CORPUS CHRISTI INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

🍎Alumni Spotlight 🏥

Meet Fatima Martinez! Fatima graduated from Carroll High School and is a Clinical Liaison at PAMs Rehabilitation Hospital.

"My time at CCISD truly laid the foundation for everything I’ve been able to accomplish in my career and adult life. The district taught me resilience, curiosity, and the value of hard work, but more than anything, it showed me what it means to be supported and believed in. Two educators in particular were absolutely fundamental to my early learning and still stand out years later: Mrs. Perales and Dr. Palacios."

Are you a proud graduate of Corpus Christi ISD? ✏️ Please take a moment to fill out the alumni form: https://bit.ly/44xNm0t

Congratulations to our award-winning counselors! 🍎

Four CCISD counselors were honored with the prestigious CREST Award, recognizing outstanding counseling programs that support students’ academic, career, and personal growth.Thank you for the incredible impact you make every day!

🍎 Dr. Annette Perez & Araceli Sandoval – Cullen Place ES
🍎 Lexi Benavides & Jenai Alvarez – Adkins MS

Dear CCISD families and staff,

Each day, our schools provide a warm, welcoming, safe learning environment for our students. We are aware of recent rumors as well as messages circulating on social media regarding plans for protests in the vicinity of some of our schools. We want to share a few reminders of our district procedures.

· Activities that are not part of the planned instructional day are not permitted on school property. Please be reminded that schools do not have jurisdiction over public property, which includes sidewalks near school property.
· Students who are not in class will receive an unexcused absence.
· During the school day, students under age 18 may not leave the school without being signed out by a parent or guardian. Students leaving without permission are subject to the Student Code of Conduct.
· While we respect student voice and freedom of speech, all threats affecting students and staff are taken seriously, and even threats intended as pranks are subject to disciplinary and/or legal action.

As a precaution, you may notice additional security on some of our campuses.

We appreciate your continued support and your help in ensuring the continued safe, welcoming environment at our schools.
Thank you.

This February, we celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the achievements and contributions of African Americans. At CCISD, we foster inclusion and equity for all students.

🍎 Alumni Spotlight 🍎

Meet Lorinda Hamilton. Lorinda graduated from W.B. Ray High School. She is the International Baccalaureate Administrator at W. B. Ray High School.

"I was fortunate to be in the first class of the gifted and talented program that CCISD brought to Corpus Christi in the 1970's. At the time, the "Athena Program" at Baker provided a creative, academic and thought-provoking atmosphere that allowed us to engage in all sorts of intellectual endeavors," Lorinda said. " After 39 years with CCISD, I still love coming to work every day. I am surrounded by quality educators, life-long friends and students that elevate my thought processes and sharpen the educational "tools" I am lucky to have learned in my time with CCISD. It truly is the place to be."

Are you a proud graduate of Corpus Christi ISD? ✏️ Please take a moment to fill out the alumni form: https://bit.ly/44xNm0t

Happy National School Counseling Week! 🍎

We are grateful for our school counselors who support, guide, and empower students every day.

Bid on CCISD surplus items in our online auction!

🗓️ Feb. 2–10 | 🔗 swicoauctions.com

Congratulations to these six CCISD high school seniors named finalists for the Buc Days Port of Corpus Christi Leadership Program! Out of more than 200 applicants, only 20 were selected.

These students will take part in the six-month program and earn a $4,000 scholarship, with top scholars eligible for an additional $6,000.

Join us in congratulating:
🍎Sharmada Palakurthi, Ray High School
🍎Unal McLauchlan, Ray High School
🍎Sarah Nguyen, Veterans Memorial High School
🍎Robert Benavidez, Veterans Memorial High School
🍎Josiah Ponce, Collegiate High School
🍎Isabella Mendoza, Moody High School

We’re proud to celebrate these CCISD campuses for being named 2025 Honor Roll Schools by the Educational Results Partnership. This national program recognizes schools with strong student achievement and success across all student groups.

Congratulations to these outstanding campuses:

🍎Collegiate High School
🍎Metro Elementary School of Design
🍎Los Encinos Elementary School
🍎Windsor Park Elementary School
🍎Mireles Elementary School
🍎Jones Elementary School
🍎Barnes Elementary School
🍎Dawson Elementary School
🍎Faye Webb Elementary School
🍎Kolda Elementary School

Thank you to our students, staff and families for the hard work and dedication that make achievements like this possible.

Bid on CCISD surplus items in our online auction!

🗓️ Feb. 2–10 | 🔗 swicoauctions.com

🎉✨ Teacher of the Month ✨🎉

Please join us in celebrating Mrs. Valerie Elizondo, a King High School teacher who was named Teacher of the Month during today's City of Corpus Christi Council Meeting! 👏🏽🍎

With 17 years at CCISD, Mrs. Elizondo brings creativity to her fashion design classroom, where she helps students build confidence, solve problems and bring their ideas to life. She enjoys when students discover their talents, find joy in creating and imagine new possibilities for their future.

👏 Above the Line winners 🎊

Join us in congratulating this month's Above the Line Employee of the Month winners!

🍎 Helica Gonzalez, Substitute counselor, Martin MS
🍎Lydia Martinez, 504 clerk, Cullen Place ES
🍎 Brigette Ramirez, Teacher, Moody HS
🍎 Amanda Vasquez-Koch, Principal, Kostoryz ES

Chromebook Tips for CCISD Parents! 💻
Through CCISD’s 1 to 1 for Everyone program, students in grades 3–12 have access to Chromebooks for learning in class and at home. Parents, here are a few tips to help your student make the most of their device.

🎓✨ 2026 graduation dates are here! 🎓✨

We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 as they walk the stage and begin their next chapter.

CCISD selected for Raise Your Hand Texas' Inaugural Community Leaders Fellowship

Corpus Christi ISD has been slected to join the inaugural cohort of Raise Your Hand Texas’ Community Leaders Fellowship The Fellowship is an 18-month program designed to equip local teams — composed of parents, educators, business leaders, and school trustees — with the tools and skills necessary to find, use and amplify their voices in state education policy.
 
“CCISD sees the Raise Your Hand Texas Community Leaders Fellowship as an exceptional opportunity to deeply and meaningfully engage with our local community and with state leaders to elevate and advocate for public schools, our students, and our teachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez. 
 
School districts from all regions of the state applied, and Raise Your Hand Texas leadership selected 29 school districts through the application and interview process.
 
“The Community Leaders Fellowship empowers Texans to become stronger public education leaders in their hometowns, directly shaping the future of their local school districts by engaging state lawmakers,” said Dr. Libby Cohen, executive director for Raise Your Hand Texas. “Public schools impact their entire communities. That means the work of advocating for public education in the Texas Capitol belongs to entire communities, as well. We’re excited these advocacy teams are stepping up to the challenge of bringing more hands to this important work.”
 
The program builds on the foundation of the Trustee Advocates Program, which launched in 2022. While the previous program focused on teams composed of school board members and superintendents, the Fellowship uses a unique collaborative model. Each team consists of seven to 10 participants, including at least three community members who are not school board trustees or district employees. This year's Fellowship participants are comprised of school districts that have between 500 and 50,000 enrolled students, each with its own unique needs and concerns. Together, they all want to do more for their students and communities.

Corpus Christi ISD continues to closely monitor the forecast and will continue to monitor throughout the weekend. We encourage everyone to follow local, state and national guidance regarding winter weather safety. In addition to safety, we prioritize ensuring our students have a warm, safe place to learn and to receive free, nutritious meals, especially during inclement weather.

At this time, there are no changes to our school-day schedule. If there are any changes, we will share information via our mass notification system, our official district website and official social media accounts, and via local media outlets.

We will post again no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, regardless of whether there are any changes. We wish everyone a safe and warm weekend.

CCISD middle and high school students explored maritime career pathways at the 3rd Annual Maritime Expo hosted by Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend. 🌊⚓

Students toured a tugboat, met with the U.S. Coast Guard and connected with employers and colleges. Students also highlighted CCISD programs such as Carroll’s Maritime Studies and Moody’s Underwater Robotics.

Interested in hands-on programs like these? CCISD Programs of Choice are open to incoming 9th graders from any campus. Learn more about the district's Programs of Choice: https://www.ccisd.us/page/programs-of-choice

Stay informed of all things CCISD by subscribing to the Weekly Beacon, our weekly community newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/xBgSr5w

CCISD names Athletic Coordinator/Head Football Coach for W.B. Ray High School

Brian Herman has been selected to lead W.B. Ray High School’s athletics program.

Herman currently serves as the assistant head football coach at Georgetown High School. He has 13 years of experience in athletics administration and more than 20 years of experience in education.

Herman served as athletic director and head football coach at Marble Falls High School for five years prior to joining Georgetown High School. In addition to his high school leadership experience, he coached at the collegiate level as a wide receivers coach at Bemidji State University.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

“The committee was impressed by Coach Herman’s extensive experience in athletics,” Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez said. “With more than two decades in education and a strong background in leading athletics programs, we are confident he will provide outstanding leadership for W.B. Ray High School. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our students, staff and the Ray community.”

Good morning CCISD families,

We are closely monitoring weather conditions, and there are no schedule changes at this time. Any updates will be shared via text, district social media, local media, and our website: https://www.ccisd.us/page/weather-closures