New Schools

2009 Herman E. Lawson Early Childhood Center

McKinney ISD will introduce the Herman E. Lawson Early Childhood Center to the McKinney community this fall. Located near the intersection of Wolford Street and Dowell Street in west McKinney, the center will be home to Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD), and Pre-Kindergarten programs in McKinney ISD.

Lawson is equipped with an experienced and committed teaching staff, most of which have had many years of previous teaching experience in McKinney ISD classrooms. The school is loaded with special features including a 90,000 square foot unique age-specific design, three outdoor playgrounds, and a creative group activity area.

The childhood center is named in honor of Mr. Herman Lawson, who grew up attending McKinney schools and later served as principal of Finch Elementary School and McKinney ISD Director of Student Services.

Mr. Lawson was born in McKinney, attended Altoga School grades 1-8, and attended Boyd High School grades 9-12, graduating from the “original” Boyd High School in McKinney.

During his teaching tenure in McKinney beginning in 1957, he taught Geometry, Trigonometry, Educational Analysis, and Driver’s Education at Boyd High School and McKinney High School. He served as a class sponsor for many classes, was Slide Ruler Sponsor, and took many students to UIL Math Competitions.

Mr. Lawson served as principal at Finch Elementary School for nine years, and finished his career as the McKinney ISD Director of Student Services. As Director of Student Services, he instituted the first computerized attendance program in McKinney ISD. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Lawson served the district as a bus driver, textbook custodian, visiting teacher, and was always willing to assist the district in any way he was needed. He was one of McKinney ISD’s true “go to guys”.

Former students have described him as one of the best math teachers the district has ever had, not only because of his skill in teaching mathematics, but because of his consistent and fair discipline in dealing with his students.

Mr. Lawson retired from McKinney ISD in 1989 after 32 years of dedication to students.

2008 Middle School #5 Dr. Jack Cockrill Middle School

Dr. Jack Cockrill came to McKinney ISD in 1989, just as the District began an unprecedented period of growth. The McKinney ISD Board of Trustees chose him to lead the district during a period of rapid growth and to create a global vision that would move the district into the 21st century. Dr. Cockrill received a master’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Doctorate of Education from East Texas State University.

During the ten years he served as superintendent (1989-1999), Dr. Cockrill led a number of initiatives. Several of these accomplishments are listed below:

• Four elementary schools and one middle school were built and opened
• The District’s second high school, one middle school and four elementary schools were in planning and/or construction stages during his tenure. The first of the elementary schools, Valley Creek Elementary School, was the first new elementary built in McKinney ISD since the 1950’s.
• Dr. Cockrill was instrumental in getting the first two elementary school sites, Valley Creek and Glen Oaks, donated to McKinney ISD. In addition, several school sites were negotiated and purchased at below market value including Dowell Middle School, Eddins Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and McKinney North High School.
• McKinney ISD was honored for receiving its first National Blue Ribbon School in Valley Creek Elementary.
• Walker Elementary was recognized nationally as a “green” school and used as a model for sustainable design by other districts.
• Serenity High School was created for students recovering from substance abuse.
• The academic offerings at all campuses were vastly expanded, including AP and Pre-AP courses, foreign language courses at middle schools and high schools, technology labs, and Special Populations classes, to name a few.
• McKinney ISD began working cooperatively with the City of McKinney on several projects including city parks adjacent to new elementary schools.
• SAT scores, as well as test scores at many levels within McKinney ISD, increased and the District began receiving recognition as being one of the top districts in North Texas.
• The LINC Center was created as a self-contained learning center to reduce the high school dropout rate.
• The McKinney ISD Public Information Office was created.
• The Human Resources Department implemented an aggressive teacher and administrator recruitment and retention program.
• A county school agreement was created that allowed Plano ISD to share Robin Hood funds with other Collin County schools, keeping more than three million annually in Collin County.
• Since the number one goal of the district was to make decisions that encouraged academic excellence for all students in McKinney ISD, Academic Specialists at each campus were added and staff development opportunities for all staff were vastly expanded.
• The McKinney ISD School Naming Selection Committee was created in 1994 to aid the district in honoring McKinney educators and others.