GRANDVIEW — Due in part to the leadership of former Superintendent Harold Pinkerton, Grandview ISD has long been known for its modern facilities, strong academics and teacher-friendly campuses.
The tradition continues.
Grandview was the only school district in Johnson County rated recognized by Texas Education Agency in 2007-08. The high school was acceptable, only 1 percentage point from recognized. The middle school was recognized, and the intermediate-elementary school was rated exemplary.
Zebra adults and students are not doing collective handsprings. There is always work to do.
“The goal is always to be exemplary at every campus,” said Superintendent Keith Scharnhorst. “We’re proud to be recognized. The teachers, principals and kids deserve the recognition.
“The TAKS tests get tougher every year. We have to find ways to move with the target and make sure we’re not happy where we are.”
Where Grandview is now is pretty much where it’s been.
The community is strongly behind the school.
“The community has high expectations for the kids,” Scharnhorst said. “The staff has high expectations. Our school board is very kid-oriented. They want to try to do what’s best for the kids.
“The teachers and principals work well with the community to make the schools successful.”
Skyward is an accountability program that involves parents, whether students like it or not, and it’s working, Scharnhorst said.
“Parents can go online and look at their kids’ homework and test scores, attendance and discipline. It’s all part of the equation. The parents see the good and bad, whether the student makes 100 on a test or misses an assignment.
“Parents can check on a daily or weekly basis. That way, they can stay involved instead of waiting to the end of the six weeks. The number of assignments that students are missing has been reduced. It’s been a popular program. The parents love it, and the kids hate it.”
But for Skyward to work, parents have to want to be involved.
“We have things like Meet the Teacher Night and Open House and Title 1 parent meetings,” Scharnhorst said. “We do whatever we can to get parents to sign up for that parent access.
“I couldn’t tell you the percentage of parents who have signed up, but the percentage has increased from year one to year two. Our goal is 100 percent.”
Another academic tool is Inova, a program that analyzes data to give staff better tutorial strategies for students.
“It’s a little more scientific approach to tutorials,” Scharnhorst said.
Technological advancement is among the goals at Grandview.
“We’re making a technology upgrade,” Scharnhorst said. “I went to Godley to visit with [Superintendent] Paul Smithson to see what they were doing. I appreciate his letting me do that. We’ve made upgrades in technology so we have our kids more engaged and so they don’t have to power down when they come to school.”
Good TAKS scores are encouraged at Grandview and so is student development in other realms, Scharnhorst said.
“The TAKS doesn’t test honesty and integrity and being on time. We let kids know those are all part of the expectations in Grandview ISD. Sure, we want good TAKS scores. But we want other things as well.
“One of the many good things about Grandview ISD is that the kids rise to the level of our expectations.”
Education
District attains recognized status from TEA
- Cleburne ISD
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Coleman Elementary School science teacher Suzanne Crocker, left, and Principal Karen Snyder give trustees information on a $30,000 grant made available to the school from Chesapeake Energy. The grant funds will be used in the creation of an outdoor learning center at the campus.
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CISD hires Wheat principal, joins litigation
Wheat Middle School students have a new principal as of Monday night, but it’s a familiar face. At the Cleburne ISD board meeting, trustees announced that Interim Principal Suzanne Keesee was promoted to principal.
- Students create masterpieces through fingerprint artwork
- Miller addresses Young, board, hiring process
- In the spirit
- Alleged posts may spell trouble for trustee
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CISD hires Wheat principal, joins litigation
- Alvarado ISD
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Bryson King helps pick up trash on Friday with his fellow first-grade students from Alvarado Elementary North.
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AEN students serve community
School is not always about learning letters and numbers or finding the answers to questions in a book.
- Annual AEIS report shows improvements
- Choir, band students earn state recognition
- AISD board reviews super
- Alvarado board honors teachers
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AEN students serve community
- Burleson ISD
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BISD heads to Austin to plan next step in lawsuit
The Burleson school district and other representatives from a coalition of Texas urban and suburban districts head to Austin on Sunday, seeking a court order that the state’s finance system be changed.
- Centennial students chosen for all-state band
- Burleson ISD dropout rate remains low
- Most school districts celebrate Christmas
- BISD needs to make cuts, says financial officer
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BISD heads to Austin to plan next step in lawsuit
- Godley ISD
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Parents want ISDs to be aware
Stephanie Falter and Lisa Chambers, two concerned Godley ISD mothers, said they are pleased their children no longer wait for the bus in front of sex offenders’ homes.
- GISD bus stops moved, deemed safe by district
- Dear in new role as GISD super
- Godley ag students learn how to feed, shear livestock
- Most school districts celebrate Christmas
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Parents want ISDs to be aware
- Grandview ISD
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Grandview Zebra Strings Elite teacher and conductor Vicki Nichols shows off a wall of practice violins in her music room. The Strings are headed to Nashville, Tenn., in March.
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Zebra Strings to perform at Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Last year, the Grandview Zebra Strings Elite visited the land of all things Elvis in Memphis, Tenn., where they played several shows including one at Graceland. This year, they’ve been invited to perform at an even bigger venue.
- Grandview school board selects super
- Most school districts celebrate Christmas
- Masons give first-graders dental care kits
- Tekell named Grandview homecoming queen
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Zebra Strings to perform at Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
- Joshua ISD
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Joshua band performs at national championship game
The Joshua High School band spent its weekend in New Orleans on an invitation to perform during halftime of the Bowl Championship Series game between Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama.
- Holly, jolly follies
- Most school districts celebrate Christmas
- Expanding minds
- County schools offering healthier options
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Joshua band performs at national championship game
- Keene ISD
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Most school districts celebrate Christmas
Ask most of the school districts in Johnson County how they feel about “Merry Christmas” or Santa Claus, and the response is the same. Christmas is welcome in most schools, so long as students take care to not play favorites with individual gifts.
- County schools offering healthier options
- TAKS results vary for Johnson County schools
- Callender steps down as Keene superintendent
- For county spellers, it’s quite a safari out there
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Most school districts celebrate Christmas
- Rio Vista ISD
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Rio Vista High School counselor, Kathy Monk, left, received her 20-year pin at the State Middle School Student Council Conference. Monk was recognized for her years of service as a student council sponsor. Also pictured is Terry Hamm, Texas Association of Student Council director.
- Venus ISD
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Venus ISD closed today
Venus ISD is closed today, according to the district's website. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, there was no word on Thursday's classes.
- TAKS results vary for Johnson County schools
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Venus ISD closed today
