Mission, Vision, and Value Statements

Mission Statement

The mission of the Weatherford ISD is to educate, engage, and empower all students in a safe and positive learning environment to discover and reach their greatest potential.

Vision Statement

Weatherford ISD will be the leader in educational and innovative opportunities for all students.

Value Statements

- We value and respect all students, employees, parents, partners, and our community.

- We demonstrate visionary leadership.

- We engage in and promote personal and organizational learning.

- We make data-driven decisions.

- We practice ethical behavior and personal integrity.

Curtis Elementary is a future ready school located in the heart of Weatherford, Texas serving kindergarten through fifth grade students. Curtis partners with families and the community to create a positive, connected learning environment focused on educating the whole child. Highly qualified teachers challenge and inspire students to develop their talents and passions in order to prepare for future success in the global community. Curtis Elementary fosters creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking in all students.

There are so many exciting things happening at Curtis Elementary! We strive to learn and grow with our students, staff, community partners and parents! We take pride in our partnerships with the Weatherford community and our parents. We appreciate all of our volunteers at Curtis

I cannot believe that it is already the last day of school for the 2021-2022 school year! We have such a great year together, and I cannot wait to see the amazing things our Curtis students accomplish for the next school year.

Have a safe and blessed summer. See you all in August!

Our End of Year Celebration is on May 24th! Your child's teacher will send details about this event.

Please note these days and times for our Curtis EOY Awards! Your child's teacher will provides details about time and will also notify you if your child receives some type of award at the EOY awards ceremony.

K Promotion and 1st Awards: May 23rd

2nd and 3rd : Awards: May 25th

4th Awards and 5th Awards : May 27th

This week, we honor Sarah Williams! You all know she is spreading her wings to fly off to a new district to lead her own campus! Sarah is wrapping up STAAR 2022 and did a great job with the new online platform.

Thank You Sarah for all she has done for Curtis staff and kids! We will miss her so much, and I am so proud of her.

Good luck, Principal Williams!

Jennifer has worked hard to create a relationship with a specific student who has struggled in her previous schools. This student feels safe with Jennifer and has done a great job at Curtis.

Mrs. Martin is spotlighted this week for her work to create a love of reading within her classroom. She has been on a year long journey with her students inviting "Celebrity" guest readers to her classroom. Each week during the year, Mrs. Martin has had so many wonderful people come and read to her class. This is a lot of fun for the students and these guests!

Friday, Mrs. Martin's class invited all of their guests readers for a Reading Cafe! Students got to share their reading with the guests and also have a little snack while they attended.

Thank you for making such a wonderful, meaningful experiance for our kids, Mrs. Martin!

We celebrate Martrice Vanrite this week. Martrice has done a great job in her P.E. role. She is innovative and works hard to plan activities for kids. She also created the garden at the back of our builidng. Students are helping care for and watch plants group this spring. This week, Martice has really stepped up to support Elisa Henkle in the library with the BOGO book fair. Thank you for having a heart for Curtis and making Curtis a great place for kids!

Elisa joined us in the middle of the semester helping us take care of our library needs. She has not been afraid to jump in and figure it all out! Elisa has been preparing for the book fair this week. We are proud to also announce that Elisa is going to be a Curtis Roo permanently! She is joining Shanna Garner in the office and will serve as the Curtis Registrar beginning next school year. We are blessed to have her cheerful face at Curtis.

Flor is in the spotlight this week! She should actually stand in our spotlight every week. Flor works so hard to keep our building clean and looking great! She is the first person here in the mornings and one of the very last people that leaves at the end of the day. During this school year, she has worked double shifts to ensure we work, teach, and learn in a safe, clean learning environment. Thank you, Flor!

I wanted to brag on one of our Curtis nurses this morning! Last Friday, Taylor had a student present with complaint of not feeling well. Upon assessment of the student, Taylor picked up on an important health finding that was not previously discovered. The mom came to the school to thank Taylor personally for her thorough assessment of her child and recommendation for physician evaluation. Curtis is lucky to have the team of nurses on our campus. Thank You, Taylor for caring for our staff and students!

Our Curtis Teacher of the Year for 2022 is

Kendra Talley. Ms. Talley is an outstanding Kindergarten teacher. She is an expert in teaching Kindergarten and demonstrates effective teaching practices. Mrs. Talley is a leader on the campus collaborating with her team and sharing ways to improve student achievement. She engages students with challenging activities and sets goals with them to support academic growth. Ms. Talley also nurtures relationships with students, colleagues, and parents. We are proud to have Mrs. Talley as our Teacher of the Year!

Lauren Murray is in the spotlight this week! Mrs. Murray works hard to build positive relationships with her students and families. I received a text from a parent (Former student of mine!) that was overjoyed with the amount of care and support from his child’s teacher. Mrs. Murray had her class write get well cards to his son. Mrs. Murray looks for ways to make all of her students feel special. Thanks for loving our students, Mrs. Murray!

Our staff spotlight shines on Amy Phifer this week! She showed her team spirit by being a true team player with 1st grade this week. She supported them in making sure 1st grade students completed the phonics screener. She helped get everything organized and set up. She worked hard this week to make sure this was done! The first-grade teachers are so appreciative and really wanted to make sure everyone knew what a great job she did this week and does all of the time!

This week’s spotlight is on Brooke Cray! Brook has taught for over five years as a Special Education teacher. She most recently taught in Arlington ISD. Mrs. Cray is married to a former Curtis Roo as well. Mrs. Cray focuses on the special needs of all of her students. She came to Curtis charged with helping to design specialized instruction for students.. She has done a great job in designing instruction that meets the needs of all of her students. Mrs. Cray has done a fantastic job leading our Special Education Department at Curtis Elementary, and we are so Thankful for Mrs. Cray.

Gennie Bullock is our new nurse! Curtis is so excited to have her here to take care of staff and students. Gennie is a Weatherford Alumni and has a student right here at Curtis. Her daughter is in first grade, and she has a son at home that will start Kindergarten next year! Mrs. Bullock has worked in the medical field for over ten years. Please take time to stop by the clinic and say hello to Gennie. She would love to get to know the staff here at Curtis.

Judy IS Curtis Elementary! Judy has been at Curtis and served as the Curtis Secretary for many years and longer than any other Curtis Staff member. She knows all about Curtis, and helps keep our campus running smoothly every day! She does a great job in the front office taking care of the staff, parents, and students’ needs! She has done an outstanding job this week managing the day to day functions of Curtis. We appreciate Judy and how she serves others each day.

This educator! She is an amazing person and educator. Val Osterhoudt makes working at Curtis Fun! She makes learning fun for students, and helps students make great gains in their learning. She has actively(with a little help from her friends) self-volunteered herself in the role of President of the Curtis Booster Club! Val is the face behind our Boo -a Thon! This week has been so fun. I love the rumble and roar of all the BOOS, and giggling I hear throughout the hallways. Val loves Curtis, and Curtis loves Val! She is so good at supporting students, teachers, and our whole campus! Thanks for making Curtis a FUN place to learn!

Tisha Hadley is getting in the spotlight this week! Not only is she an amazing math teacher, but she is just a sweet, kind person. Mrs. Hadley does not disappoint when it comes to her quality of teaching. Over half of her students not only approach STAAR, but they MEET the STAAR Performance standard. She is committed to formative assessment and differentiated instructions so that all students are successful. Mrs. Hadley also helps with our STEM Club. (Her son is the biggest helper! He is the leader that volunteered his time.) During our most recent PTA meeting, Ms. Hadley was there. She really does care about our students and the school. Thanks for all you do Ms. Hadley!

Fun Fact: Tisha Hadley’s husband was an OU football player!

Sarah Shumake is one of our amazing para professionals. She does such a great job at Curtis! Sarah is always ready to serve. Whether it be in to sub in a classroom, cover a duty, she is ready, willing, and able! Sarah has done a great job getting procedures taught in the cafeteria. She has looked for ways to promote PBIS by handing out “BRAG” tickets for good behaviors at lunch. Sarah is also almost certified as a teacher. She is gaining more experience and will be ready for the classroom soon!

I want to shine a light on our very own Tonya Martin. She is an amazing first grade teacher. Tonya has great classroom management, and she is a master at developing engaging stations for students. They are authentic and also include activities that help students develop standards they are currently learning. When it is time for students to move to a new station, she does not have to say much because the students know the expectations. Tonya has also included a Reader of the Week program. She invites leaders in the district, community partner, and even administrators here at Curtis to come and read to kids! It is a fun time to be a part of the class. The best part is the cookie and hugs you get when you go read!

Mrs. Doran is doing a great job in 2nd grade this year! It is great to have her back working with kids IN her classroom this year. Last year she knocked it out of the park with our virtual learners teaching 2nd and mostly 5th grade! This year she has created a calm, soothing, environment for her students and also records her lessons each day so that our Video Conferencing students in our district can learn at home! This is not an easy thing to do, and we are so grateful for her leadership in our building and throughout the district!

Kendra Talley is a new Kindergarten teacher at Curtis this year! She is a true treasure! She has become a leader on her team and is a great addition to our Curtis team. Kendra has created a parent video- the Alphabet Chant to help show parents how to practice letters and sounds with their child. If you ever want to learn about Phonemic Awareness, just go to her class and watch all of those hand signs during her lesson. We are blessed the Kendra chose Curtis, and her students are so lucky to have such an awesome teacher!

Meagan Fox has stepped up for our Curtis students. She has done a phenomenal job with Computer lab and also lunch monitoring. Meagan does quality work with creating lessons for students in the computer lab, and she is always willing to create awards for our students each six weeks. Meagan also has fantastic skills in Excel, which is a huge help when we need to create data tracking sheets for the campus. Meagan has agreed to support some of our students that are struggling with school right now. She also has prior experience with students that have some behavioral dysregulation and will be a great fit to support our counselor with helping students that are in need of specialized instruction. We are thankful for Meagan and her willingness to help out in any way.

Katie Pitman is a real-life hero! Earlier this week, there was a not-so safe car pulling up in the pick-up line, and a students was about to cross the crosswalk. In an instant, Katie reached out, grabbed the students, wrapped her arms around her, and turned her back to shield the shield. Katie was willing to the impact to help protect the child. Katie saved a life that day! Katie is one of the most organized people I know. She is thoughtful and always thinking of ways to support kids and teachers! We do appreciate all she does for Curtis kids a staff!

See this smile! Everyone that walks through our front doors is delighted by this sweet smile. Shanna Garner is the SUNSHINE club! She offers a positive perspective and smile no matter what is happening and no matter how crazy things get in the office. She is the master of multi-tasking during dismissal. She takes calls on two phones, calls students to the car and bus line-always smiling. Continue to let your light shine, Shanna!

Brittany Melton is another teacher I would love to highlight this week. She is such a dynamic, positive teacher to her students. She truly has fun with her class, and it is evident that those third graders love her. A parent took the time to let me know how much she appreciates Ms. Melton and how she truly cares about her child. She provides good feedback and communication to her parents. Ms. Melton truly does have a “Heart for Kids,” which has been the motto of Curtis Elementary for more than 20 years! Thanks for all you do for students, Brittany!

Sarah Chrestman is a Kinder teacher this year, and she is bringing the rigor to the Kindergarten! Mrs. Chrestman has worked very hard to ensure students are journaling about what they are reading. Each day, they are having to retell what happened in the pictures that are added to their journals. Mrs. Chrestman has a great system in place to make sure students are accountable in stations and also utilizes See Saw to assign activities to students and to provide feedback to parents! Sarah is an amazing teacher, and our Curtis Kinders are blessed to have her as a teacher.

We all love Christa Hales! It is so nice to have her back on campus. She is the most kind and patient person I have ever met. I wanted to spotlight Ms. Hales because of how many hats we ask her to wear each day. She always accepts the toughest or strangest assignments with a smile on her face. She can shift her day quickly and smoothly to meet the needs of the students. Mrs. Hales is a gem since she is a certified teacher that comes to us with so much knowledge about teaching and learning. I know I am not alone in appreciating the positive attitude and the way that we get her very best each minute of each day.

Nessa is our Curtis nurse, and she is amazing! She runs a very efficient nurse clinic. Nessa was here when we first opened our Kanga Care Clinic- it was actually her first year as a Curtis nurse! Nessa and Taylor, our new LVN, have worked tirelessly to provide testing for staff and students. She has tested well over 35 individuals within a day and still had time to also take care of kids. Nessa is a leader among the nurses in WISD, and we are lucky to have Nessa at Curtis.

See this big smile? I know we all do each and every day! Mandi is kind and always has a smile on her face. She comes to the rescue anytime we are short staffed (which is every day lately.) She wears so many hats each and every day. Mandi has a “heart” for kids and does a fantastic job whether she is teaching in the computer lab, subbing for a teacher, or managing the office all by herself when we have no one working the front desk. Thanks for all you do, Mandi!

Alisa King is in the spotlight this week! She has done a great job with our kindergarten students. She is meeting kids where they are and her pacing of activities and lessons has been marvelous! Mrs. King has a wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning. She is a life-long learner that is always willing to share with her colleagues. Ms. King is a true professional, and her experience has enriched the teams she has been a part of here at Curtis. Curtis students are so blessed to have her as a teacher!

Mr. Peckenpaugh is in the spotlight this week. He has really settled into the education world quiet well. He has taken on some students to mentor at the end of last year and this year as well. He has been mentoring a few students that may not have both parents living in the home. He is the official CURTIS DAD! Whether responding to lunch duty or other need in the building, Harold is always where we need him ready to do “Whatever it Takes!” What a blessing he is to our Curtis team! He is the right person to keep students and staff safe!

Sarah Beth Reedy is a 2nd grade teacher here at Curtis Elementary! She is featured in the Teacher Spotlight this week!

Sarah has such a sweet, kind spirit. She is very patient and kind when helping students to remember the classroom rules and to be respectful of others.

She shows respect to all students. She has done such an amazing job with being able to pivot this week. She She is gracious and has a Can DO attitude!

Returning students and new students need to register!

We appreciate all of our parents helping us make Curtis Elementary a safe place for kids! We wanted to send some 1st day reminders regarding morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.

The front doors will be opened at 7:15 for bus riders. We encourage students that walk or are dropped off by car to arrive closer to 7:30 due to social distancing protocols. Students will wait in designated areas until breakfast is served. Students will be dismissed to their classrooms at 7:30. Instruction begins at 7:50.

Pick up and Drop off Procedures for Car Riders/ Campus Dismissal App

· Parents will remain in vehicle and drop students off in the morning and pick students up in the afternoon by accessing the drive off Russell Street leading to the back of the school.

· No left turns into the drive-thru heading west bound on Russell.

· You can use either lane to pickup your child.

· Parents will use the Dismissal App when arriving at the back drive in the afternoon. The back drive through will not be accessible before 2:30 PM.

· Parents will have a QR code to scan at the entrance of the pick-up line.

· Students will wait in their classrooms until parent arrives and scans the barcode.

· Parents will remain in their vehicle while staff members bring their student to the vehicle.

· Changes to how your student is dismissed need to happen before 2:30. Any changes in how your child goes home need to made before 2:00 on the APP. Any changes after 2:00 need to be made by calling our office at 817-598-2838 or through your child's teacher in the classroom communication process.

Walkers

Students will be released at the front of the building to walk home after 3:30. Staff members will monitor all crosswalks. Parents need to indicate in the Dismissal App that their child will be a walker. (2nd-5th graders)

Buses and Parking

· Buses will use the front drive in front of the building.

· No parking, except handicap parking, will be allowed in front of Curtis between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:15 AM and 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

· Parking will be allowed along the curb on the west side of Lamar only. NO parking will be allowed on the east side of Lamar.

Thank you for the help and support in making Curtis a safe school!

Call us at 817-598-2838 if you are interested in our Curtis PTA or want to volunteer at Curtis!