Welcome to another episode of the McKinney ISD Podcast.
Podcast link: https://youtu.be/0ZQ8OoiAHKA?si=cQIbcgOrtg8YaZhl
Today we are talking with our current school board president, Philip Hassler. We will learn more about Mr. Hassler as he discusses his work and family background as well as his experiences with the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees. Tune in!
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Aubrey Kelly.
See video: https://youtu.be/kVLmTwno7wM
Aubrey is a senior at McKinney High School where she is a 4-year member of the choir program. She has been a member of the varsity choir for 3 years and a 2-year member of Harmony Jazz Ensemble. Aubrey has earned Superior Ranking at Solo & Ensemble, and she is a member of the 2024/2025 Texas All-State Treble Choir. She has served as the student board president for the choir program and as a section leader in varsity choir for two years.
Aubrey currently maintains a 4.58 GPA, and she has taken 12 AP courses.
She has earned Academic excellence chords, and she is a member of Headhunters.
In her free time, Aubrey works as a kennel technician at Country Creek Animal Hospital.
After graduation, Aubrey will attend Texas A&M for Biomedical Science on a pre-vet track with plans to pursue a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
That’s Aubrey Kelly, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
Hello! My name is Stephanie O’Dell, and I proudly serve on the McKinney ISD School Board. Each month, after our Board meeting, we provide our community with a brief summary of events and items covered during the meeting.
See video: https://youtu.be/LZryyaydo4Y?si=El58YG_E_iIOrZnS
We started the meeting with celebrations and recognitions.
We honored our McKinney ISD Paraprofessionals of the Month.
This month’s winners are: Alana Abbene from Lawson Early Childhood School and Rachel LeBlanc from Cockrill Middle School.
Superintendent Pratt honored his Superintendent Student Advisory Committee seniors for their service on his committee for the last two years. From McKinney Boyd High School, we recognized: Amaya Allen, Nicholas Wesloski & Carol Zhang. From McKinney High School, we recognized: Jordan Awad, Jimmy McGowan & Charlotte Plaster. From McKinney North High School, we recognized: Legend Bryant, Kailee Critchfield & Joaquin Vargas.
We celebrated this year’s McKinney ISD Leadership Academy cohort members.
In today’s dynamic educational landscape, building a pipeline of strong leaders is more critical than ever. McKinney ISD is proud to offer the McKinney ISD Leadership Academy and seven additional leadership pathways that proceed from the academy. To provide you with some background knowledge, the McKinney ISD Leadership Academy was established five years ago to identify, recruit, and equip educators with a variety of levels of specializations and broad knowledge, skills, and experiences that prepare participants for leadership positions in both school and district capacities. Since its inception, we’ve had incredible leaders come through the academy and move toward their next step in their leadership journey. This year we were lucky enough to have 29 leaders who are accomplishing great things in McKinney ISD.
We honored the McKinney High School Marquettes for earning the title of National Grand Champions.
We celebrated the McKinney Boyd High School Bailadoras for earning the title of National Grand Champions as well.
We recognized the McKinney High School “Music for All” National Festival Honor Wind Ensemble.
Lara Wine shared an update on Project Graduation. McKinney’s Project Graduation is an overnight, alcohol and drug free celebration for graduating seniors from all three McKinney ISD high schools! The goal is to keep graduating seniors safe. They’re seeking volunteers and help to make this event a success. You can find more information on McKinney’s Project graduation website.
WFAA, in conjunction with McKinney ISD Communications and McKinney North High School Administration, recently ran a story about four McKinney North seniors who have all received military academy appointees. We are proud of these students and were excited to recognize them at the Board meeting.
They are: Reed Hisle, who will attend the U.S Military Academy West Point, Jack Flannery, who will attend the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy, Joaquin Vargas, who will attend the U.S. Naval Academy and Brandon De Vun, who will attend the U.S. Naval Academy.
Next, we held public comment and then moved into the presentation portion of the meeting.
Dr. Shelly Spaulding, Assistant Superintendent, presented on McKinney ISD being named to the 2024 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll list, distinguishing us as one of the top-performing school districts in Texas. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our educators, students, and community to academic excellence and equity. Additionally, we had two schools named to the honor roll list: Scott Johnson Middle School and Slaughter Elementary. Congratulations to these two schools, their administrators, teachers, students, and community. These schools exemplify the district’s commitment to academic excellence and serve as models for effective educational practices.
The Board received a continuing education report from Philip Hassler, McKinney ISD Board President, as required by the Texas Education Code.
Next the Board approved the consent agenda and then moved to the discussion and action portion of the meeting.
The Board then approved the monthly written reports.
Before the meeting ended, Superintendent Pratt honored McKinney ISD School Board President, Philip Hassler, for his time and service to our Board. He presented him with a gift from McKinney ISD. We are grateful for his leadership and service to McKinney ISD, and we will miss him. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Those are the highlights from this month’s meeting. Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you the highlights from our next regularly scheduled board meeting on May 12th at 6 PM.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Elijah Kovatch from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/3aUK0BfryYQ?si=5XmtaOHV7Yn3bLQD
Elijah is a senior on the Broncos track team. He is a member of the Broncos Texas Relay 4x400 meter relay qualifier team.
Elijah is an AP student with a 3.67 GPA, and he has received the Academic Excellence award.
Elijah is a member of Burner Nation Track and Field Club.
Next year, Elijah plans to attend the University of Oklahoma to receive a degree in Construction Science.
That’s Elijah Kovatch from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
Congratulations to Dr. Shelly Spaulding, McKinney ISD Assistant Superintendent of Public Relations, Communications and Support Services on being named to the second annual class of McKinney's Women of Inspiration, presented by Star Local Media and the McKinney Courier-Gazette!
The Women of Inspiration award aims to showcase McKinney's exceptional women who transform our community through advocacy, business innovation, thought leadership, and unwavering determination. This year's honorees represent a rich tapestry of professions and passions that reflect McKinney's vibrant community. These women have shaped our city through their dedication to service, entrepreneurial spirit, and visionary leadership.
Congratulations to Dr. Spaulding and the McKinney Class of 2025 Women of Inspiration!
Read the full Star Local Media interview with Dr. Shelly Spaulding here: https://starlocalmedia.com/woi/dr-shelly-spaulding---mckinney-isd/article_0327939a-010f-11f0-afdb-b7ebf9c1f236.html
Congratulations to Bennett student Aniyah Joyner whose poem "Different Things" won 1st Place in the 2nd grade category of the Mockingbird Poetry Society's 54th Annual Collin County Poetry Contest! Her poem has been published in the Mockingbird Poetry Society's book of winning poems for 2025!
Well done, Aniyah!
The Mockingbird Poetry Society of McKinney is the local chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas.
Lyrical Improv by the 2025 Teachers of the Year
We provided our 31 campus teachers of the year with the words to five classic songs and asked them to recite or sing their rendition of the lyrics. Their interpretations proved to be both entertaining and mostly musical! As McClure Elementary Teacher of the Year, Marisa Cherry, bravely stated before she recited the songs: “It looks a little different than how it sounds in my head. OK, here we go!”
See video: https://youtu.be/nFdC1BJGvPo?si=_axmnfWbkG1g7gMh
CoServ linemen visited with McKinney North science classes recently to talk about and demonstrate the incredible power of electricity and CoServ's work to supply it to customers. CoServ is an electric cooperative and gas distribution company that serves parts of seven North Texas counties.
The presenters discussed career opportunities, the duties of linemen, their healthy respect for electricity and the safety gear and procedures they employ as they go about their jobs. And, through controlled demonstrations, they showed the unpleasant results of power lines meeting objects that should not be in contact with them such as tree limbs, clothing or hands.
Thank you, CoServ, for bringing this fascinating and informative presentation to McKinney North!
Last week we celebrated 31 McKinney ISD campus teachers of the year with a banquet and program. This video is a tribute to their dedication and success as educators in our district. Congratulations to each one!
See video: https://youtu.be/59vIpef6imk?si=c5U9fkEuzx3zsUiG
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Carson Knight from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/V0_UxnorUnQ?si=1tbcNl0K393EzgWf
Carson is a 3-year member of the Varsity Mixed Choir and a 3-year member of Fusion.
He serves as a Student Director for the McKinney Boyd choir, and he is a
2-time All-State Tenor Bass Choir Member.
He also plays cello in the Orchestra.
Carson currently maintains a 3.3 GPA, and he is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
After graduation, Carson plans to attend Texas Tech University to major in Music Education.
That’s Carson Knight, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
“I am the vehicle that just opens the door for them to serve, and Martin Luther King said, ‘What are you doing for others? How are you serving others?’.”
See video: https://youtu.be/2u_W1cUeBYM?si=hRmcKLhCGuKWtRfK
Katie Abel from McKinney Boyd High School is the 2nd Runner Up for the McKinney ISD’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. She serves as the PALS coordinator and teaches Partners Leadership, and she has worked as an educator for 18 years.
Lori Stine - 2nd Runner Up McKinney ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year (2025)
See video: https://youtu.be/7-fuN2bxhRA?si=EwcV2WTh_t9ylxH2
“I think it just all goes back to that classroom culture, and everyone feeling like they’re a part of something in our classroom.”
Lori Stine from Glen Oaks Elementary is the 2nd Runner Up for McKinney ISD’s 2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is a 3rd grade teacher, and she has worked as an educator for 17 years.
“This summer I had a student find me on Facebook…and I didn’t know how big of an impact I made on her. She said ‘You never gave up on me, even in the times when I had given up on myself’.”
See video: https://youtu.be/yEj0Qe3MQVE?si=BvLOy2MB2RNBnvDX
Christina Branch from Dowell Middle School is the 1st Runner Up for McKinney ISD’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. She teaches 6th grade ELAR, and she has worked as an educator for 18 years.
“My biggest goal is to be able to give back to those students. Tell them: this is possible, you can do it and there’s people who support you..”
See video: https://youtu.be/TrU7aQ0BPMI?si=g-rIURWrkgYkKBIa
Karla Pineda from Vega Elementary is the 1st Runner Up for McKinney ISD's 2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is a bilingual kindergarten teacher, and she has worked as an educator for 4 years.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Madeline See from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/XE7e--GqDcc
Madeline is a senior on the Lady Broncos soccer team.
Madeline is a two-year varsity member, and she received the Bronco Way Team Award her junior year.
Madeline is a 3-time Academic Excellence recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, and she received Academic All-District. She scored a 1500 on her SAT, has a 4.79 GPA, and is ranked 15th in her class.
Madeline is a member of the National Honors Society, Health Occupations Students of America, and PALS.
Next year, Madeline plans to attend Texas A&M to major in Biology in the Pre-Physical Therapy pathway.
That’s Madeline See from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
Tiffany Scott - 2025 McKinney ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year
See video: https://youtu.be/HL-7CFJyUeQ?si=1dKQf10x7SPgOoI3
"One of the things that I hear commonly is: ‘nobody listens to me’. What I have found helpful in building those relationships is…not just listening, but listening longer.”
Tiffany Scott from Scott Johnson Middle School is the 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year for McKinney ISD. She serves as the AVID coordinator on her campus, and she has worked as an educator for 12 years.
Jaclyn Harrison - 2025 McKinney ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year
See video: https://youtu.be/CbJKIXPKWcA?si=jG1BPTeWLG60Z2R4
"These are kids. I’m here to help them, and they can make me laugh. And it’s OK. We can have fun.”
Jaclyn Harrison from Valley Creek Elementary is the 2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year for McKinney ISD. She is a 5th grade teacher, and she has worked as an educator for 4 years.
At Finch Elementary, 5th grade students brought their stories to life through an exciting stop motion animation project in art class!
See video: https://youtu.be/WdXBWkzpQP4?si=a2ggBUIwqahtPFF8
Led by Art Teacher Mr. Nguyen, this creative project served as a unique way to blend visual arts with the English Language Arts TEK focused on storytelling.
Students worked hard to plan, build, and animate their very own short films—demonstrating not only artistic skill, but also critical thinking, collaboration, and imagination.
To celebrate their hard work, Finch Elementary rolled out the red carpet for Oscar Day—a special event where the stop motion films were premiered and the winning team consisting of Daniel, Asher, and Eli were recognized and awarded!
From script to screen, these students proved that every story is better when told with heart, creativity, and a little stop motion magic!
In January, 11 MISD elementary schools—Bennett, Caldwell, Eddins, Finch, Minshew, Press, RJE, Vega, Walker, Wilmeth and Wolford—embarked on a journey through MIND Education's ST Math with lovable penguin JiJi, a character from the program.
During the week of April 1, JiJi visited the schools to celebrate their success using the ST Math platform—to date, they have completed an astounding 2,534,213 ST Math puzzles!
MISD Coordinator of Elementary Math Sharon Sovereign said that the ST Math program is based on neuroscience and, using puzzles, begins by teaching foundational concepts visually. It then connects the ideas to symbols and language.
"With visual learning, students are better equipped to tackle unfamiliar math problems, recognize patterns and build conceptual understanding," Sovereign said. "Learning how to persevere and learning from their mistakes has made the students of MISD strong independent thinkers, ready to conquer the toughest problems."
We caught up with JiJi at RJE on Friday, where the penguin, who appears in each ST Math puzzle, received a boisterous welcome!
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Finley Plant from McKinney North High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/bxvA9xtJ5Yw?si=s2IthAB9-TKJe83r
Finley plays cello in the orchestra, and she has served as First Chair for 3 years as well as an Orchestra Officer for 2 years.
She has received a ranking of 1 on Solo, and she was selected for the All-Region orchestra in 2025.
Finley is an AP Scholar with Excellence, and she currently has a 4.5 GPA.
She has taken 8 AP classes, and she has been awarded Academic Excellence for 3 years.
Finley is a member of the National Honor Society, STUCCO, PALS, and the Interact Club.
In her free time, Finley works at Sali’s Italian Restaurant.
After graduation, Finley plans to attend the University of North Texas to major in Business & Accounting.
That’s Finley Plant, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
