Congratulations to our McKinney ISD 2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year Tommy Gillett of Burks Elementary and McKinney ISD 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year Reagan Brannon from Faubion Middle School!
The district Teachers of the Year were announced tonight at the 2026 Teacher of the Year Celebration held at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center. It is always a highlight of the school year, and tonight was no exception as McKinney ISD honored all of our amazing Campus Teachers of the Year and announced these two remarkable teachers who will go on to represent the district in the Region 10 Teacher of the Year competition.
Thank you to our donors First United Bank and El Dorado Chevrolet & Mazda for your support!
More photos and coverage coming soon!
Photo: (left) McKinney ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Tommy Gillett (Burks Elementary) and (right) McKinney ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Reagan Brannon (Faubion Middle School)
MathCON is a highly competitive national math competition that draws thousands of participants each year with only 628 advancing to the finals this year. At the finals, Kiaan and his fellow competitors will complete a highly rigorous 70-minute, 50-question written test.
Congratulations, and we wish Kiaan all the best at the finals!
The celebration kicked off with a reception in the library for current staff and alumni. We kept the spirit alive with our favorite traditions, including a stop to Kiss the Bronco, and wrapped up the night with a cookout at the Bronco softball and baseball games.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Boyd family over the last 20 years. Here’s to many more!
Serenity High Annual Fundraising Breakfast Brings in $30,000
Serenity High may be small, but its impact is huge. Tucked away at McKinney North High School, it’s easy to miss, but for its students, the mission of Serenity is life-changing.
Founded in 1999 by Neil and Lynn Sperry, Serenity High provides students who have completed recovery programs a chance to earn their diploma in a safe, sober environment, with a fresh start.
Since opening its doors, more than 300 students have graduated, many of whom may not have crossed that stage without Serenity.
On April 7, McKinney ISD officials and community supporters gathered at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center for the annual Serenity High Fundraising Breakfast that raised some $30,000 to support one of the few public recovery high schools in the nation.
The morning featured remarks from McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Mayor Bill Cox, founder Neil Sperry, and former mayor/past Serenity parent George Fuller.
Keynote speakers Jason Hernandez, founder of La Tiendita in McKinney, and McKinney City Council member Patrick Cloutier delivered an inspirational message of redemption and hope.
Serenity Assistant Principal Allie Long concluded the breakfast with heartfelt thanks for all who have supported the vision of Serenity High. A small school that makes a very big difference.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Karen Shi of McKinney Boyd High School where she plays violin in the orchestra.
See video: https://youtu.be/jlAuAtBSV0E
Karen is the orchestra president, and she has received Exemplary and Superior Awards in UIL Solo & Ensemble competitions.
Karen currently maintains a 4.96 GPA with 13 AP classes, and she ranks 4th in her class. She has qualified for a National Merit Scholarship, and she is a member of the ESL Math Club, assisting in tutoring ESL students in Algebra and Geometry coursework.
Karen is actively involved in FFA where she is currently raising & showing a steer. She previously showed Market Rabbits and placed 7th out of 31 contestants in the Collin County Stock Show. She was also a State Runner up in the Horticulture Career Development Event.
In her free time, Karen continues to play the piano and perform a classical piano repertoire. She is a volunteer at the Heard Natural Science Museum and the Wild Animal Sanctuary Texas where she prepares food for 15 different rescued wild animals.
After graduation, Karen plans to study Animal Science or Biomedical Science at either Cornell University or Texas A&M.
That’s Karen Shi from McKinney Boyd High School, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee is composed of junior and senior leaders from McKinney Boyd, McKinney High, and McKinney North. This group provides students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while providing feedback on district and campus initiatives, events, and procedures. As the school year draws to a close, we asked these students to reflect on what they love about their schools and McKinney ISD. In this video, we hear from McKinney Boyd seniors, Eddie Boeve & Chudi Oyiogu, and McKinney Boyd junior, Sophie Kissel.
The Gifted and Talented program serves as a specialized educational pathway designed to meet the unique needs of high-ability learners through a comprehensive and rigorous service design. Students engage in learning that scales with their development, ranging from pull-out enrichment at the elementary level to advanced interdisciplinary studies and mentorship (ISM) in high school. The program encourages intellectual curiosity and self-directed learning through diverse activities such as 3D design projects, mock trials, and business symposia. By providing targeted professional learning for staff and fostering strong family and community alliances, the GT program empowers students to achieve national recognition and prepares them to excel as innovative leaders in an ever-changing world.
See video: https://youtu.be/rdHq4D7GBAk
Callie is a junior, and she is 2-year varsity softball player for the Lions. She earned the Scholar Baller Award during the 2024–2025 school year, and she serves on the Student Athletic Leadership Team.
In the classroom, Callie is just as impressive. She is an AP Scholar and an AP National Recognition Scholar. She ranks 26th in her class with a 4.0 GPA, and she has taken 7 AP classes. Callie received the Academic Excellence award in 2025 & 2026 and the Academic All-District award in 2025.
She is a member of the National Merit Scholar Recognition Program and the National Honor Society.
She participates in Student Council, and she is an Ambassador Nominee.
Congratulations to Callie Green from McKinney High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
The Special Olympics track meet is always one of the best days of the school year, and a host of McKinney ISD staff and student volunteers came together to make it a fantastic day for the athletes! Thank you to all of the sponsors and volunteers who made it all happen!
And, thank you to Buzz Photos for these great photos!
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee is composed of junior and senior leaders from McKinney Boyd, McKinney High, and McKinney North. This group provides students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while providing feedback on district and campus initiatives, events, and procedures. As the school year draws to a close, we asked these students to reflect on what they love about their schools and McKinney ISD. In this video, we hear from McKinney North students: Cade Antosca, Mia Ramirez, and Remi Lazaroff.
Each morning, our elementary students and staff begin their day with a sense of community through a campus morning announcement broadcast. These daily broadcasts are a collaborative effort led by our Library Media Specialists, who teach students the technical and communication skills needed to eventually take the lead and run the announcements production themselves. By participating in these announcement shows, students gain hands-on experience in public speaking and teamwork within a supportive environment. More than just a way to share daily events, these announcements serve as the heartbeat of our schools—spotlighting students and staff for their accomplishments and celebrating campus mottos and creeds. Morning announcements help students feel connected to their campus while giving each crew member a leadership role in shaping their school culture.
Saturday, April 4, is National School Librarian Day, so we want to take a moment today, before everyone heads into the holiday weekend to say thank you to our McKinney ISD Library Media Specialists for the way that they support our students and staff across the district! They help cultivate a culture of literacy and inquiry by serving as teacher-leaders who collaborate on curriculum, manage print and digital library collections, and empower students with essential information literacy and digital citizenship skills!
And, in case you didn't know, our McKinney ISD Library Media Specialists collectively have:
—295 years of classroom teaching experience
—288 years of experience as library media specialists
—59 college degrees, including bachelor's and master's
—100 professional state certifications
Thank you!
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee is composed of junior and senior leaders from McKinney Boyd, McKinney High, and McKinney North. This group provides students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while providing feedback on district and campus initiatives, events, and procedures. As the school year draws to a close, we asked these students to reflect on what they love about their schools and McKinney ISD. In this video, we hear from Brynn Chisum (McKinney Boyd) and Callie Briones (McKinney High).
A tour of the stadium and CEC followed, giving the group an inside look at a facility that is utilized nearly every day of the week for athletics, fine arts, professional development or other district activities.
The annual McKinney CAN series was established to give parents and community members an in-depth look at the vision, goals and operations of McKinney ISD. Earlier this year, McKinney CAN visited Scott Johnson Middle School, McKinney North High School and Vega Elementary. It's been another great year, and McKinney ISD thanks the participants for investing their time in learning more about our district!
We look forward to McKinney CAN in 2026-2027!
While every military child’s journey is unique, they share common experiences that connect them across the world, from frequent moves and new schools to the challenges of parent deployments. Let's show our support for these amazing kids.
See video: https://youtu.be/7HEykMmwtbM
Camila is a 4-year varsity theatre member of the Drama Dawgs, and she is also a 3-year member of the varsity chamber orchestra. She sings in musical theatre, and she has performed as a jazz band vocalist.
In theatre, Camila is a 4-year National Qualifier with Superior ranking in individual events, and she is a 4-year State Qualifier with Superior ranking.
Camila was selected as a 2024 State Mainstage Thespy Finalist and Performer, as well as a Mainstage Performer with “Suite Surrender” at the State and National level. She has been recognized as a Superior Performer at State, and she received a UIL One Act Play All-Star cast award in 2025.
Camila currently has a 3.98 GPA with 5 AP classes, and she is a member of the National Honor Society.
In her free time, Camila works at Summer Moon Coffee, and she participates in Musical Theatre.
After graduation, Camila plans to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre.
That’s Camila Reyna from McKinney North High School, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, celebrated on the first Wednesday of April, recognizes the important work of teacher aides and instructional assistants. These dedicated professionals support both students and teachers, helping create successful learning environments every day.
McKinney ISD paraprofessionals play a vital role in meeting the diverse needs of our students and supporting classroom success across the district. Today, we celebrate and thank them for all that they do for our students!
See video: https://youtu.be/rCEf3R9xgIY
Jayda serves as the senior captain for the Lions track team. She is a two-time district champion who has also qualified for the Area meet.
Jayda’s success on the track has earned her two athletic scholarships.
In the classroom, Jayda carries a 3.2 GPA, and she has completed four dual credit courses.
She’s also active on campus as a four-year member of the Black Student Union, serving as treasurer, and she participates in the Kindness Club and Mark Club.
Outside of school, Jayda has worked at Rally House for two years, and she attends her youth church group every Wednesday.
After graduation, Jayda plans to attend college on an athletic scholarship and major in biochemistry on the pre-med track. She’d like to pursue her dream of becoming a dermatologist.
Congratulations to Jayda Williams from McKinney High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
See video: https://youtu.be/OEnV4bAr9cI
“And the Oscar goes to..”
For the past 8 weeks, 5th graders in Danh Nguyen’s art class at Finch Elementary became stop motion film artists. The young moviemakers developed compelling characters and story arcs as they meticulously captured their short films. The campus staff reviewed 19 movie submissions, and during their March all-school assembly the top 5 movies were presented. But only ONE received the “Best Stop Motion” Oscar!
