The 2026–2027 school year is officially underway, and SCUC Convocation brought the energy!
Staff gathered at Samuel Clemens High School and Byron P. Steele High School for a morning filled with music, laughter, celebration and plenty of SCUC spirit. The Samuel Clemens and Byron Steele drumlines, along with the Steele Cheer and Dance Teams, helped welcome employees and kick off the day in a big way.
As SCUC celebrates its 65th anniversary, this year’s theme, “We Are SCUC: Rooted in Purpose,” served as a reminder that every employee, every role and every campus plays an important part in serving our students and shaping the district’s next chapter.
The celebration also included recognition of employees reaching service milestones, a look back at SCUC through the decades and a lot of fun along the way.
A special thank-you to H-E-B for its generous $5,000 donation to the SCUC Education Foundation and to Schertz Bank & Trust for providing “We Are SCUC: Rooted in Purpose” shirts for employees. We are also grateful to First United Bank, GVEC, Schertz Cibolo Emergency Clinic, Schuping’s Heating and Air, the SCUC Education Foundation and all of our sponsors for helping make Convocation possible.
Here’s to a fun, meaningful and purpose-filled school year. We Are SCUC!
Welcome back, SCUC ISD teachers! 🍎
Our campuses were full of energy today as teachers returned from summer break, rested, recharged and ready for an incredible new school year. From creative campus themes to warm reunions with colleagues, the excitement is building for the return of our students.
We can’t wait to see all the learning, growth and memorable moments ahead. Here’s to a great 2026–2027 school year! 🎒✏️
#BackToSchool
🎸 Learning, Collaboration and Growth at SCUC Google Jam ’26! 🎸
Nearly 250 SCUC ISD teachers and staff came together today for SCUC Google Jam ’26, a full day of professional learning organized and hosted by the SCUC ISD Technology Department.
District educators, staff members and vendor partners led sessions featuring practical strategies, innovative tools and fresh ideas to support teaching and learning. Participants collaborated, shared their expertise and left with resources they can put to work in classrooms and departments across the district.
Google Jam brought our strategic focus to life through Purpose, strengthening instruction and student experiences; People, investing in the growth of our teachers and staff; and Partnerships, connecting educators with colleagues and trusted district vendors.
And, of course, no jam session would be complete without great food, plenty of prizes and a little ’80s fun! Thank you to everyone who presented, participated, sponsored and helped make the day a totally tubular success!
Ahead of the 2026–2027 school year, guests had the opportunity to connect, celebrate district successes and learn more about SCUC ISD’s strategic focus on Purpose, People and Partnerships. The morning also highlighted the relationships and collaboration that make our district and community stronger.
A special thank-you to the members of the Samuel Clemens High School Band who helped welcome guests and set the tone for the event.
Wiederstein Elementary experienced a heart‑lifting moment on Wednesday when the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation arrived on campus with an unforgettable surprise for first‑grader Carrigan Caston.
Surrounded by her classmates, Carrigan learned she will receive what many first‑graders dream about — a weeklong wish trip to Walt Disney World and other Orlando‑area theme parks.
Carrigan, a student in Mrs. Denise Trejo’s class, was joined for the announcement by her parents, Brittany Caston and U.S. Army Maj. Brian Caston, along with her three sisters. The moment carried special meaning for the family. Carrigan spent much of her kindergarten year learning from home while battling leukemia and returned to campus this year despite continuing treatments.
“It’s unbelievable — kind of hard to comprehend,” Maj. Caston said, fighting back emotion. “It’s not something we could have done without Make‑A‑Wish. This is a chance to celebrate, especially since she finishes her treatments in three months.”
To help mark the occasion, the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation treated Carrigan’s class to cupcakes, juice, and goodie bags, filling the room with festive balloons and smiles. Ashley Garcia, Director of Development, said every detail of the trip — including costs and travel logistics — will be covered through donations from Make‑A‑Wish supporters.
Among those visibly moved by the celebration was Jennifer Mills, who served as Carrigan’s homebound teacher last year. After finishing her own school day as a second‑grade teacher, Mills visited the Caston home to ensure Carrigan stayed connected to learning during treatment.
“It was an amazing experience,” Mills said. “I was welcomed into their home like a family member. There were good days and tough days depending on how Carrigan felt, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of her journey.”
The Caston family’s wish trip is scheduled for May 17–23.
Lorrie Housley, Education Foundation trustee, thanked each teacher as they emerged from their classrooms and presented them with a gift pass good for one free hour of bowling this week at the EVO Center. While she and principal Geri Pope were expressing their gratitude, Kim Klinge, another Education Foundation trustee, was busy placing new appliances in the school’s teacher lounge. Two microwave ovens, a smoothie maker, a toaster and a game-changing air fryer - donated by sponsors, now are part of the room’s amenities for teacher use.
“It means more than words can describe,” said Mrs. Pope. “The work that our teachers do is moving mountains, and to show appreciation on a consistent level - to show the connection - it means a lot to all of us.”
More gifts are forthcoming this week for teachers and staff at Schertz ES as Education Foundation sponsors will generously extend the “thank yous” in various forms. Trane Technologies will provide lunch, courtesy of Chick-Fil-A on Tuesday. First United Bank will cover Wednesday with a Sweet Treats Bar, and Schertz Bank will deposit a Picnic Basket-themed lunch on Thursday. The week culminates with breakfast tacos on Friday morning, courtesy of Guadalupe County Constable Jeff Large for Precinct 3 - and a Friday afternoon treat from Aulsie’s Ice Cream Truck.
We thank the SCUC Education Foundation for its generous support and gesture, letting the Schertz ES teachers know their daily efforts are appreciated - and seen.
Tapia served as Corps Commander during her senior year at Clemens and is now an AFROTC cadet at Angelo State University, where she is majoring in Psychology.
Field Training is a competitive, 2–3 week program held at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. It tests a cadet’s leadership skills, discipline, and physical fitness under demanding conditions.
Successfully completing Field Training is required to remain in the AFROTC program and move forward toward earning a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force.
“We appreciated the job you did at the gala,” said Jason Barger, Rotary Club president, addressing the students in attendance at the early morning club meeting.. “You acted with such dignity and the way you presented yourself and worked hard - people commented on it and our club recognized it.”
Barger was joined in the presentation by fellow Rotary Club members Mark Moody, Fredy Degollado, Cheri Armstrong and Daniel Ortiz. SCUC Superintendent of Schools Paige Meloni and Justin Linthicum, Steele HS principal, were also on hand to extend their gratitude in the partnership with Randolph Metrocom.
Barger hopes to continue the strong relationship between Randolph Metrocom and the Steele Interact Club in the future - an acknowledgement of the stellar work from students past and present. “The money we’re giving is to help you,” he said. “It gives you a base and helps the club grow in the future as well.”
Under the theme Revive, students served on two committees addressing persistent global issues: water pollution caused by crop fertilization and the lack of access to medical care in developing countries. Delegates researched causes, explored solutions, and debated policies, gaining experience in collaboration and critical thinking while tackling challenges that affect communities worldwide.
It was more than a lesson; it was exposure to real-life world issues. Dobie and Corbett JHS students involved were exposed to the necessity for cooperation, empathy and solution-oriented thinking through diplomacy.
Guided by Samuel Clemens High School students, these hands-on experiences sparked curiosity and built connections across grade levels. Funded by a generous SCUC Education Foundation grant, the expos provided equipment and supplies that brought real-world science into classrooms, laying the groundwork for future STEM success.
The initiative began at Paschal on October 28, continued at Wilder on November 19, and concluded at Corbett on December 10. With plans to return in the spring featuring new stations and activities, SCUC continues to foster a culture of inquiry, innovation, and mentorship that inspires lifelong learning.
#Purpose
#People
#Partnerships
#WeAreSCUC
SCUC celebrates its educators, specialists and support staff who work to ensure every student has access to a quality education. Ms. Jones-Fox and Ms. Miller at Dobie Junior High School are just two of the dedicated teachers who impart their love and knowledge of science to provide equitable opportunities. Coach Harper and Ms. Achtenberg also deserve recognition for their inclusion work in P.E., thoughtfully pairing special-education students—including those with Down syndrome—with their peers in the school’s PALS program.
Similarly, at Green Valley Elementary School, Ms. Benson, a first-grade teacher, helps create an inviting, inclusive environment, adjusting to meet individual needs.
Through the partnerships with students, parents, specialists and educators, we honor National Special Education Day and its meaning - valuing our Purpose and People to help every child reach their full potential.
#WeAreSCUC
#YouBelongHere
Parades, concerts, and most of all, thank-yous, were the focus of campus Veterans Day observances throughout SCUC leading up to the observance on November 11th. Processions were held through the halls of some campuses; students beamed with pride as they walked with parents, grandparents and other family members who currently serve or have served in the United States military.
Meanwhile, Samuel Clemens High School Air Force and Byron P. Steele High School JROTC cadets led the yearly observance at their respective campuses. Family members, many of them military-connected, watched as school choirs paid tribute to their guests with patriotic songs and expressions of gratitude for their service.
Veterans Day, first recognized as Armistice Day after World War I, reminds us of the men and women who serve to protect the nation from enemies, foreign and domestic. They trade comfort for duty, endure long deployments, often to volatile locales around the world. These sacrifices are felt by the service members themselves, and by their families at home.
SCUC is grateful and proud to be a military-connected school district, with approximately 40 percent of its enrollment tied to current or former military veterans. We express our deepest thanks for those who volunteer to serve to keep our nation safe and free.
Congratulations to:
• Ashley Nieves, Dobie Junior High
• Stephanie Pemelton, Green Valley Elementary
Each recipient received $500 in DonorsChoose gift cards to support classroom projects and three tickets to the 2025 Valero Alamo Bowl.
Thank you to the Valero Alamo Bowl for recognizing the meaningful work happening in our schools and supporting teachers who go above and beyond for students.
#ExtraYardForTeachers #WeAreSCUC
