Welcome to a look inside the Panther Pride! What exactly is the Panther Pride? The Panther Pride is the school feeder pattern within Keller ISD that feeds into Fossil Ridge High School. Our feeder pattern is comprised of the following schools:
  • Basswood Elementary
  • Bluebonnet Elementary
  • Heritage Elementary
  • North Riverside Elementary
  • Parkview Elementary
  • Sunset Valley Elementary
  • Chisholm Trail Intermediate
  • Fossil Hill Middle
  • Vista Ridge Middle
  • Fossil Ridge High School
MEET OUR PRINCIPALS
Throughout the year we will be spotlighting the Panther Pride principals.
Take a minute to get to know a few of our amazing leaders.
TONY JOHNSON
BASSWOOD ELEMENTARY
My name is Tony Johnson. I am the proud principal of Basswood Elementary, and I have had the honor of serving this community since Basswood Elementary opened its doors ten years ago. Since the fall of 2008 we have worked tirelessly to make BWE a special place to be and a second home for our families. I have been a campus administrator for the past sixteen years and have been in education for a total of twenty-two years. My experiences have been in three different school districts and seven campuses ranging from pre-k through six grade students. These experiences have led me to have a greater understanding of how to support our school community. I have a family of my own and I love being the father of two beautiful children. My daughter is sixteen and a junior in high school and my son is nine and in fourth grade at Basswood. My wonderful wife of twenty-three years, shares her love for education and is a campus principal at the Early Learning Center South in Keller. I love being a Basswood Hawk and I am committed to creating special memories for everyone that we have the privilege of educating.   
ERIN APPLING
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY
Hello Panther Pride! My name is Erin Appling and I am the principal of Parkview Elementary. I attended UNT in Denton for my undergradraduate degree and ACU for my masters degree.  This is my first year in Keller ISD but my 12th year in public education. My experience is in special education, science and many years coaching cheerleaders. I love curriculum and watching the classroom lessons develop into exciting moments. My favorite thing about Parkview is the students! They love to be at school. The students learn from one another and encourage each other. I love how excited they are about learning.  
TRISH MCKEEL
CHISHOLM TRAIL INTERMEDIATE
My name is Trish McKeel and I am the principal at Chisholm Trail Intermediate. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood from Arkansas State University and my
master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Leadership from Tarleton State University. I have been married to my husband Brad, a US Marine, for almost 30 years and have two children. This is my 28th year in education and I taught for 17 years before becoming an administrator. My teaching career has taken me to eight different states from coast to coast teaching all grades K-8. I have been with fifth and sixth graders for the past 19 years as a teacher or administrator. They are my favorites!
PANTHER PRIDE IN THE KISD NEWS
PANTHER PRIDE CELEBRATIONS FROM 2017-2018
Basswood Elementary
In its 10th year last year, Basswood became a Blue Zone-approved Campus and saw gains in STAAR reading, writing, and math scores. Additionally, 72 percent of fourth graders made progress on math STAAR and 67 percent on reading STAAR.

Bluebonnet Elementary
This past spring, Bluebonnet was named to the Texas Honor Roll for its consistent high levels of student academic achievement and reduction in achievement gaps. 

Heritage Elementary
Last year Heritage featured finalists in the Keller Shake competition, a Keller ISD Foundation Grant Winner, and the winner of the Student Culinary competition. 

North Riverside Elementary
In its 20th year, NRES saw a 25 percentage point gain for students scoring four or higher on the STAAR Writing Composition and a 10 percent decrease in discipline referrals compared to the previous year. Stay tuned...its staff continues to BE MORE for each of its students. 

Parkview Elementary
Parkview saw increases in both 3rd and 4th grade math and reading STAAR scores and completed a campus-wide movement to tier 1 in math and reading across all grade levels. Additionally, 90 percent of students attending “Leap Academy” this summer had perfect attendance. 

Sunset Valley Elementary
Sunset Valley successfully completed its second full year of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation, hosting a PRIDE rally at the end of each six weeks. The school also boasted two Education Foundation Grant winners and in fine arts, every grade level participated in a music or theatre program. 

Chisholm Trail Intermediate
CTI just wrapped up its sixth year as an AVID campus – the only such intermediate school in KISD. The school successfully implemented morning meetings, saw gains in its Math and Reading STAAR scores, and featured a KISD Teacher of the Year finalist.

Fossil Hill Middle
The Hill earned Texas Education Agency (TEA) Accountability designation for Top 25 percent in student progress and also received a TEA Technology Lending Grant for more than $80,000 in technology and training for students. Its boys soccer team was district champ, and the Odyssey of the Mind team advanced to state for the second straight year. 

Vista Ridge Middle
VRMS had a successful first year. It was Attendance Champion for five of the six six-week periods, and won Gold and Silver in the district Battle of the Books competition. 

Fossil Ridge High
Fossil Ridge touted 109 AP Scholars last year with an average AP test score of 3.38.