Frisco ISD is proud to applaud students and staff for the special awards and recognition they have received recently. Remember to share your congratulations with them!
By Frisco ISD Communication
3 FISD Special Education Teachers Receive Donations
Congratulations to three outstanding Frisco ISD special education teachers who earned recognition last month from Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl! Patty Brasuell (Christie Elementary), Noreen Ahmad (Lawler Middle) and Divya Robert (Staley Middle) received special donations for their classrooms along with a Frisco Bowl swag bag and tickets to this year’s Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, played annually in December. The prize was part of a larger program with the College Football Playoff and the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yards for Teachers.
Middle Schoolers Try Out for District Band
Congratulations to the band students who earned a place on Frisco ISD’s second annual Middle School District Band! The audition process, which looks similar to All-Region and All-State auditions, was intended to increase focus on the development of individual musicianship. Nearly 800 students from across all FISD middle schools tried out, and 247 students made the band. Here’s the list of students.
CTEC Students Contribute to Stadium Network Upgrade
A major network upgrade at Frisco RoughRiders’ stadium was recently completed by Reliable Technology with help from career and technical education students from FISD. Students programmed switches, installed Wi-Fi access points, configured firewalls and performed other critical tasks under Reliable Technology’s guidance. Kim Biggerstaff, practicum advisor for IT at the CTE Center, shared the importance of such real-world experience in an interview with Community Impact, saying, “This partnership takes what students learn in class and brings it to life. They’re not just hearing about networking concepts; they’re applying them on real projects, with guidance from both industry experts and college-level mentors.” Read about the project.
Sparks Educator Named a Teacher on the Rise
Callie Eckert, third grade teacher at Sparks Elementary School, has been named a September winner of the Teachers on the Rise program! Eckert was nominated for going above and beyond for her students. Nominations are submitted by students and families wanting to recognize exceptional educators. The prize includes Market Street and American Express gift cards and a Mrs Bairds gift basket. Congratulations!
Lead Sign/Graphics Specialist Featured as Rising Star
Sabrina Steinberger, lead sign/graphics specialist, was recently the subject of a Rising Star profile by industry magazine Wide-Format Impressions. Steinberger, who has been with the District 17 years, wears many hats in her role with the Frisco ISD print shop, including administrative, design and operations work. Originally an artist, Steinberger said that working within the signage and graphics industry is a perfect fit, and she’s happy to help District teachers and staff with their design needs. Read the feature.
Talley Principal Interviews Reporter for Multicultural Minute
Talley Elementary School celebrated their first Multicultural Minute during Good Morning, Talley with a visit from Telemundo reporter Karuska Horta. Principal Jamie Peden asked Horta what she loved about her Puerto Rican heritage, as well as the Spanish words and Puerto Rican sayings for “hello,” “goodbye” and “friend.” Thank you to the amazing Talley PTA for inviting Horta for this opportunity! Experience the reporter’s visit in a Telemundo segment.
8 Artists’ Works Displayed at State Education Convention
Congratulations to eight amazing Frisco ISD artists on being selected to be part of the Texas Art Education Association's 2025 txEDCON (TASA/TASB) Exhibition! The exhibition showcased pre-K through 12th grade works of art from across the state of Texas, and was displayed at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston in September. The following FISD students’ works were included: Maggie Cooley (Independence High), Adithi Dai Kimar (Phillips Elementary), Zuri Hill (Nelson Middle), Haley Horton (Wakeland High), Jacob Montoya (Frisco High), Brooklyn Smith (Bright Academy), Arshia Vignesh (Memorial High), Annabelle Yuan (Pioneer Heritage Middle).
Students Present at 1 Million Cups Frisco
Frisco’s entrepreneurial spirit was on full display as two outstanding young innovators, Bailee Moore and Tanmay Kandi, took the stage at 1 Million Cups Frisco, hosted at Plug and Play Sportstech Frisco. Bailee and Tanmay, both high school entrepreneurs, shared their business ideas with a room of founders, mentors and community leaders dedicated to supporting innovation and growth. Their presentations highlighted not only their creativity and drive, but also the future potential of student-led ventures in Frisco’s thriving startup ecosystem. Congratulations!
Liberty Choir Director Wins National Conducting Award
Janson Guillen, choir director at Liberty High School, has been selected as third place winner of the prestigious American Prize in Choral Conducting, Community Chorus Division! Guillen, in his first year at Liberty, also serves as artistic director and conductor of the Frisco Chorale, a community choir that includes several FISD choir directors and former students as members. He earned national recognition with his group the Guillen Master Chorale, an ensemble that was created by Guillen as a capstone project for the fulfillment of the Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree. Before joining Frisco ISD, Guillen was associate director of choral activities for Duncanville High School. Congrats, Mr. Guillen!