ROCKWALL, TX (June 17, 2026) — The following is a summary of the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees monthly meeting held Monday, June 15, 2026, highlighting key discussions, decisions, and district updates.

Recognitions

Congratulations to the following groups recognized by the Board of Trustees:

• 2025-2026 Substitute Teachers Named Employees of the Month and Rockwall Area Small Business Alliance (RASBA) – Rockwall ISD Human Resources recognized a group of individuals who play a vital role in the daily success of our campuses—our dedicated substitute teachers. Each Substitute of the Month for the 2025–2026 school year was nominated by campus administrators and selected for their exceptional commitment to excellence, consistency, and reliability. Thanks to our substitutes, Rockwall ISD had an 88% fill rate this past school year, up from 85% the previous year! RASBA contributed incentive awards for our active substitutes, providing well-earned recognition for their dedication and service. This partnership has brought meaningful support to our campuses and helped celebrate the outstanding work of our substitute workforce.
• RHS and RHHS UIL State Solo and Ensemble Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Piano Students – Students from around the state recently competed at the UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Band, Orchestra, Choir and Piano contests in Austin, Texas. To qualify for the state contest, students must perform a class one solo or ensemble from memory and earn a superior rating at the region level, which qualifies them to advance to state level competition. Only 10% of the students that compete at the state contest earn a Superior Rating receiving a gold medal or an Excellent rating receiving a silver medal. Congratulations to the following 112 students and staff!
  • Rockwall High School
    • Band:
      • Gold Medal Soloists (2) – Andrew Chinn and Ben Connelly
      • Silver Medal Soloists (7) – Lillian Kalinovic, Allison McCabe, Chase Hougham, Chris Connelly, Adan Thompson, Christian Rojas, and Samuel Rodriguez
    • Choir:
      • Gold Medal Soloists (1) – Avery Boyle
      • Silver Medal Soloists (3) – Ashtyn Huckeba, Cade Valentine, and Caitlin Dulac
    • Orchestra:
      • Gold Medal Soloists (5) – Audrey Thompson, Tang Deng, Khang Nguyen, Connor Douglas, Olivia Trammell
      • Silver Medal Soloists (4) – Ethan Tseng, Darren Deuble, Isabelle Wright, Olivia Varghese
  • Rockwall-Heath High School
    • Band:
      • Gold Medal Ensembles (4) – Isaac Arredondo, Zachary Guevara, Dravyn Mosely, and Landen Wright
      • Gold Medal Soloists (19) – Lexi Jensen, Daniel Topilin, Landen Wright, Isaac Arredondo, Preston Wright, Brooks Hilton, Gavhyn Corujo, Kaleb Gray, Braydon Lorance, Jake Lowe, Reece Seibert, Henry Delgado, Lily Matuska, Noah Wheeler, Mason Pfeiffer, Harrison Clark, Armando Gutierrez III, Holden Rives, and Grady Boren
      • Silver Medal Ensembles (9) – Anniea Averill, Michelle Gutierrez, Caden Turner, Mario Vidal, Hanna Coria, Manuel Cortez, Claire Ewert, Jonathan Reynolds, and Devan Vora
      • Silver Medal Soloists (20) – Travis Lin, Amat Cham, Haylee Guzman, Angel Noriega-Lorenz, Kailee Wright, Eva Estrada, Carlos Mendoza, Caden Turner, Cole Melson, Zachary Guevara, Mario Vidal, Jace Allen, Bryce Edmonds, Kayden Fortner, Kendrick Hawkins, Ja’Kobey Justice, Jake Volosen, Anthony Chinchilla, Francisco Quiroga, and Alexander Reyes
    • Orchestra:
      • Gold Medal Ensembles (9) – Luke Eggert, Liam McCoy, Logan Rollins, Darnell Arnold, Ethan Eisenbise, Harper Hilton, Caroline Nelson, Madison Doyle, and Ella Westergard
      • Gold Medal Soloists (13) – Caroline Nelson, Owen Swisher, Daniel Di Benedetto, Madison Doyle, Luke Eggert (received outstanding performer award), Noah Bevan, Daniella Gonzalez, Harper Hilton, Logan Rollins (received outstanding performer award), Preston Lucas, Cora Wiley, Liam McCoy, and Ethan Friedrich
      • Silver Medal Ensembles (4) – Zane Haffener, Taylor Hignight, Tamnhu Ngo, and Claire Nixon
      • Silver Medal Soloists (9) – Marcus Amores, Celine Safieddine, Andrew Perez, Ella Westergard, Isabella Thomas, Ethan Eisenbise, Zane Haffener, Mason Wright, and James Wester
    • Piano:
      • Silver Medal Soloists (3) – Ethan Eisenbise, Sarah Howard, and Joel Watson
• GBCCA State and National Student Awards in Business Professionals of America (BPA) – Nineteen students placed at the BPA state competition and advanced to compete at the 2026 National Leadership Conference. Congratulations to the following students and their advisors Mrs. Misty Rayson, Mrs. Naposhi Amos, Mrs. Marcia Eddy, and Mr. Jeff Burkham.
  • Team Event Results:
    • Software Engineering Team 1 – 1st Place National Champions: Trilochana Sivakumar, Arjun Singh, Neha Ramkumar, and Nikhil Balaji
    • Visual Design Team – 1st Place National Champions: Arya Davis, Nico Patrick, and Aijha Lias
    • Network Design Team – 2nd Place: Trilochana Sivakumar, Neha Ramkumar, and Arjun Singh
    • Software Engineering Team 2 – 2nd Place: Rueben Camacho and Colton Fisher
  • Additional Top Ten National Placements
    • Software Engineering Team – 4th Place: Jude Sprowls, Samuel Wattles, and Reagan Merz
    • 2D Animation Team – 6th Place: Nadia Flores, Brycen Tidwell, Kamila Ramirez, and Andres Olivo
    • Small Business Management Team – 7th Place: Vincent Vento, Ethan Abraham, and Kelly Shin
• RHS Yellowjacket Baseball Team State Semifinalists – The Yellowjackets advanced to the UIL Baseball State Semifinals for the first time since 2005. This milestone marks a significant accomplishment for the team, coaching staff, and the entire Rockwall ISD community. The District 10-6A Champion Yellowjackets compiled an impressive overall record of 27–18–3 this season. Their postseason success reflects the team’s commitment to preparation, discipline, and a strong team-first culture. The program is led by Head Coach Barry Rose, along with assistant coaches Russell Crossland, Zachary Collins, and Loren McCrillis.

Status Change from Chief Academic Officer to Deputy Superintendent

Expanded responsibilities for an existing member of the Rockwall ISD Leadership Team

The Board of Trustees approved a status change for Dr. Megan Gist from Chief of Academics to Deputy
Superintendent. This action does not add a new position to the District’s leadership team. Instead, it expands Dr. Gist’s responsibilities within her existing Cabinet role, and the Chief Academic Officer position will not be filled.

While Texas public education continues to experience significant change, including shifting enrollment trends, increased educational choice options, and evolving accountability expectations, Rockwall ISD remains focused on delivering outstanding educational opportunities for every student. Over the years, Dr. Gist’s leadership has been key to the district’s strong academic performance and reputation for educational excellence. As part of Rockwall ISD’s continued commitment to academic excellence and educational opportunities, expanding her role positions the district to navigate these changes while continuing to build on that success and maintain the high standards our community expects and deserves.

Dr. Gist has dedicated 28 years to public education, including the past 16 years serving the students, staff and families of Rockwall ISD. During her tenure, she has served as an elementary principal, secondary principal, Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction, Chief Academic Officer for Secondary Schools, and since 2024 as Chief Academic Officer where she has provided leadership and oversight for PreK through 12th grade academic programs and services.

She earned a Doctorate of Educational Administration and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M Commerce and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Northwestern State University.

Dr. Gist’s Community Impact Highlights and Accolades include:

• Rockwall ISD Chief Academic Officer providing oversight and leadership systems that consistently achieve high academic student outcomes while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates among comparable districts.
• Facilitated the successful planning and opening of two ninth grade campuses for approximately 1500 students.
• Facilitated the successful transition of approximately 1500 6th grade students from 16 elementary campuses to four middle schools.
• Provided planning and oversight for the successful opening of Ursula Rakow Middle School, expansions of Maurine Cain Middle School and J.W. Williams Middle School, and renovation of Herman E. Utley Middle School.
• Established the Marine Corps JROTC program in Rockwall ISD with 100 students enrolled in the first year, 140 in the second year, and an anticipated 180 for the 2026-2027 school year
• Facilitated Employee Growth and Professional Development though an Aspiring Administrator Academy, Growth Groups, and Mentoring, celebrating 60+ leaders who have advanced within Rockwall ISD.
• Nine years as a principal in Rockwall ISD serving at Cain Middle School, Linda Lyon Elementary School, and Doris CullinsLake Pointe Elementary School.
• Rockwall Noon Rotary Member
• Professional Women’s Alliance member, Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce member and leadership panelist 2023
• Black Belt in Lean Leadership (Continuous Improvement Model)
• TASA Midwinter Presenter: “Empowering and Retaining Leaders through Executive Coaching,” 2023
• TASA Midwinter Presenter topic related to Curriculum and Instruction Training for Campus and District Leadership including Implementing Systems for High Performing Schools 2022
• Recipient of the Texas A&M University-Commerce CLASS Alumni Award in 2021, an honor specifically awarded by the College of Education and Human Services recognizing outstanding graduates for their professional contributions and distinguished careers in education, research, and public service.
• Teacher of the Year, Aikin Elementary, Paris, Texas, 2003
• Teacher of the Year, Fifth Ward Elementary, Louisiana, 2000

Status Change from Senior Executive Director of Student Services to Chief Safety and Security Officer

The Board of Trustees approved a status change for Mr. Patrick Just from Senior Executive Director of Student Services to Chief Safety and Security Officer. This appointment fills an existing Cabinet-level position that has been vacant since 2024 and does not add a new position to the District’s leadership team. Mr. Just’s previous position as Senior Executive Director of Student Services will not be filled.

As part of Rockwall ISD’s continued commitment to providing a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for all students and staff, the Chief Safety and Security Officer role is responsible for leading the District’s comprehensive safety, security, emergency preparedness, and crisis response efforts while ensuring compliance with state school safety requirements.

Mr. Just brings 32 years of experience in public education, including the past 10 years serving the Rockwall ISD community. Throughout his tenure, he has provided leadership in student services, campus administration support, district safety initiatives, School Resource Officer coordination, counseling services, emergency preparedness planning, and student and family support systems. He
has served as a teacher, high school counselor, alternative school principal, middle school assistant principal, middle school principal, Director and Senior Executive Director of Student Services.

He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce). He has completed 18 hours in post-graduate doctoral degree coursework and holds a Counselor Certification, Superintendent Certification, and Principal Mid-Management Certification.

In addition to this new role, Mr. Just will continue to provide oversight in the following areas:

• District Safety Committee,
• District Attendance and Truancy,
• Counseling services,
• District Transfer and Compliance, and
• Student and Family Services support related policy, legal matters, and student concerns.

Board Appoints Rockwall ISD Board Members to Serve as Representative for District Committee

The Board of Trustees appointed Board President Dr. Sherry Packer to serve as the board representative for the District School Safety Committee.

Public Hearing to Discuss the District’s Annual Budget and Proposed Tax Rate for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year

In accordance with the Texas Education Code Section 44.004(c), Board policy CE (Legal), and the Open Meetings Act, the District published the required notices of the date, time, and location of the public hearing to allow for public input on the proposed budget and tax rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Administration provided a budget summary report detailing the major assumptions, budget processes, and detailed budgets for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Approval of the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget for the General Fund, Child Nutrition Fund and the Debt Service Fund

The Board of Trustees adopted the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget for the General Fund, Child Nutrition Fund and Debt Service Fund. The adopted budget will be posted on the Rockwall ISD website.

Approval of Request for Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) for Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School Security Camera and Video Management Software (VMS) Replacement Project

The Board of Trustees approved a contract award to Aerowave Technologies in the amount of $771,295.94 for the Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School Security Camera and Video Management System (VMS) Replacement Project.

Approval of Board Policies DBA (LOCAL) and Board Policy DK (LOCAL) Revisions

The Board of Trustees approved revisions to DBA(LOCAL) and DK(LOCAL) to reflect alignment to Rockwall ISD’s District of Innovation Plan (DOI) and legal policy.

Approval of Texas Education Agency Low Attendance Day Waiver for District

The Board approved the TEA Low Attendance Day Waiver District-Wide. On January 20, 2026, there was a large number of absences due to illness. This resulted in significantly low attendance rates at Nebbie Williams Elementary School. The 2024-2025 yearly average attendance rate for Rockwall ISD was 95.53%. The average daily attendance at Nebbie Williams Elementary School on January 20, 2026 was 83.60%.

School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Annual Update

The Board received the annual SHAC update. The SHAC committee is comprised of parents, community members, teachers, administrators and district staff members in compliance with policy EHAA (LEGAL).

Approval of the Optional Flexible School Day Program

The Board approved the Optional Flexible School Day Program application as required by the Texas Education Agency. The waiver allows the District to receive full-day funding for student enrollment in the Choice program at the Rockwall Quest Academy

Press release submitted by Luci Mouton, Rockwall ISD Communications Coordinator. 

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