that will help them earn a "Bronze Award" with the Girl Scouts - one of the highest honors of scouting.

This project is being entirely designed and led by the Troop members as a meaningful community initiative focused on service, leadership, and kindness. The girls have demonstrated strong leadership by creating a short donation-request video, designing donation boxes and posters, requesting donations, and writing encouraging notes as part of their Scribe badge work. These notes will be included in each kit to help inspire kindness and offer words of encouragement to the students who receive them."

Nomination from Mrs. Jessica Miller, NeSmith Elementary volunteer and parent:

"While volunteering, I have observed Ms. Saygi multiple occasions, getting ready for the day and greeting students, interacting with others etc. - I couldn’t help but notice her presence as she was so happy and enthusiastic every single time! She is an incredibly enthusiastic teacher who demonstrates genuine care and love for each of her students.

Not only does she embody the qualities of an exceptional educator, but she is also deeply passionate about every student and person she encounters. Through her kindness and empathy, she truly shines and makes a lasting impact on everyone around her."

Nomination from Mrs. Karen Jones, Roderick Elementary Educator:

"I am nominating Mrs. Helfers for her dedication to the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) plan she helped create so our teachers can be recognized. She took on a huge task, and her passion to provide our teachers this validation is huge.

It reflects her role in Community ISD's commitment to strengthen instructional excellence and support educators. With this achievement due to Mrs. Helfers' hard work and the work of others in the Curriculum & Instruction department, we are now a fully approved TIA District."

Nomination from Amaree Saucedo, CTMS student:

"Mrs. Zahradnik works patiently with kids who struggle with math, meeting them where they are without judgment. She never rushes them or makes them feel small for not understanding right away. Instead, she listens, encourages questions, and celebrates even the smallest progress.

Mrs. Zahradnik stays humble about her own knowledge and is always willing to try a new way of explaining things. Her calm presence helps kids feel safe enough to keep trying. Through her steady support, they begin to believe in themselves again."

Nomination from Mrs. Karli Nicholson, Community ISD Parent:

"Gosh where do I start?

Chase has come so far. Since he was a little boy he struggled with ADHD. I would get phone calls every day of something awful. He has grown so much  this year, and in such a good way. He has listened more, become wise, and puts other before himself. I haven't gotten one bad phone call this year. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

I recently came across a Facebook post from another amazing mom. She posted about how chase stopped playing basketball with his friends and was helping her son with basketball. For about 30 minutes he was teaching this young boy. I am so so proud of you Chase!"

Nomination from Mrs. Brandee Murphy, Ellis Elementary Educator:

A classmate shared that due to hardships, she did not get very much for Christmas this year. Victoria took the time and effort to create a hand-drawn Christmas card and put together a gift bag with various items from her own home to give to her classmate. She went above and beyond to show kindness and generosity to her peer.

Nomination from Mrs. Alicia Young, Assistant Principal at Community High School:

I think Kayden is incredibly deserving of being named Brave of the Week. When he noticed a fellow student having a medical event, he acted quickly, potentially saving the life of the other student. Thank you Kayden for putting others first and for caring about your fellow Braves!

Nomination from Mrs. Jamey Helms, McClendon Elementary:

I want to take a moment to recognize this very special group (not all are pictured) of caring, generous, and truly talented moms who consistently give their time, love, and culinary skills to our staff and students at McClendon. Whenever our campus needs support, whether it’s preparing a meal, helping with an event, or encouraging our staff, these incredible women never hesitate to step up with kindness and a willing heart.

Their spirit of service and unwavering readiness to help are essential in keeping morale high and ensuring our staff feels valued and supported. They give so much of themselves, and our school is better because of them.

To each of you: thank you for everything you do, for every dish, every hour, and every act of love you have shared with McClendon. We see you, we appreciate you deeply, and we love you.

Nominación de la Sra. Jamey Helms, Escuela Primaria McClendon:

Quiero tomarme un momento para reconocer a este grupo tan especial (no todas aparecen en la foto) de madres cariñosas, generosas y verdaderamente talentosas que constantemente dedican su tiempo, amor y habilidades culinarias al personal y a los estudiantes de nuestra escuela McClendon. Siempre que nuestro campus necesita apoyo, ya sea preparando una comida, ayudando en un evento o animando a nuestro equipo, estas mujeres increíbles no dudan en colaborar con amabilidad.

Su espíritu de servicio y su inquebrantable disposición a ayudar son fundamentales para mantener la moral alta y que nuestro personal se sienta valorado. Dan muchísimo de sí mismas y nuestra escuela es mejor gracias a ellas.

A cada una de ustedes: gracias por todo lo que hacen, por cada plato, cada hora y cada acto de amor que han compartido con McClendon. Las vemos, las apreciamos y las queremos mucho.

Nomination from Ms. Candy Maldonado, CISD Police Department:

We are honored to nominate the CHS Cosmetology Students alongside their teacher Mrs. Songer for willingly & passionately taking the task in providing spa services to the whole Admin Building on our Day 2 of 12 days of Christmas sponsored by Mr. Ladd, Chief Morrison & the Police Dept.

These talented young ladies have bright futures ahead of them. We felt the passion they have for the art by their interaction & creative talent in manicuring, providing therapeutic paraffin service & relaxing neck/shoulder chair massages, which were a top hit of the day.

We heard their stories & their future plans with the skills they are acquiring. We are excited to learn where this awesome program leads them & how successful they will become. I personally want to thank not only all the talented young ladies but mostly Mrs. Songer. Speaking with her about her dedication to guiding these young ladies by reflecting all our Brave Traits. Visit the Brave Nation Blue Student Salon & Spa. 

Nomination from Katy Robinson, McClendon Elementary:

Paisley has shown all the Traits of a Brave by being a leader in the classroom, having the courage to sing (the National Anthem at the stadium and during the 4th grade fine arts show), and being a great friend.

You can watch a video of Paisley singing the National Anthem here.

Nomination from Harper Nalls, Edge MS:

So, I did not have any breakfast since my alarm went off 30 minuets late, so I did not have much time before the bus came. Khadija is in my first period, and when I told her that I did not get a chance to eat, so she gave me some of her Little Debbie's Zebra Cake. I'm really thankful, Khadija is a great person.

Nomination from Jackie Morovick, CISD Finance:

I want to nominate Veronica Conley for Brave of the Week. She exhibits all the traits of a Brave. She is generous with her time, always ready to help others. Passionate about all she does to support everyone in Brave Nation. She's humble and doesn't realize how absolutely amazing she is. Lastly, she is so wise.
She has transitioned smoothly into her role as an Accounts Payable Specialist. She has learned the policies and procedures so quickly. Her professionalism when dealing with Vendors and Staff is delightful. She is always willing to help anyone with anything, not just within our Finance Office but district-wide. All of the things she does, she does with a smile on her face, never complains, and shares her quick wit and humor. She is a blessing as both a teammate and a member of Brave Nation!

Cadon is such an incredible drum captain! He's respectful to adults, kind to his peers, and always goes out of his way to make his section and the entire band better.  You can see how much he cares about helping everyone improve while keeping the band positive and supportive.  Truly a natural leader and role model!

Delaney displays kindness that lifts others up. She showed courage to try something new and displayed leadership and responsibility. Delaney did a wonderful job showing great leadership and generosity by volunteering to team up with classmates so we could have enough keyboards for everyone.

Mrs. Tucker is a blessing to have as co-teacher in my classroom. She is always willing to help me out, but even more importantly she loves our kids. She would jump through hoops for our students, weather it be helping academically, talking them down when they are struggling or speaking real life wisdom into them. Mrs. Tucker is a great example of being humble and putting our kids first!! So grateful we have her!

Our Braves of the Week are the Community High School volleyball teams!

After learning that their beloved high school custodian, Abel Zumaya, did not have a car of his own, these generous Braves decided to fundraise for him. They then demonstrated wisdom by involving local businesses, including Rockwall Ford and J.R. Arey State Farm, to upgrade the donated funds into a great vehicle and include insurance. Their passion for the people around them, along with their humility of spirit, make our Lady Braves volleyball students hands-down winners of this week’s honors.

Below you can find coverage of the surprise gift by CISD Communications, NBC 5, Telemundo 39, Noticias Telemundo, and NBC Nightly News.

Our Braves of the Week are the brave men and women of the CISD Police Department. In her nomination, Ms. Lillie Lloyd noted that our police officers always make sure our campuses stay safe and secure. They work tirelessly and log countless hours to make sure our students have a safe learning environment!

Congratulations on a well-deserved Brave of the Week honor for our CISD Police, and thank you to Ms. Lloyd for the nomination. Don’t forget to read the rest of Ms. Lloyd’s nomination below. You can also click on the button below to check out the other “Brags” for this week. And don’t forget to nominate a Brave for next week’s honors! We reveal our winner on the Community ISD Facebook page every Thursday at 8 a.m.

Lillie Lloyd's Nomination:

Thank you to the CISD Police Department for always making sure our campuses stay safe and secure. They work tirelessly and countless hours to make sure our students have a safe learning environment!

Brave of the Week honors go to three people this week - Mrs. Elizabeth McDorman, Mrs. Kendi Womack, and Mr. Brody Ross of Ellis Elementary! Check out the full nomination from the Ellis Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) below:

ELLIS ELEMENTARY PTO NOMINATION:

This week Mrs. McDorman, Mrs. Womack, and Mr. Ross went all in for showing just how passionate they are about making Ellis an amazing place! Two of them got slimed and one let the kids chase them around with silly string. They made this day so fun and truly care about connecting with students daily and bringing joy to our school. Ellis is lucky to have them!

Brave of the Week honors go to Noah Wilmerton, a fourth grade student at Roderick Elementary! See the full nominations from his mom, Taylor McDaniel, below.

MRS. TAYLOR McDANIEL'S NOMINATION:

Noah has been doing an amazing job this week helping his family with chores without a reminder. Every morning he's been waking up early, making his bed, packs his bag and lunch. He's been helping his mom out more with preparing meals for dinner and cleaning up. He is absolutely passionate about helping his family at home because he realizes his role to help others, a true team player!

Brave of the Week honors go to Alicia Young, an assistant principal at Community High School! See the full nominations from Mrs. Kristie Nix, a CHS parent, and Mr. Robert Goff, the CHS principal, below.

MRS. KRISTIE NIX'S NOMINATION:

I want to sincerely thank Alicia for her generosity and support in helping us plan this year’s Homecoming dance. Her time, effort, and guidance made such a difference in bringing all the details together, and we are so grateful for the way she pours into our students and school community.

We truly appreciate her commitment to making Homecoming a special and memorable night for everyone at CHS. Thank you for all you do to help our students shine, Alicia!

MR. ROBERT GOFF'S NOMINATION:

I would like to nominate Alicia Young for Brave of the Month. Mrs. Young dedicated countless hours to organizing and leading all of our Homecoming activities, including the parade, pep rally, and the Homecoming dance. Her hard work, attention to detail, and positive energy ensured that each event was a huge success and created lasting memories for our students and community. Mrs. Young’s passion for Community ISD shines through in everything she does—her commitment, creativity, and school spirit truly embody what it means to be a Brave.

 Thank you so much for your nominations Mrs. Nix and Mr. Goff, and congratulations to Mrs. Young for earning the honor!

Brave of the Week honors go to Merritt Mueller, the receptionist at Edge Middle School! See the full nomination from Mrs. Shannon Lefebvre, a teacher at Edge Middle School, below.

Merritt is such a generous and passionate person. She runs the front office so effortlessly. She greets everyone with the most beautiful smile and makes everyone feel welcome.

Edge could not ask for anyone more dedicated. Even when the day is stressful and she has many different things going on - answering the phone, coordinating coverage for classrooms, helping students, and so much more - she does all of it with grace and a smile. She is the image of what a Brave should be.

Thank you Merritt for making everyone feel welcomed and bringing a smile to everyone you encounter!

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Lefebvre, and congratulations to Mrs. Mueller for earning the honor!

Brave of the Week honors go to Kylie Bowman, a student at Community High School! See the full nomination from Mrs. Britni Fitzgerald, a CISD parent, below.

A huge thank you to Kylie Bowman for stepping up to volunteer in the Varsity Football concessions stand during Friday’s season opener. At a time when extra help was needed, Kylie went above and beyond—serving fans all night with incredible energy and dedication.

What makes her effort even more remarkable is that she did it all while wearing a sling due to a shoulder injury. Her work ethic and heart to serve, even under challenging circumstances, truly stood out and made a difference for our team and community.

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Fitzgerald, and congratulations to Kylie Bowman for earning the honor!

Brave of the Week honors go to Mr. Dedrick Fletcher, a coach, teacher, and boys athletics coordinator at Community Trails Middle School! See the full nomination from Mr. Russell Smith of Community Trails Middle School below.

Coach Fletcher had a great first year of teaching and coaching last year at Trails. 2 weeks into summer, he got chosen to be the new boys coordinator at Community Trails. He has worked extremely hard with everyone in the building to help all of our Trails boys successful and is learning on the job every day, gracefully accepts criticism, learns from it, and is doing a great job leading these young men. I'm super proud of how much he has grown and the additional responsibilities he has taken on.

 Thank you so much for your nomination Coach Smith, and congratulations to Coach Fletcher for earning the honor!

Brave of the Week honors go to Sutton Belmore of McClendon Elementary! See the full nomination from Mr. Zacherl, the music teacher at McClendon, and Assistant Principal Wall below.

Sutton noticed that his classmates weren't comfortable leading and singing the song in music class. He volunteered to be the class leader and sang the song for the activity planned. We are so proud of Sutton!

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Wall and Mr. Zacherl, and congratulations to Sutton Belmore for earning the honor!

Brave of the Week honors go to Mrs. Cheyenne Bahle of NeSmith Elementary! See Tiffany Steele's full nomination below.

Our family is starting our 2nd year in Brave nation. This year, we have a kindergartener starting at NeSmith. We reached out to Mrs. Bahle, prior to school starting due to some anxieties regarding some sensory sensitivities with our daughter. She was so profoundly responsive, loving, and kind. She communicated quickly, got others looped in to meet our daughter’s needs, then offered to let her come up to the school and tour the campus without the extra stimulation of a busy, full meet the teacher crowd. She took a good hour out of her preparation time to meet our daughter where she was at. We were greeted by a Mrs. Bahle, on bender knee to be at our daughter’s level. She then led our daughter to all the key places of the school and let her quietly experience each place. When we thanked her profusely, she simply stated that all the other stuff could wait because this is why she does the job. As parents, we are starting the year with full hearts and feeling confident! Thank you!

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Steele, and congratulations to Mrs. Bahle for earning the honor!

Braves of the Week honors go to the Ellis PTO Board. See Mrs. Molly Porter's nomination below:

The PTO at Ellis is amazing. They work so hard every single day to make sure our teachers and students are taken care of. From organizing the evening events throughout the year, to showering our teachers for appreciation week, treating the students to a student appreciation week, and rounding out the year with 5th Grade Bash (and numerous other things in between!)…the PTO has shown every Trait of a Brave through their countless volunteer hours spent supporting Ellis. You all are amazing! (Not everyone is pictured, but know I appreciate ALL of you!)

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Porter, and congratulations to the Ellis PTO Board on earning the honor!

Braves of the Week go to the Lady Braves Powerlifting team for their lifesaving actions! Please see the full nomination from Mrs. Mautner below.

Bailee Brown, Blaik Mautner, Isla Mautner, Lily Clark, Alexandriah Feaster, Hailey Malcolm, Emberlea Rhea, Eyrelyn Tripp, Madelyn Ward, E'Zyria Jones, and Peyton Hogue demonstrated the Traits of a Brave in its purest form. These twelve CHS girls, who all qualified for Regionals with Powerlifting, were in a van returning from Regional weigh-ins in Decatur on February 2nd at 10pm when their coach, who was driving (and was the only staff member with them), had a medical emergency. After some swerving and jerking stops at lights, the staff member was able to pull into a neighborhood and pulled to the side while the girls had to make sure that the van was in park and then helped the staff member from the van to the curb. The girls called 911 and others knocked on neighbors doors to get help. Two of the girls stayed with the coach and checked their vitals, used their phone to call the staff member's spouse, and watched them until a parent who works at the high school arrived prior to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arriving. The students all handled the situation with grace and strength. These girls demonstrated all four Traits of a Brave. They were 'Generous' in their helping the coach and getting involved without an adult having to lead them. They were 'Humble' in the fact that they haven't brought to anyone's attention what they went through, asked for help, and worked together. They were 'Passionate' as they supported each other in such an uncertain situation. They were 'Wise' in the use of their common sense and took on an adult role on their own.

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Mautner, and congratulations to the Lady Braves Powerlifting team on earning the honor!

Brave of the Week goes to Amanda Kaufman from Edge Middle School! The full nomination from Ms. April Perkins is copied below.

When it comes to Edge Middle School and her work, Amanda Kaufman takes the word "Passion" to a new level! Her dedication and positivity make a huge difference every single day. She is committed to giving 100% in everything she does—from supporting students to collaborating with fellow staff— and it is truly inspiring. Whether it's stepping in to help without being asked, supporting teachers at any time and with anything, or going the extra mile to ensure all runs smoothly, she consistently shows up with enthusiasm, professionalism, and a genuine passion for our students and staff. Amanda is absolutely the epitome of what it is to be a Community ISD BRAVE and we are lucky to have her here at Edge Middle School!

 Thank you so much for your nomination Ms. Perkins, and congratulations to Mrs. Kaufman on earning the honor!

Our Braves of the Week are Marcia Coker and Julie Sands!

They were nominated by McClendon principal Melanie Edwards. When the air conditioning wasn’t working just before a Pre-K performance, these two Community ISD superstars jumped into action! Thanks to their quick thinking and determination, everything was back up and running — just in time for our littlest Braves to shine on stage … and stay cool while doing it!

 Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Edwards, and congratulations to Mrs. Coker and Mrs. Sands on being named the Braves of the Week!

Our Brave of the Week honors go to … Linda Sanchez from the Curriculum & Instruction department!

Jennifer Engle nominated Mrs. Sanchez for generously sharing her talents as an educator, bringing fun lessons such as a “superhero” workshop on argumentative writing, a surgery center to fix “sick” sentences, and a detective ECR writing lesson. She brought the fun with costumes for the kids too. She is an awesome resource for Brave Nation.

Thank you so much for your nomination Mrs. Engle, and congratulations to Mrs. Sanchez on being the Brave of the Week!

Our Brave of the Week honors are split between two people - CISD Board member Sean Walker and Officer Arthur Jumper from NeSmith Elementary!

Both were nominated by Community High School’s Coach Fox after her son, Garrett, had a flat on his way to work. He randomly picked a place to pull over, and it happened to be Mr. Walker’s house. With rain pouring down, Mr. Walker emptied his garage to let Garrett pull his car in.

Garrett had never changed a flat before, and so Officer Jumper drove over to Mr. Walker’s house and helped Garrett change the tire.

Thank you Coach Fox for the nominations, and congratulations to Mr. Walker and Officer Jumper!

Our Brave of the Week is … Dillon Hart of Braves Soccer! The full nomination from Mr. Chris Mycoskie of CISD Communications is copied below.

"At the end of the Braves' soccer playoff win over North Dallas last Wednesday, instead of immediately going to celebrate with his teammates, Dillon went to comfort a distraught North Dallas player. The Bulldogs' student-athlete was upset and lying on the ground. Dillon helped pick him up and hugged him. He then approached a lot of the other North Dallas players and offered encouragement."

Thank you to Mr. Mycoskie for the nomination, and congratulations to Dillon Hart on being the Brave of the Week!

Our Brave of the Week is … Kerry Jones from Transportation! Ms. Emma Barnett from Dodson Elementary nominated Mr. Jones for his generosity, and her full nomination is copied below:

"Mr. Kerry Jones exemplifies generosity in every sense. During our 5th-grade field trip (8 AM–8:30 PM), he went above and beyond to ensure a safe, smooth, and enjoyable trip. He was kind, personable, and took the time to build connections.

During our conversation, I mentioned my daughter rides horses and competes in rodeos. When he picked us up that evening, he had a small horse-related gift for her—an incredibly thoughtful gesture that speaks volumes about his character. He doesn’t just do his job; he actively looks for ways to brighten someone’s day.

Even in my short time interacting with him, his kindness left a lasting impact. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with him or ride his bus is truly fortunate. His generosity and care embody what it means to be a Brave. I’m honored to nominate him!"

Thank you to Mrs. Barnett for the nomination, and congratulations to Mr. Jones on being the Brave of the Week!

Our Brave of the Week is … Katelyn Ladd! In her nomination, Mrs. Ackley pointed out that Katelyn showed all the Traits of a Brave when she noticed a classmate’s water had spilled among the backpacks in the hallway, and began cleaning it up without being asked. Here is Mrs. Ackley's full nomination:

"My group had to stop by their homerooms to grab chromebooks and outside one room we noticed that among the backpacks in the hallway, a classmate's water had spilled. Katelyn went into the room to get her chromebook but came out with a roll of paper towels instead and started cleaning up the water that wasn't hers (all the while carrying on a conversation about something totally different) without being asked. Her selfless act showed that the traits aren't always concious choices, rather the more they are practiced, the more they become engrained in our character. Shoutout to Katelyn for being passionate about doing the right thing, generous with her time and energy in seeking out supplies to clean, humble in doing for others, and wise about navigating the "slippery" situation."

Thank you to Mrs. Ackley for the nomination, and congratulations to Katelyn on being the Brave of the Week!

This week our Brave of the Week is … Madison Fernandez at Dodson Elementary! Mrs. Fernandez was nominated by Ashley Schusler, who said that “Mrs. Fernandez is absolutely crushing her first year of teaching. Her passion is evident in the preparation, communication, and execution within her classroom. She comes to school every day with a game plan and a smile on her face. Dodson Elementary and the families that belong to the Dodson community sure are blessed to have her on staff!”

Thank you to Mrs. Schusler for the nomination, and congratulations to Mrs. Fernandez!

The Braves of the Week are … the staff at the Braves Center! In her nomination, Mikala Welch wrote the following: “The Braves Center Team generously and passionately hosted an amazing Valentine's event for our students last week. They went above and beyond to build up our students, ensuring that they felt seen, valued, and included. Their kindness and commitment to our students is what makes Brave Nation so great.”

Thank you to Mrs. Welch for the nomination, and congratulations to the staff of the Braves Center!

The Brave of the Week is Brittani Atchley, one of our inclusion teachers at Roderick Elementary. In her nomination, Mrs. Patricia Peckham wrote that “There aren’t enough words to express how grateful we are for her. Mrs. Atchley is so passionate in her role at the school, and she has breathed so much confidence into my son in his capabilities. Mrs. Atchley is a shining light for CISD, and we are very lucky to have her!”

Thank you to Mrs. Peckham for the nomination, and congratulations to Mrs. Atchley for the honor!

The Braves of the Week are ... Coaches Fitzmaurice, Taylor, Belmore, and Goforth at Edge Middle School! In their nomination, Emily Joyner and Britni Fitzgerald said the following:

Coaches Fitzmaurice, Taylor, Belmore, and Goforth will always hold a special place in our hearts. The dedication and support they provide to our sons and the kids at Edge is so appreciated. We're grateful that our sons have such strong figures who lead by example every day. They hold them accountable with standards and expectations, while showing grace and kindness along the way. We love our coaches!"

Thank you to Mrs. Joyner and Mrs. Fitzgerald for their nominations, and congrats again to Fitzmaurice, Taylor, Belmore, and Goforth!

The Brave of the Week is Amy Gonzales, a member of our Student Services and Health Services departments. According to nominator Sam Davis, "Amy is a good friend to everyone she meets. She checks on people and cares about everyone. She is creative and puts time and effort into making specialized cards for people's birthdays!"

Thank you to Mr. Davis for the nomination, and congratulations to Mrs. Gonzales for the honor!

The Brave of the Week is Penny Pierce, from our district Financial Services Department. In her nomination, Veronica Conley thanked Ms. Pierce for her wisdom and attention to detail, which saved the District a significant amount of money. Thank you to Mrs. Conley for the nomination, and congratulations to Ms. Pierce for the honor!

This week The Brave of the Week is Abel Zumaya, one of our amazing CISD custodians! Able was nominated by Renee Robertson, who said that she witnessed him in action after the Friday night basketball games showing passion and pride in his job. He cleaned up everyone’s mess with a big smile on his face the entire time, and his positive energy and enthusiasm was contagious! Thank you to Mrs. Robertson for the nomination, and congratulations to Abel for the honor!

This week our Brave of the Week is … Humberto Garcia Ferrer from McClendon Elementary! Dr. Knowlton nominated Mr. Ferrer when she saw him live out all of the Traits of the a Brave during a lunch meeting with him and other McClendon students.

Humberto was wise in his answers to questions, humble by waiting his turn and not talking over others, passionate about his friends and teachers, and generous by staying after all the other students left to help clean up trash and leave the room the way he found it. Thank you so much Humberto for being such a great Brave, and thank you to Dr. Knowlton for the nomination!

The Brave of the Week for December 16-20 is ... Emmy Willeford!

The last Brave of the Week for Fall 2024 is … Emmy Willeford from Community Trails Middle School! Emmy won the Western Pleasure division at the Texas American Saddlebred Horse Association Holiday Show, which took place in Bryan on December 6 through 8.

According to the nomination from her mom, Angela Willeford, “Emmy is truly a well-rounded individual, excelling in academics, athletics, and her passion for horses. Her ability to balance her busy schedule and still achieve at such a high level is truly inspiring.”

Thank you Mrs. Willeford for the nomination, and congratulations again to Emmy on the championship and this Brave of the Week award!

The Braves of the Week for December 9-13 are ... the CISD Grounds Crew!

Our Braves of the Week this week are … the CISD Grounds Crew! Nominated by Mrs. Molly Porter, our hard-working grounds crew was mowing the grass at Ellis Elementary and took the time to blow the grass clippings off of the cars in the parking lot. Thank you for keeping not only our campuses clean, but our cars too! Congratulations to the Grounds Crew for this honor, and thank you so much for nominating them Mrs. Porter!

The Braves of the Week for December 2-6 are ... the Edge MS 8th Grade Boys Basketball A Team!

Our Braves of the Week this week are … the Edge 8th grade boys basketball A team! According to the nomination from Mr. Jordan Belmore, our Edge 8th grade boys basketball A team “shows the utmost sportsmanship and class during their games. They have self-control, treat players, coaches, and officials with respect, and help whenever they are asked. They encourage their teammates to be the best they can be on and off the court.” Congrats to our Edge 8th grade boys A team on this honor, and thank you to Mr. Belmore for the nomination!

The Brave of the Week for November 18-22 is ... Hillary Gindrat!

Our Brave of the Week is … Ms. Hillary Gindrat, the nurse at Community Trails Middle School! According to the nomination from Mrs. Marie Goff, Ms. Gindrat is an incredible asset to Trails. Here's a quote from Mrs. Goff's nomination: "She has the children’s best interest & health in mind at all times. She is such a blessing & I cannot express that enough." Thank you to Mrs. Goff for the nomination, and congratulations to Ms. Gindrat!

The Braves of the Week for November 11-15 are ... the Braves Studio Interns!

The Braves of the Week are a great group of students from Community High School - the interns of Braves Studio! According to the nomination from their teacher Mr. Tilton, these four students have put in tons of hours this year as graphics, replay, and camera operators for CISD broadcasts, and have played a big role in several videos released by our CISD Communications department. Their dedication to creating great projects and their passion for Brave Nation is evident at all times. Congrats to the Braves Studio interns on the win, and thank you Mr. Tilton for your nomination!

Which Trait was this person or group exhibiting?

Passionate

Why are you nominating this person or group?

I get to work with an incredible group of kids that show their passion for design, videography, and Brave Nation every day. Faced with professional-level deadlines and expectations, our Braves Studio interns continue to find ways to excel and surpass expectations in all they do. Their hard work has played an integral role in the success of Community ISD's broadcasts this year, growing our numbers from 13,413 total viewers in 2021 and 2022 combined to 34,526 viewers just in the 2024 football season. They have also produced multiple pieces of content that I am super proud of, including our football and volleyball hype videos for this season, a theater advertisement, and "Community on Campus #2 - Do You Know?". I am privileged to get to work with these students and see them succeed so much.

The Brave of the Week for November 4-8 is ... Edge MS Staff and CHS Fine Arts!

Our Brave of the Week award for November 4-8 is once again a group win, with the staff of Edge Middle School earning the honor, as well as the band, color guard, and theater directors at the high school. In her nomination, Mrs. Alicia Short wrote that the entire staff of Edge Middle School has shown my family so much love and support, sending cards, emails, texts, and Facebook messages, along with food, flowers, and financial support that made life so much easier. The band, color guard, and theater directors made sure we had groceries while Jacob was in hospice, made sure a field trip was paid for, and provided comfort to our kids on countless occasions. Thank you so much to these awesome Braves for being so generous, and thank you Mrs. Short for your nomination!

Which Trait was this person or group exhibiting?

Generous

Why are you nominating this person or group?

I want to brag on the entire staff of Edge Middle School. From the time Jacob went into the hospital in August up until now weeks after he passed the entire staff has shown my family so much love and support. They have sent  cards, emails, text and Facebook messages along with gift cards that we were able to use while visiting him in the hospital. We have had meals and flowers randomly show up on our porch and it really has made this time in our lives so much easier. 

I also want to brag on the band directors, color guard director and theater director at the high school. When I couldn’t say what help I needed they took it upon themselves to order groceries for us while Jacob was on hospice so we would have one less thing to worry about. One of the things I forgot about was Landon’s fine arts trip that needed to be paid for the Ms. Wilson reached out to staff and shared what happened with parents in and out of the district and within  a few days Landon’s trip was completely paid off and then some. The day Jacob passed Michelle wanted to go to band rehearsal she wanted to do something to help keep her mind off of things. When we got to rehearsal that night Ms Dawson met me at my car with blankets for all 3 kids she had reached out to a group and had them donated. 

I cannot imagine how much harder this time in our lives would have been without these amazing people who have supported us in the district. 

They really have made this transition to our new normal much easier for us. 

The Brave of the Week for October 28-November 1 is ... Sharon Echols!

According to the nomination from Lisa Cavanaugh, a teacher at CHS, Ms. Echols showed wisdom by stopping to help after witnessing a car accident. Congratulations to Ms. Echols on being named the Brave of the Week, and thanks to Ms. Cavanaugh for the nomination!

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Wise

Why are you nominating this person?

Ms. Echols was driving to CHS when the car in front of her was involved in a wreck. The CHS student got out of the car and began to have a seizure.
Ms. Echols stayed with the student and comforted them until the ambulance arrived. She then made sure the other students in the car got safely to school. She was actually every trait of a BRAVE!

The Brave of the Week for October 21-25, 2024 is ... Katherine Vuong!

According to the nomination from Mr. Cooper Welch, our Director of Communications, Mrs. Vuong has consistently gone above and beyond in all that she does at Community Trails Middle School. She always puts others first, and is quick to share credit for any accomplishments.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Humble

Why are you nominating this person?

Mrs. Vuong has been an incredible addition to the #BraveNation family. She consistently shows all the Traits of a Brave, but the one that stands out to me most is her humility. Mrs. Vuong always goes above and beyond in all that she does, and puts others first. In the two times she has helped me with events at CTMS, she arrived early, stayed late, and made sure everything was clean and orderly before I ever even stepped on campus.

She also puts others first daily on her campus. I have heard from dozens of people how impressed they are with her and her drive to make sure all students and staff are taken care of and feel at-home when at Community Trails.

Mrs. Vuong is an amazing Brave!

The Brave of the Week for October 14-18, 2024 is ... Reagin Taylor!

Our Brave of the Week this week is a very special student who has overcome so many challenges in her time as a Brave. Diagnosed with leukemia on July 15, 2022, Reagin Taylor has been in active chemo treatment for over 2 years, including over 100 nights spent in a hospital, multiple blood and platelet transfusions, complete hair loss, and over 20 surgeries. And yet she has persevered, and kept her passion for horses and her education alive throughout these difficult challenges! She is scheduled to end her chemo in November!

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Passionate

Why are you nominating this person?

Reagin Taylor was diagnosed with leukemia on July 15, 2022. She has been in active chemo treatment for over 2 years, including over 100 nights spent in a hospital, multiple blood and platelet transfusions, complete hair loss 2 different times, and over 20 surgeries. She is scheduled to end chemo in November 2024. Despite her chronic illness and all of the side effects from over 2 years of chemo, she never gave up on her true passion in life - horses. She is involved with the Collin County 4H Club, the Cowboy Church, and she rides her horse, Smokey, competitively on an award-winning equestrian drill team. She is active member of the CHS Choir, Vice President of the CHS FFA, and a member of the Honor Society. She hopes to attend Texas A&M and eventually go to Veterinarian school. Reagin is a warrior and has battled through all of the adversities of cancer treatment. She is a survivor and her strength, determination and passion can only be described as truly BRAVE!

The Brave of the Week for October 7-11, 2024 is ... the CHS Braves football teams!

The Community High School football teams earned the Brave of the Week honors for October 7-11. They were nominated by Mrs. Misty Allums Weedon, a parent from Pine Tree High School. Here is the original submission from Mrs. Weedon:

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Generous

Why are you nominating this person?

Hey Community ISD! I just have to say congratulations. I saw your CHS football team and coaches in the stands Saturday cheering on your band and color guard. One of my favorite parts of the day was hearing them go crazy in the stands. I am so proud of the support and encouragement you are fostering within your District. Great job!

The Brave of the Week for September 30-October 4, 2024 is ... Kristen Christensen from McClendon Elementary!

Mrs. Kristen Christensen, the Physical Education teacher for McClendon Elementary, is the Brave of the Week for September 30-October 4. He was nominated by Ms. Ashley Farmer, McClendon's art teacher. Here is the original submission from Ms. Farmer:

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Wise

Why are you nominating this person?

Kristen is the epitome of a Brave. She is humble in the way she puts others first. She is a team player through and through and has brought a beautiful team spirit to our specials team here at McClendon. Her generosity shows in the way she is always willing to collaborate, lend a helping hand and lift someone up with a word of encouragement. Not only is Kristen passionate about physical health, ensuring that she shares that passion with our youngest braves but she is consistently willing to work harder to learn more. Her wisdom shines as is quick to share but also always willing to learn from others. Kristen is truly a treasure to our district, to McClendon and to our team.

The Brave of the Week for September 23-27, 2024 is ... Sam "Saminator" Davis from CISD Technology!

Mr. Sam Davis, the Device Administrator for Community ISD Technology, is the Brave of the Week for September 23-27. He was nominated by Mrs. Jennifer Tellez, one of our Human Resource Specialists. Here is the original submission from Mrs. Tellez:

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Humble

Why are you nominating this person?

Even in a busy work environment filled with challenges, Sam is always happy to lend a helping hand. What sets him apart is his dedication to his work. He is ALWAYS thinking of ways to improve the district. I have had to tell him to turn his brain off and go to bed. He is a great leader and teacher filled with knowledge. Beyond his skills, his kindness and approachability makes a real difference in our district. He’s not just a colleague; he’s a mentor and a friend who truly cares about each of us. He’s always there to share his knowledge and support. For all these reasons, Sam truly deserves our recognition because he is amazing. His passion and dedication have a lasting impact on our district and we are incredibly lucky to have him with us. He exhibits all traits and it was hard to choose just one.

The Brave of the Week for September 16-20, 2024 is ... Tyler Lyons of Ellis Elementary!

Mr. Tyler Lyons, a teacher at Ellis Elementary, is the Brave of the Week for September 16-20. He was nominated by Mrs. Marcia Coker, the Director of Maintenance and Facilities for Community ISD. Mrs. Coker's original nomination is copied below.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Passionate

Why are you nominating this person?

I am nominating Mr. Lyons for his amazing practical lesson on gravity with his students at Ellis Elementary today. His passion for science and for education shone through in his enthusiasm for the lesson and his interactions with his students. I also very much appreciate that he followed procedure while trying to get permission to make this practical demonstration of gravity from the roof of Ellis. Mr. Lyons has been a great addition to the Ellis team and to Brave Nation!

The Brave of the Week for September 9-13, 2024 is ... Pamela Simmons of McClendon Elementary!

Mrs. Pamela Simmons, a teacher at McClendon Elementary, is the Brave of the Week for September 9-13. She was nominated by Mrs. Annie Heflin, one of our Curriculum Coordinators. Mrs. Heflin's original nomination is copied below.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Generous

Why are you nominating this person?

I am nominating Mrs. Simmons for her generous spirit and dedication to supporting her fellow educators across the district. Each week, I know there will be a message in my inbox reaching out to all 5th grade science teachers with encouragement and an invitation to collaborate. She consistently shares her lesson plans, ideas, and resources to implement in their science classrooms! Many teachers have stopped to tell me what a blessing this has been to them personally. We are so lucky to have her as part of Brave Nation!

The Brave of the Week for August 26-30, 2024 is ... Skyler Whiffen of Roderick Elementary!

Skyler Whiffen, a 2nd Grader at Roderick Elementary, is the Brave of the Week for September 2-6. She was nominated by Megan Whiffen, her mother. Mrs. Whiffen's original nomination is copied below.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Wise

Why are you nominating this person?

Skyler Whiffen is a student at Rodrick elementary and is 7 years old. When Skyler was in pre k she begged for an alarm clock to wake up for school. We are on years three and she wakes up every day when that alarm clock goes off and gets ready. I don’t have to fight her or ask 10 times to get up and get ready. She also helps our neighbors prek and kindergarten kids at Roderick get breakfast in the morning and walks them to class. I hope this makes it it to the right person.

The Brave of the Week for August 26-30, 2024 is ... Lindsey Lindner of Ellis Elementary!

Mrs. Lindsey Lindner, Campus Secretary of Ellis Elementary, is the Brave of the Week for August 26-30. She was nominated by Mrs. Lindsey Hedge, a parent and volunteer in the District. Mrs. Hedge's original nomination is copied below.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Humble

Why are you nominating this person?

Ms. L is a huge blessing to Ellis Elementary. She has dove in feet first, and has not looked back. Her passion for serving others is selfless and humble. Her drive and dedication to her campus and the love she has for the staff and students really shows. Ms. L really works hard every day, both in the campus and off campus to make sure that everything runs smooth.

The Brave of the Week for August 19-23, 2024 is ...

Maygan Wall! Mrs. Wall was nominated by Mr. Bryan Ladd, Assistant Superintendent of Campuses and Leadership, for her passion in building a positive school culture at NeSmith Elementary!

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Passionate

Why are you nominating this person?

Mrs. Wall was working hard at morning arrival building a positive school culture at NeSmith Elementary! There was fun music and a fun blowup dinosaur costume! Kids and staff loved it!

The Brave of the Week for August 12-16, 2024 is one of our newest Braves, Community Trails Middle School associate principal Elizabeth McDorman. We have copied the original nomination submitted by CTMS parent Tiffany Steele below.

Which Trait was this person exhibiting?

Generous

Why are you nominating this person?

Ms. McDorman was so generous with her time, despite having so little time to spare as the first day of school approached. At orientation, she connected with our son and was sure to remember his name and reconnect with him before we left that night. The next day, she learned of some recent events in our lives and decided to call me and connect to ensure I knew our son would have a great year as a new to the district student. This really warmed my heart! At back to school bash, she connected with our son again! He was so proud that she remembered him, and knew how to spell his name correctly! She asked about the books he had just bought at book fair and listened diligently while he chatted in a very busy room. All of these small moments made a huge impact on our son and our family. We were able to drop him off for his first day of middle school in a new city and have confidence he would be safe and loved! Thank you Ms. McDorman!