“Our core mission is to set kids up for success, doing the best we can to give them opportunities that they might not have otherwise,” highlights Superintendent Dr. Cassidy McBrayer. “Whether they are going to college or into the workforce, when they leave us, we want them to be equipped with a skill that they can use in several different areas. We have kids that are going to go to a four-year university and beyond, and then we have kids who, immediately out of high school, are going into internships with John Deere.” A RURAL DISTRICT WITH BIG-CITY OPPORTUNITIES Although Hawley ISD is situated in a rural setting, its proximity to Abilene opens up doors that other small districts might not have. “We do have kids that are involved in agriculture, but that’s not our sole focus,” emphasizes Dr. McBrayer.“We have a lot of industry partners in the Abilene area that we wouldn’t have if we lived further out.” This network of partnerships also includes Hendrick Medical Center, where students interested in healthcare are able to gain first hand experience through internships. “We had several students, for the first time this last year, get their CNA as they’re going down the medical pathway,” shares Hawley High School Principal Nikki Grisham. “It’s really booming the last couple of years, and we foresee it just continuing to do that.” In addition, Cisco College, supports the district’s HVAC and cosmetology programs, and Texas State Technical College (TSTC) partners with the district to offer pathways in emerging fields such as aviation. Grisham acknowledges the shift in attitudes around postsecondary education, noting that fewer students are choosing to invest time and money into a fouryear college program. “In this day and time, a lot of those avenues that you go down, you can make just as much money instead of going into debt and spending four years or more in college,” she imparts. “That has a lot to do with what the kids are deciding to do, whether it be a two-year school or a vocational area.” 257 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 HAWLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
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