Mesquite ISD

The first Mesquite ISD Board meeting of 2026, held Monday, January 12, set a celebratory tone for the new year as the district recognized outstanding educators, students, teams, and community partners who continue to make a difference across MISD.

January marks School Board Recognition Month in Texas, and the evening opened with a special Team of 8 Moment honoring MISD Board members for their dedication, leadership, and service to the community. Board members were presented with heartfelt tokens of appreciation and special presentations from Mesquite Education Association President Dani Boepple and MISD Director of Library Services Emma McDonald.

The evening continued with a significant professional achievement as Mesquite ISD’s Professional Learning Department was recognized as a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Professional Learning Award by Learning Forward Texas. A representative from Learning Forward Texas joined district leaders and the Professional Learning team to formally present the award, celebrating MISD’s commitment to high-quality educator growth and development.

Two exceptional educators were then honored as Apple Corps inductees, an award made possible through the partnership between the Mesquite Education Foundation and Clay Cooley of Mesquite. The district proudly recognized Kristi McCall, Special Education Dyslexia teacher at Agnew Middle School and Kimberly Mormon, a 1st grade teacher at Thompson Elementary School. 

Ana Ruiz of Florence Elementary School was also recognized as the January STAR Para Award recipient. Sponsored by First Financial Group of America (FFGA), the award honors paraprofessionals who go above and beyond to support students and staff. 

The January Community Partner recognition was awarded to Ascend - Parent Café for its meaningful collaboration with MISD Family Engagement. Through partnerships at monthly Moms Club gatherings, Ascend - Parent Café helps facilitate welcoming spaces where mothers can share experiences, build connections, and grow together. 

Student recognitions took center stage, beginning with QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship recipients. QuestBridge only selects 2,550 students nationwide to receive full four-year scholarships to top colleges, making this an extraordinary achievement for the following MISD seniors:

North Mesquite High School

• Kathy Avila - Matched with Brown University
• Antonio Charles - Matched with Rice University

West Mesquite High School

• Elizabeth Pardo - Matched with College of the Holy Cross

Vanguard High School

• Luis Ibarra - Matched with Rice University
• Tiffany Nwoke - Matched with Boston College

Several athletic and fine arts groups were celebrated next for their achievements at recent competitions: 

Volleyball

• North Mesquite, Bi-District Champions
• Poteet, Area Champions
• Horn, Bi-District Champions

Football

• West Mesquite, 14-5A District Champions (Undefeated); Area Champions 

Marching Bands

• Mesquite - Advanced to the UIL Area Marching Band Contest
• North Mesquite - Advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest
• West Mesquite - Advanced to the UIL Area Marching Band Contest Finals
• Poteet - Advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest, UIL Area C Marching Band Champions
• Horn - Advanced to the UIL Area Marching Band Contest

In addition, the following theatre students from West Mesquite High School were named Texas Thespian National Qualifiers: 

• Savannah Jones - Costume Design
• Lalia Perdue - Solo Musical
• Giovanni Resendiz - Theatre Marketing
• Alysha Roan - Stage Management

Congratulations to all who were honored for helping make Mesquite ISD a place where students and staff excel. 

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