February 26, 2026

Expo 2026 is TONIGHT

Northwest ISD's Expo showcase annually celebrates future-ready learning by involving fellow students, teachers and the community in an exhibition of Northwest ISD’s innovative and inspiring educational opportunities. The event gives students the chance to shine as they fine tune their presentation skills and communicate their innovative ideas in a variety of ways. 

Please join us as we celebrate our student achievements from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 26, at Northwest High School, located at 2301 Texan Drive in Justin. For additional information, visit the Expo website.

Job request form for The Big Event available now

The Big Event — the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation — will take place this year on Saturday, April 11!

If you have a project that student volunteers can help with, please complete a Job Request Form by Wednesday, March 11. Volunteers can assist with a variety of service projects, including planting flowers, pulling weeds, painting and more. Projects may take place at parks, private residences, churches or city facilities located within the Northwest ISD attendance boundaries.

Teacher interview fair taking place soon

Interested in teaching in Northwest ISD? Take part in an upcoming invitation-only interview fair to join an award-winning school district!

Interested educators can submit an application online at www.nisdtx.org/careerfair to receive interviews with two schools. Selected applicants will be invited on April 2 to the event.

Early voting in primary elections continues, Election Day next Tuesday

Early voting in the current election cycle, consisting mostly of party primaries, continues from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Friday, February 27. The final chance to cast your ballot is Election Day, which takes place Tuesday, March 3! Find where to vote and what’s on your ballot at www.votetexas.gov. 

Safe gun storage information

The storage of guns is vital to safety, especially during the holiday season. Texas law now requires schools to distribute information about gun safety, as firearms are the leading cause of suicide in Texas. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide. For information about safe gun storage, view this website.

Four NISD seniors named National Merit Finalists

Join us in congratulating four NISD seniors who have been named National Merit Finalists! Recipients of this incredibly prestigious honor represent less than one percent of high school seniors across the United States.

These students represent all four NISD high schools:

• Dawson Barthelemy (Northwest High School)
• Harper Campbell (James M. Steele Early College High School)
• Derek Eisenhour (VR Eaton High School)
• Barrett Fickle (Byron Nelson High School)

They now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million!

Byron Nelson wrestler wins State Championship

Student-athletes from Northwest ISD traveled to the UIL Wrestling State Championships earlier this month with Byron Nelson High School senior Marli Denmark earning an individual state championship. 

Marli triumphed in the 6A girls 140-pound weight class by winning all four of her matches over two days at the Berry Center in Cypress on her way to earning a gold medal and state title.

Marli finished on the podium as a sophomore and junior, but in her final high school match reached a new summit as a state champion.

“It all happened so fast,” she told the media after her championship match. “I felt so proud of myself for being able to achieve goals I’ve been dreaming about since freshman year.

NISD culinary team shines at regional competition

The Three Little Bobcats from Byron Nelson High School (Zachary Conticello, Ryan Schmitz and Jaron Searle) and the Culinary Arts and Hospitality represented NISD at Aramark's South Region Culinary Star Competition. The trio earned second place in the competition, which featured aspiring chefs from high schools throughout Texas and Arkansas.

In addition to the runner-up overall finish, the group earned the "Dream Team" award for their exceptional teamwork. Congratulations to the team, as well as Chef Victoria Hooker, NISD's Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academy Facilitator!

NISD middle school students shining in the library, on the stage, and on the water

Northwest ISD middle school students have been showing off their talents in lots of ways over the last couple of weeks! Read below to learn about some unique opportunities.

Inaugural Cardboard Boat Regatta

Northwest ISD middle school students made a splash at the first annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, a districtwide STEM competition packed with creativity, teamwork, and school spirit.

Hosted by the Northwest High School STEM students, the event brought together teams from across Northwest ISD middle schools for one exciting challenge: build a boat using only cardboard boxes and see how far it could travel. Students put their engineering, design and problem-solving skills to the test before launching their creations onto the water.

NISD One-Act Play Competition

Northwest ISD recently held its Middle School One-Act Play contest, showcasing the top theatre talent from all seven NISD middle schools. The sixth, seventh and eighth graders performed on the stage at Northwest High School’s Vernon Solomon Performing Arts Center, earning some top honors along the way.

Pike Middle School took home the award of First Place Show with its performance of “Mockingbird.” Medlin Middle School and Tidwell Middle School took home second and third place honors, respectively, with their performances of “Lafayette No. 1” and “The Sparrow.”

Individually, Ellie Cunningham from Pike and Ashton Sands from Medlin earned the Best Performer awards. Chisholm Trail Middle School earned the Best Overall Crew award after its performance of “Angels of Bataan.”

Middle School Book Brawl

Congratulations to all of the middle school teams that competed in this year’s district Book Brawl! Students prepared for the big day by diving into a selected list of titles curated by middle school library media specialists.

Teams from Tidwell Middle School came in first and third, and a team from Wilson Middle School came in second.

We’re proud of all the students who participated and the educators who made this event a success. Let the reading continue!

Beck Elementary teacher spins words into wins on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Beck Elementary’s own Cynthia “Cyndi” Carrick spun words into wins on Wheel of Fortune during the hit show's recent NASCAR Tournament Week!

The dyslexia interventionist turned her love of language into thousands of dollars in prize money and a trip to Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500 — even teaming up with NASCAR driver Joey Logano. 

From studying word patterns in her classroom to solving puzzles under the studio lights, Mrs. Carrick proved that the rules she teaches every day truly work. Her message to students: Chase your dreams, trust your skills and never be afraid to take a spin!

Steele ECHS teacher earns UIL Sponsor Excellence Award

Steele Early College High School teacher Amberley Tanner has been named a recipient of the 2025 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award by the University Interscholastic League, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to student achievement and extracurricular excellence.

Selected by a panel of judges representing academics, athletics and music, Ms. Tanner is one of 15 high school sponsors statewide who earned the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. The award was created to recognize sponsors who empower students to develop and refine their talents to the highest degree possible within the education system.

Ms. Tanner has coached UIL prose, poetry, debate, extemporaneous speaking and congress since 2001, while also leading students in current issues, journalism, accounting and social studies. She has directed and adjudicated one-act play for many years and has served more than nine years as a UIL academic coordinator. Throughout her career, Ms. Tanner has hosted numerous contests and supported UIL programs in Title I and developing schools.

NISD takes you Inside the Classroom

Northwest ISD's Inside the Classroom returns for the 2025-2026 school year! The series visits NISD campuses throughout the year and highlights the magical moments that happen between teachers and students.

The next two editions of Inside the Classroom feature Medlin Middle School and Adams Middle School. Click to learn how Tiffany Wood used Fortnite to teach right angles, or how Sabrina Dowell put her students in competition with bird beaks to learn about animal adaptations.

Stay tuned for upcoming editions of Inside the Classroom!

NEF scholarship deadline is next week

The Northwest ISD Education Foundation has opened its scholarship application for graduating seniors, offering the chance to apply for dozens of scholarships. Last year, NEF awarded more than $198,000!

All graduating seniors in Northwest ISD who plan to enroll in an accredited institution in the summer or fall of 2026 are eligible to apply. Accredited institutions include private or community colleges, public or private universities, military academies, and vocational or trade schools.

The online application is available on the foundation’s website and will remain open until Monday, March 2. Before starting the application, students are encouraged to review the scholarship policy and information guide.

Help the NEF Resource Store and Library

The Northwest ISD Education Foundation’s resource store and library provides support to NISD teachers and students through free resources and educational materials. NISD teachers can “shop” for school and classroom supplies, snack packs, books and more. All items are free to district educators! Already this year, more than 1,500 teachers have shopped the store at its new location and saved more than $930,000!

You can help by donating from the store’s online wishlist or the library wishlist. Immediate needs include books and snacks. You can also help by volunteering in the store! Volunteers help sticker and prep inventory, restock shelves and fulfill online requests from teachers. 

Mobile Food Pantry set for March 21

The NISD monthly Mobile Food Pantry is open monthly at Pike Middle School (2288 Texan Drive, Justin, 76247). Attendees can enter Texan Drive from FM 156 or TX 114. The Pike Middle School entrance is across the street from the NISD Administration Building. The pantry is a drive-thru service. Attendees should remain in their vehicle at all times, and food pantry staff will assist in the loading process.

As a reminder, we do not share any identifying information with any entity. We only provide information to the Tarrant Area Food Bank to ensure enough items are available for our population.

The Mobile Food Pantry is a partnership between Northwest ISD, Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Northwest ISD Education Foundation. It is open on the third Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. or until food runs out.

Time: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21

Location: Pike Middle School

2288 Texan Drive, Justin, 76247

Interested in volunteering at the monthly food markets? Sign up today!