Hawley Independent School District

Preparing Students for Life Beyond the Classroom

Setting the Educational and Experiential Direction Towards Future Success

Set against the backdrop of small town Texas, Hawley Independent School District is taking a progressive approach to education, blending community values with a well rounded experience that includes a strong academic foundation, hands-on workforce preparation, and engaging extracurricular opportunities. Just ten minutes from the city of Abilene, Hawley offers students an exciting range of career pathways and support systems designed to prepare them for life after graduation.

“Our core values and mission are 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 girls, 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 four year 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, or something like that.”

A Future-Focused District

To support the learners of today, every Hawley student is assigned a Chromebook. The district is also working to embrace the use of artificial intelligence as a classroom tool. Teachers are trained on the legal and instructional implications of AI, and on how to best guide students on the benefits and limitations.

“Everything is moving towards technology and more AI these days. In order to train them properly, we’re going to have to move with it,” stresses College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Coordinator Paula Ernst. “

STEM is also a priority, as the district works to equip students with the skills needed for the jobs of the future. While robotics is available as an elective at the high school level, student input plays a significant role in shaping curriculum decisions. “We survey the students pretty frequently, because this group of high school kids may have completely different interests than the ones four years from now,” says Dr. McBrayer.

“The medical focus right now is very heavy in our area.” Hawley ISD aims to provide high-quality programs that align with both student interests and available resources.

“We have roughly 200 kids in our high school,” she notes. “We have to be a little bit discerning about which programs we offer because we don’t want to have so many that we string kids out and we don’t have quality programs.”

Investing in the Hawley ISD Community

Providing an environment that promotes the well-being of students and staff is top of mind at Hawley ISD. “We have two licensed counselors that come in two days a week. Parents can refer, teachers can refer,” reports Dr. McBrayer.

More recently, the high school piloted an online program that allows students to access mental health support any time, even on weekends. Importantly, these services extend to staff across all departments. “We have counselors on staff as well that a lot of our staff will go in and visit with,” says Dr. McBrayer. “I will say the administration that we have in place is really good, as far as ‘come in, shut the door, tell me what’s going on and what we can do to support you.’”

Looking ahead, Hawley ISD is investing in growth and opportunity. “We’re outgrowing our space,” says Dr. McBrayer. “It’s not just about the number of kids increasing, but when you start offering all these different programs, those take up facilities, and those take up classrooms. So, all of our focus on our facilities has been generating space.”

Unlike wealthier suburban districts, Hawley doesn’t have the tax base to support large scale bonds. “We just have to be pretty creative with our space,” she continues. “This summer, we’re renovating a gym that was built in the 30s. And we are creating five classrooms out of other spaces that were being used for other things.”

Arts, Athletics and Achievement

While career and technical education remains a major focus, Hawley ISD also takes pride in its strong commitment to the arts and athletics. The district has seen continued growth and success in fine arts, providing students with diverse opportunities to explore their creativity and showcase their talents. Recently, two students advanced to the regional level in University Interscholastic League (UIL) events, and one made it to the state level, placing second in the UIL Theatrical Design competition.

Hawley High School’s theater program also plays an active role in the student experience. “That grabs some of those kids who are not involved in football and baseball and basketball and things like that. It gives them a place to go and to show off what they have,” relays Grisham.

Visual arts and photography courses are equally popular, with students producing award winning work. The district also encourages participation in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), a statewide program where students can show off their artistic achievements.

This year, for the first time, Hawley cosmetology students participated in SkillsUSA, where two students moved ahead to the state level. “We’re a small school, so our numbers get spread out across all of those programs. But our students are competitive statewide and do really well,” Dr. McBrayer touts.

When it comes to success, Hawley ISD’s sports achievements are equally impressive. The football team has made two appearances at the state level, including a state championship win, while the baseball team recently reached the state tournament for the first time in school history. Volleyball consistently progresses into the playoffs, and both basketball and cross country teams regularly move on to the next level.

This past year, several student-athletes also competed at the state level in track. “A lot of these kids are involved in multiple sports,” explains Grisham. “So if they’re in one sport and they’re moving on, they’re expecting themselves to make it to that next level every time. It’s kind of a mindset that our kids have.”

A Vision for Learning and Leadership

When asked what fuels her work as superintendent, Dr. McBrayer remarks, “For me, it’s more of a relationship type calling than educational, just seeing growth in adults, growth in students, and feeling like maybe I can help facilitate that for some people.”

On the subject of lifelong learning, Principal Grisham describes it as a continuous exchange between teachers and students. “One of our jobs is to help the students grow,” she comments. “But when those teachers come to me and they talk about what the students have taught them, it’s really cool. Whether it’s an academic thing or just a life lesson, it happens all the time.”

Looking ahead, Hawley ISD is prioritizing instructional excellence. “We are really focusing this upcoming year on coaching teachers, and I think that’s one of the things I’m most excited about,” conveys Dr. McBrayer. “We have a group of core lead teachers that are really strong, that are getting trained on how to have good coaching conversations with a teacher that may be struggling, or a teacher that just needs to improve on certain aspects of instruction.”

With a clear commitment to quality education, preparation for the future, and student well-being, Hawley ISD is shaping an educational environment where every learner can thrive.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Hawley Independent School District

What: An innovative rural district with a focus on preparing students for a successful future.

Where: Jones County, Texas

Website: www.hawley.esc14.net