Students from the Superintendent Student Advisory Council leading the Pledges of Allegiance

The evening began with Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams introducing the Superintendent Student Advisory Council to lead the Pledges of Allegiance, an elite group of fourteen junior and senior high school students representing all three senior high schools and the Academy High School. Recommended by their principals, these students meet monthly with Dr. Williams and district leadership to share valuable student perspectives on issues of importance to the district. Each student introduced themselves, sharing insights about their school activities and post-graduation plans. 

Members of the Superintendent Student Advisory Committee with Dr. Theresa Williams and Trustee Angela Powell

The 2024 Superintendent Student Advisory Council members are:

Academy High School

• Frank Matheus, Senior
• Antonio Klein, Junior

Plano East Senior High School

• Wesley Derden, Senior
• Evelyn Powell, Senior
• Myles-William Dennis, Junior
• Avleen Randhawa, Junior
  

Plano Senior High School

• Nevaeh Jones, Senior
• Yash Kulkarni, Senior
• Grant Gonzales, Junior
• Madison Mosbarger, Junior

Plano West Senior High School 

• Arianna Kaheh, Senior
• Ava Schelin, Senior
• Jade Mityas, Junior
• Alex Tran, Junior

Jeri Duncan, President of the Plano ISD PTA Council, led a recognition for campuses recently named National PTA Schools of Excellence. This distinction was awarded to Mitchell Elementary, Carpenter Middle School and Jasper High School for their exceptional commitment to building strong family-school partnerships that enhance the educational experience and overall well-being of students.

The National PTA School of Excellence program fosters meaningful collaboration between PTAs and schools, creating welcoming, inclusive environments where families are actively involved in school improvement. Participating schools commit to implementing best practices in family engagement, helping to drive long-term improvements in school culture and student achievement.

Mitchell Elementary School administrators and PTA members pose with Board Secretary Tarrah Lantz (far left) and Plano ISD Council of PTAs President Jeri Duncan

Carpenter Middle School administrators and PTA members pose with Board Secretary Tarrah Lantz (far left) and Plano ISD Council of PTAs President Jeri Duncan


Jasper High School administrators and PTA members pose with Board Secretary Tarrah Lantz (far left) and Plano ISD Council of PTAs President Jeri Duncan

2024 Kindness Card Contest Award winners with K-12 Visual Arts Coordinator Colin McGrane (far left) and Board Secretary Tarrah Lantz (far right)

During the November Board meeting, Plano ISD celebrated the winners of the 2024 Kindness Card Contest, an initiative that not only encourages creativity but also gives students a real-world opportunity to step into the role of a graphic designer. The contest is part of Plano ISD’s support of the arts and allows students to use their artistic skills to tell visual stories, expressing themes of kindness through a unique combination of images, symbols, and words.

This year, students were invited to create artwork centered around the theme of “team,” and their designs will be printed on thousands of greeting cards used by the superintendent, board members, and other district officials. These messages of kindness will be sent across Texas and even internationally, helping students’ work make a broad impact.

The significance of graphic design is evident, with the global Graphic Design Market valued at $57.5 billion in 2023 and projected to grow to $78.25 billion by 2030. This contest gives Plano ISD students hands-on experience in this vibrant field, allowing them to make their mark with professional-quality designs that convey meaningful messages of kindness and teamwork.

K-12 Visual Arts Coordinator Collin McGrane introduced the winning students by division:

• K-2 Division: Advaitha Prasanna, 2nd Grade, Wells Elementary
• 3-5 Division: Aanya Nanda, 5th Grade, Skaggs Elementary
• Middle School Division: Ariam Andemariam, 7th Grade, Carpenter Middle School
• High School Division: Maia Nielsen, 9th Grade, McMillen High School

Congratulations to each of these talented artists for their impactful contributions to Plano ISD and for helping spread messages of kindness through their art.

Blanca Solares, Hannah Marfisi and Amanda Lemons received their Plano ISD Proud Award at the November 2024 board meeting

Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams was thrilled to announce this month's Plano ISD Proud Award winners, honoring staff members who exemplify the district’s core values: Commitment to Excellence, Dedication to Caring and Powered by Learning. These individuals go above and beyond in their roles, consistently demonstrating excellence in serving students and colleagues. Congratulations to our November winners:

• Blanca Solares - Mendenhall Elementary School
• Hannah Marfisi - Plano ISD Head Start
• Amanda Lemons - Plano ISD Safety & Security

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