Latest news with #PalestineIndependentSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
PHS senior Erica Martinez wins Toyota Corolla from Palestine Toyota
Palestine senior Erica Martinez said God answered her prayers Monday at Wildcat Stadium. 'I had only shot to get picked and I was shaking the whole time. I prayed the whole time, so God really did this for me,' Martinez said. 'In the beginning, I figured I wasn't getting the car but when it became a 50-50 shot, I thought I might have a chance.' Martinez had a one-in-10 chance of winning a Toyota Corolla during the 2025 Driven to Succeed program, sponsored by Palestine Toyota and Kim's Convenience Store. She was the ninth name drawn from Palestine Toyota owner Chuck Eldridge. 'This year is the third faithful year to not only do it here but across town so a special shoutout to Michael Armstrong, Kim Cole and the family for what they do during this event,' Eldridge said. Kim's provided $1,500 for fuel in gift cards to the winner of the car. Eldridge said giving away the cars brings him back to his childhood when it comes to the program. 'We give all credit to God, and seeing that makes my heart full,' Eldridge said. 'It gives me a sense of hope because I didn't have a car to go to college when I was in high school and so that is part of why the program lives so close to my heart. I know that every single year, the Lord sends us someone that needs the car. I couldn't be happier for her and her family.' Larissa Loveless, public relations director for Palestine Independent School District said Martinez getting the car embodied what the program means overall. 'The recent Driven to Succeed car giveaway by Palestine Toyota — awarding a vehicle and $1,500 in fuel to PHS senior Erica Martinez — is more than just a generous act,' Loveless said. 'It's a bold, beautiful example of what happens when businesses, schools, families and communities come together with a shared purpose: to celebrate and uplift student success.' Students become part of the program with perfect attendance throughout the year. During each six weeks, students have a chance to get a ping pong ball submitted for a higher chance at selection. 'At Palestine ISD, we know that positive messages are most powerful when they come from every direction — from the classroom, from home and from the wider community,' Loveless said. 'That's what makes this moment so impactful. It tells our students: your hard work is noticed, your future is worth investing in, and we are all behind you.' Eldridge said the main message of the Driven to Succeed program is make sure you are in school. 'I got to tell you that the program helps kids understand that being at school helps them to learn,' Eldridge said. 'Also, the perfect attendance is how the schools are funded. Plus it is hard to get an education when you are not sitting in a school house.' Martinez said she was grateful for the one shot she received at picking the key. 'It means a lot because I don't have a car yet,' Martinez said. 'It is going to help me and my family out. I am very grateful for all of the people who helped me get this far. I am grateful for the community and for them helping to get me this far. God only knows what the future will hold for me.' Eldridge said the excitement and community support is what keeps the program going strong. 'It makes us want to do this again. When you see the kids interacting together, it is having the best day of her life,' Eldridge said. 'Giving back to the kids is one of the two favorite days for me as a business owner in town. I want to thank Kim's for their loyalty every single year and the community and PISD for helping us do this.'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Filing for school board positions closes Feb. 14
Palestine, Westwood, Elkhart, Frankston, Grapeland and Oakwood school districts are accepting applications for the May 3 School Board of Trustee Elections through 5 p.m. Feb. 14. The window for submitting applications has been open since Jan. 15, allowing candidates more than four weeks to apply. Most districts require candidates to be at least 18 years of age, to reside in the district six months before filing, and live in Texas for 12 months prior. Districts not participating in the general election include Cayuga, Neches and Slocum. Filing for those districts' November elections begins in July. Potential candidates can visit their district office in person to complete an application or download it from the district's website and submit it in person or through mail or fax. Palestine Board positions available in the Palestine Independent School District include Place 3, currently held by Jeffrey Schwab; Place 4, held by Kurt Herrington; and Place 5, held by Davi Killion Ingram. Applications are available on the website and can be mailed, faxed or submitted in person and addressed to Palestine Independent School District, Attn: Lisa Edge, 1007 East Park St., Palestine, TX 75801. For information call 903-731-8001 or email ledge@ Westwood Candidates can file for school board offices for District 1, currently held by Dr. Carolyn Booker; District 3, held by Jose E Garza Jr.; or District 5, held by Mindy Cretsinger. Applications can be made in person from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Office of the Board Secretary in the WISD Administration Building at 4524 W. Oak St., Palestine, or mailed to S.F. Lane, WISD Administration Building, 4524 West Oak, Palestine, 75803. For information call 903-764-2952 or email sflane@ Elkhart Candidates can now register to run for Positions 1, 2 and 3 on the Elkhart Independent School District board of trustees. Three candidates are currently running unopposed in the race. Chad Steely has filed for Position 1 and is currently unopposed, while incumbent Stephen Ham has reapplied for Position 2 and incumbent Andrew Bell is running for Position 3. Other interested candidates can send applications to Elkhart ISD, Attn: Rachell Glenn, Early Voting Clerk, 301 East Parker, Elkhart, 75839. For information call 903-764-2952 or email rglenn@ Frankston Four Frankston school board positions are up for election this year, Places 1, 3, 4 and 5. Incumbents Jeremy Allen (Place 4) and Brain Merritt (Place 5) have filed to run again, while no one has yet applied to run in Places 1 and 3. Applications are available at the Frankston Independent School District Administration office and can be mailed to P.O. Box 428, Frankston, 75763. For information call 903-876-2556 or email randiwestbrook@frankstonisd.. Grapeland Applications for Positions 6 and 7 are open for the Grapeland Independent School District school board election. Incumbents Chance Huff and Timothy Howard, Sr., have applied to run for positions 6 and 7, respectively, and are unopposed. Applications are available on the district's website and at the Grapeland Independent School District Administration Building at 116 W. Myrtle Street. Applications can be mailed to P.O. Box 249, Grapeland, 75844. For information call 936-687-4619 or email kstreetman@ Oakwood Four at-large positions are currently open on the Oakwood Independent School District board of trustees. One new candidate, Brittany Boyd, and four incumbents, Derek Lancaster, Jason Milligan, Dave Bellow, and Joseph Sheffield, have signed up to run again in this year's election. Applications are now available and can be mailed or signed in person at the Oakwood ISD Administration Office at 631 N. Holly St., Oakwood, 75855-0802. For information call 903-545-2600 or email vstroud@
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Palestine High School showcases Career, Technical programs
The Palestine Independent School District hosted its third Career and Technical Education Showcase on Wednesday, Feb. 5. 'Everyone that is a vendor is either a college, trade school or a local business partner for one of our CTE programs of study,' said Brian Howie, assistant superintendent. 'So, Sanderson Farms, they are here because they work with our Ag program showing our kids how to process chicken, and they do some stuff on the Ag mechanic side as well.' Howie said the event is not a career fair, or a job fair, but more of what Palestine's CTE programs offer and how that correlates into the real world. 'After they leave our showcase, we want them to have questions so we can guide them to the classes they need to take,' Howie said. This year, there were 33 varied booths for students in grades sixth through 12th to visit and learn what is available for their educational and professional futures. Students actively asked questions about the classes offered and what they would get to do in those classes. Howie said this year there was a new element to the event. 'This year our Special Education Department at Palestine, we've got speech, occupational therapy, diagnosticians here, kids have never heard of that,' he said. 'We wanted to show them within education there is more than just teaching or being a principal. There are specializations.' Touring through the event, PISD Superintendent Jason Marshall said he thinks career and technology is 'great for kids.' 'A lot of kids, who are high school age kids, are not going to pursue college, but even those who are going to pursue college can learn a skill in high school and help pay their way through college,' Marshall said. 'It's really great, under Mr. Howie's direction, that we've extended this down to the younger levels where kids can learn about career fields before they get to high school. When students get to high school, they still have enough flexibility in their schedule that they can participate in at least two career fields in high school and still come out with some type of certification.' Marshall said it was 'awesome' to see high school students currently in CTE programs at the event discussing those fields with other students. Senior Tre'Darius Shepard said being one of the student participants in the CTE Showcase allowed him to share information about the various programs offered at Palestine High School. 'It is a really good opportunity showing the younger kids in our district what they can do when they get in high school,' Shepard said. 'I have visited some of the booths and they are really awesome. They are able to show us what Palestine or our district has to offer. It is so incredible and you don't know they exist until you come out from our community and they show us what they do. 'I want to thank Palestine High School and our director of the CTE program,' he said. 'I want to thank the teachers for making it better and they are doing so great at it and showing us what they offer as a district.' Some of the booths were interactive as well. Those visiting the agriculture booth got to hold newborn chicks, those who stopped by the welding class booth were able to tryout the welding simulator, cosmetology students styled visiting students' hair at their booth and the EMT/fire booth was demonstrating how they load a person on a gurney. Booths from the Palestine High School's CTE program included: • Cosmetology • Agriculture • Architecture and construction • Arts, A/V technology and communications • Business • Education • Health science There were also local businesses set up to show how they correlate with classes offered at PISD through the CTE program. Participating businesses included Wayne Sanderson Farms, Walmart and the Palestine Herald-Press. 'At our booth we have live chicks from our hatchery that just hatched this morning,' said Cara Patterson, a retention associate with Sanderson Farms. 'And we are explaining the process of everything to the students who come by our booth.' Patterson said she enjoyed the reactions of the students as they showed them the 'cute little chickens' and then 'telling them this is something they will wind up eating.' 'Most of them are shocked by it,' she said. Patterson said many people don't realize the Palestine processing plant for Sanderson Farms provides poultry to many local restaurants and stores. 'A lot of them are like, 'Oh, that's what the little label on there is.' Yeah, that comes from us,' she said. 'We hand process a lot of our birds. That is what we are doing here today, sharing about that process to students.' For the seniors, the CTE Showcase featured area colleges, including Trinity Valley Community College and the military, including Navy, Marine and Army recruiters.
