National Principals Month

Stay tuned to our social media: throughout the month, we are honoring our 23 amazing principals. We will share some fun snapshots of the principals and some stats!

Bilingual Excellence

Marisol Bueno, an educator at Cockrell Elementary, has been named the 2026 Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Elementary Bilingual Teacher of the Year.

This prestigious statewide award celebrates Bueno’s outstanding dedication to bilingual education and the impact she continues to make in the lives of students.

National Merit

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million that will be offered next spring.

Coaching Excellence

Dawson High School’s head football coach, Mike Allison, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Game Changing Coach Award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in partnership with Ballogy. The award highlights 60 head coaches across the state during the 2026 season who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and dedication to developing student-athletes both on and off the field.

All-Region Choir

Pearland ISD has earned an official ‘A’ rating from the Texas Education Agency in the state’s 2026 A–F Accountability Ratings released today. The top-tier grade highlights the district's outstanding performance across student achievement, school progress, and targeted efforts to close achievement gaps.

Fall Theater Productions

Get ready for a fall filled with magic, adventure and live theater as Pearland ISD students take the stage in two exciting productions!

This fall, take a journey down the rabbit hole as Ovation Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland. This fresh adaptation of the classic tale is sure to thrill and delight audiences of all ages. Meet beloved characters including the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit, and enjoy a production filled with songs, dances, laughs and plenty of Wonderland magic.

📍 Dawson High School Performing Arts Center, 2050 Cullen Blvd.

📅 October 1 at 7 p.m.

📅 October 2 at 7 p.m.

📅 October 3 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The next generation of wizardry comes alive as Pearland High School's Legacy Stage presents Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Join Harry Potter, now a Ministry of Magic employee, and his youngest son, Albus Severus, as they grapple with a family legacy neither was prepared for. When the past and present collide in dangerous ways, father and son discover that darkness can come from unexpected places.

This spellbinding production brings the beloved wizarding world to life with stunning stagecraft, adventure, friendship and the magic of live theater.

📍 Pearland High School Bullard Auditorium

📅 October 9 at 7 p.m.

📅 October 10 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m

New Season. New Conversations. New Questions.

In this episode of the Building Blocks Podcast, Dr. Larry Berger and Producer Mac welcome Jennifer Byrne, Pearland ISD’s new Director of Special Programs. Jennifer shares her journey into this role, explains the programs and services her department oversees, and discusses how the district works to support students with individual needs. She also shares her priorities for strengthening services and what families should know about accessing support, partnering with the district, and advocating for their children.

A great episode for parents, families, and anyone who wants to better understand the people and programs working behind the scenes to make sure every student has the support they need to succeed.

Listen to the new episode of Building Blocks now!

October Newsletters from around the District

From the Pearland ISD Education Foundation

OCTOBER | BUILDING PEARLAND PROUD

We’re putting the pieces together for a memorable year!

As we kick off October, your Education Foundation is busy connecting community resources to enrich learning across Pearland ISD.

Our Board recently revised our mission to better reflect what we do:

The Education Foundation connects community resources to enrich learning across Pearland ISD.

Simply put, we bring community resources into our classrooms so our kids can have the best learning experience possible.

And this year, we’re building something special—together.

🌟LIGHT UP THE NIGHT FOR EDUCATION!

Our Inaugural 1K/5K Glow Run is Almost Here!

📅 Saturday, November 7

📍 Independence Park

⏰ Evening Event (6:30 – 9pm)

Get ready to light up the night with glow sticks, neon, music and FUN!

🏃 Want to RUN?

Register now! Pearland ISD employees receive a special discount when registering with your district email.

👉 [REGISTER HERE]

Spots are limited, so don’t wait!

Not a runner? BE PART OF THE GLOW VILLAGE!

We need volunteers from across our district and community. There truly is a place for everyone!

Choose the squad that fits you best and come be part of this inaugural event.

👉 [VOLUNTEER HERE]

🌟 Vendors Wanted!

We’re still looking for businesses and organizations to join us in the Glow Village!

👉[VENDOR BOOTH INFORMATION]

We believe this will be a memorable first year—and the beginning of a fantastic tradition for Pearland ISD and our community.

Let’s light it up!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

OCTOBER 3 | 10 AM–2 PM

🛍️ Donate for Dollars — Goodwill Fundraiser

Bring your donation items to the ESC Parking Lot, and we’ll unload them for you!

The Education Foundation receives 15¢ for every pound donated.

Bag it. Bring it. Give back!

OCTOBER 12 | ALL DAY

🍗 Education Foundation Spirit Day — Cane’s Chicken Fingers

Visit both Pearland Cane’s locations and support the Foundation!

NOVEMBER 9

🍎 2027–28 Innovative Grant Application Opens

Watch for more information! A virtual educator workshop will be offered, and I’m always available to answer questions.

NOVEMBER 10 | ALL DAY

🍔 Education Foundation Spirit Day — Jax Burgers

Visit both Pearland locations and support the Foundation!

JANUARY 10, 2027

⛳ Tee Up FORE Teachers — Topgolf Fundraiser

JANUARY 20, 2027

💡 2027–28 Innovative Grant Application Deadline

APRIL 3, 2027

🌹 Annual Evening for Education Gala

More details are coming soon!

EMPLOYEE GIVING

The Monthly Drawings Have Begun!

Have you joined Employee Giving yet?

Four district employees are selected each month for a special surprise!

There’s still time to participate. Every gift, at every level, helps us put more resources into the hands of educators and students.

Thank you for being part of it!

👉 [JOIN EMPLOYEE GIVING]

🏈MISSED THE HOMETOWN SHOWDOWN 2026 SHIRT?

Lucky for you—we have a few left!

We’re selling remaining shirts for just $10 each!

Available while supplies last:

🔴 Red

🟤 Darker grey shirt with maroon lettering

⚪ Generic grey

Sizes vary. Shirts are available in the Education Foundation office at the ESC.

Pay with cash or purchase online, and we’ll send your shirt through campus mail.

👉 [PURCHASE HERE]

STILL NEED A SPIRIT SHIRT?

We’ve got you!

Show your Pearland ISD pride with our Education Foundation spirit shirts. There are multiple colors and styles to choose from, and a portion of every purchase comes back to the Foundation to support grants for our educators.

👉 [SHOP SPIRIT SHIRTS]

✨EVERY PIECE MATTERS.

A memorable year doesn’t happen because of one person, one organization or one idea.

It happens when we all bring our pieces to the table.

Every educator. Every employee. Every community partner. Every volunteer. Every donor. Every student.

When all those pieces come together, we build something bigger than any one of us could build alone.

That’s how we Build Pearland Proud.

Every Piece. Every Partner. Every Student.

🍐 Pearland ISD Education Foundation

Connecting community resources to enrich learning across Pearland ISD.

Let’s keep putting the pieces together.

Welcome to October in Pearland ISD!

The first weeks of school have a way of moving quickly. One minute we are visiting campuses and welcoming everyone back; the next, our students are already performing, competing, serving, and settling into the routines that make a school year their own. As both a mom and a trustee, I love seeing the big picture come together through those small moments. This year’s reminder that Every Piece Matters feels especially true.

Around the board table

At our September board meeting, we began discussing priorities for the next legislative session. Among the questions raised were how Texas funds student transportation and special education, and how state requirements affect the ability of local communities to make decisions for their schools. These conversations are still in progress. We want our priorities to be grounded in the daily experiences of students, families, and educators, as well as the financial realities of serving them well.

The board also approved a partnership with UTHealth Houston for Youth Aware of Mental Health, an educational program that helps students recognize mental health concerns and practice ways to seek help and support others. We heard a presentation about airway clearance devices, too. Staff raised important questions about training, medical protocols, and how such devices would fit into the care already provided by school nurses. Administration is looking further into those questions before bringing back a recommendation. That careful review is part of responsible decision-making.

You can watch the full September 8 board meeting recording.

A look beyond the board table

A board meeting is an important part of our work, but it is only one place trustees learn about Pearland ISD. Recently, we have had opportunities to see our students and staff in action at campus visits, the Pearland FFA Partners Show, football games, and community gatherings. I have also enjoyed hearing from parents and community members through our Advocacy Ambassadors. Each conversation adds a piece of the picture: what is working, where families need clearer answers, and what our students need us to understand.

At the Partners Show, I was reminded how much it means for a student to have someone show up and take an interest in what they have worked hard to learn. That same sense of being seen belongs to every child, whether their place is in an arena, a classroom, a fine arts program, or somewhere they are still discovering.

Take a seat and cheer them on

Our high school theater students are bringing two stories to life this fall, and I hope you will join us in the audience. Dawson High School’s Ovation Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland October 1–3, with evening performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and a Saturday matinee. Pearland High School’s Legacy Stage presents Harry Potter and the Cursed Child September 25–26 and October 9–10. These productions reflect so much work by students both onstage and behind the scenes. Let’s fill the seats and show them how proud we are! Find show details and tickets through Pearland ISD Fine Arts.

Building a stronger voice for public schools

Some of the most valuable work happens before a legislative priority is ever written down. Within Pearland ISD, trustees are listening to families, teachers, district leaders, and community partners. Beyond our district, we are connecting with fellow trustees and superintendents in Brazoria County to compare challenges and find areas where we can speak with a stronger, more informed voice. An October gathering with neighboring district leaders is being planned to begin that conversation. We can learn from one another and make sure lawmakers hear how their decisions affect real classrooms.

Thank you to everyone who has invited us into a conversation, welcomed us to an event, cheered on a student, or asked a thoughtful question. You help us see more clearly and serve more faithfully. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent this community and excited for all that is ahead this fall.

Every Piece Matters. Together, we Build Pearland Proud!

With gratitude,



Crystal 

Crystal L. Carbone

President

Board Trustee, Position 3

From the City of Pearland

In Other News

• National Superintendents Forum Features Pearland ISD Leader Dr. Larry Berger as Speaker
• Notice of Sale of Real Property
• Bright Wishes is Back!

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