Cougar Champions

Hello, Cougar Nation!

It is so wonderful to have everyone back in school this week. As I said in my video message on Tuesday (if you missed it, see below), we are excited about the new year, and the start of a new semester. Let’s make 2021 the best year yet!

While we are on the subject of “new,” our new chief financial officer, Mr. Robert Navarro, will officially join us on Monday (read more below). Mr. Navarro brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be a great addition to the district. Please join me in welcoming him to the Cougar Family.

As we prepared to welcome students back, our campus principals made video messages to help remind our students about important safety measures (also linked below). We are all stepping up our efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Great work, principals!

And while we did just ring in the new year, it hardly feels winter when we walk outside some days. But Texas winters can sometimes throw us curve balls. In the event Jarrell ISD needs to notify families of a change to school operations due to inclement weather, the district will contact parents through email, phone calls and text messages. Please update your contact information with your campus registrar if you’ve moved or changed numbers. The district's website and official social media accounts (Twitter and Facebook) will also provide up-to-date information.

And finally, January is Board Appreciation Month in Texas. All month long we are celebrating our trustees. Our Board cares deeply about our students, parents and staff and it shows in their steadfast leadership. Please join me in thanking Crystal Phalen, Board President, Jenny Arnold, Vice President, Bruce Epstein, Secretary, Troy Clawson, Kenneth Leverett, Tamara Dozier, and Rebecca Kirby for their service.

Have a great week!

Go Cougars!

Dr. Toni Hicks

P.S. The first Community Coffee Chat is coming up on Jan. 27 at 8:30 a.m. at the Social Grounds Food Trailer in Jarrell. This event is open to the public. I hope to see you there!

We are proud to showcase excellent students and staff. To see more, follow us on Twitter @hicksJISD ; @Jarrell_ISD; @JES_campus; @IEScougars; @jarrell_ms; and @JarrellHS.

Got celebrations to share? Send them to communications@jarrellisd.org. Thank you!

The Jarrell ISD Transportation Department is reminding families that students must wear masks at all times while riding the bus. Masks must cover the nose and mouth. Students must also have their SMART Tags ready to board the bus. To keep our buses on schedule, students should also be at the bus stop when the bus arrives.

Jarrell ISD principals are sharing messages to remind students about safety precautions. Click on the links below to watch these brief videos.

• Igo Elementary
• Jarrell Elementary
• Jarrell Middle School
• Jarrell High School

We thank Mr. James Larremore, Mr. Jeremy Hill, Ms. Andrea David and Mr. Jack Wilson for making these videos to help keep our students and staff safe and healthy.

Review the Jarrell ISD COVID-19 webpage and "Ready, Set, Learn" Plan for more information.

Jarrell ISD is joining 1,025 school districts throughout Texas to celebrate January as School Board Recognition Month, Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks announced.

"This month we are celebrating Crystal Phalen, Board President, Jenny Arnold, Vice President, Bruce Epstein, Secretary, Troy Clawson, Kenneth Leverett, Tamara Dozier, and Rebecca Kirby, ” Hicks said.

The theme for 2021 is “Navigating to Success,” which highlights the work of School Boards during this unprecedented year.

Serving as a link between the community and classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools.

Dr. Toni Hicks, Superintendent of Jarrell ISD, has announced Robert Navarro will serve as the district’s new chief financial officer.

“Mr. Navarro brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be a great addition to the district. Please join me in welcoming him to the Cougar Family,” Hicks said.

“I am very pleased to join Dr. Hicks and her team in Jarrell ISD,” said Mr. Navarro. “It is exciting to be a part of such a strong community. I am ready to hit the ground running.”

Since 2016, Mr. Navarro has served as the director of finance for Harmony Public Schools. He has held professional positions including senior finance coordinator, general manager, national controller, accounting manager, and operations manager in varied industries. His rich background includes experience in financial analysis, management, budget development and forecasting, internal controls, auditing, process improvement and client relations.

Mr. Navarro earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and his master’s of business administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Navarro will begin his career in Jarrell ISD on Monday, Jan. 11.

The community is invited to meet and visit with Dr. Hicks at the upcoming Community Coffee Chat, Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Social Grounds Food Trailer at 110 West Ave. L in Jarrell.

• January - Board Appreciation Month
• Jan. 18 - Student/Staff Holiday
• Jan. 20 - Meeting of the Board of Trustees, 6:30 p.m., Admin Annex
• Jan. 27 - Community Coffee Chat, 8:30 a.m., Social Grounds Food Trailer

Jarrell ISD is located in northern Williamson County. The mascot is The Cougars. It has four campuses: Jarrell High School, Jarrell Middle School, Igo Elementary School and Jarrell Elementary. The district is home to more than 2,300 students. Enrollment is projected to double in the next 10 years.

Email: communications@jarrellisd.org
Website: www.jarrellisd.org
Location: 108 East Avenue F, Jarrell, TX, USA
Phone: 512-746-2124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JarrellIndependentSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @Jarrell_ISD