Superintendent’s Message

It’s a Great Day to Be a Mustang

As we move into spring break, it is an exciting and busy time across Overton ISD. Our classrooms are filled with learning, our students are participating in a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities, and our staff continues to work tirelessly to provide the best possible opportunities for every student we serve.

This time of year always reminds me how special our school community truly is. Whether it is students competing in athletics, preparing for performances, working toward academic goals, or simply growing as young people, there is a tremendous amount of effort and dedication happening every day in our district.

I am also continually grateful for the strong support we receive from our community partners. From local organizations and businesses to parents and volunteers, the investment our community makes in our students is something that truly sets Overton apart. Projects like the new softball scoreboard made possible through the support of Texas Bank & Trust, along with the work of our outstanding maintenance team, are just one example of what we can accomplish when we work together.

We are also excited about the future of our district. As we look ahead to next school year, we are making important progress in recruiting outstanding educators to join our team and continuing to strengthen programs that serve our students. Our Board of Trustees recently approved the 2026–2027 academic calendar, which reflects feedback from staff and our community while continuing to prioritize strong instructional opportunities for our students.

At the heart of everything we do are the students of Overton ISD. Our mission is not only to prepare them academically, but also to help them grow into responsible, confident young adults who will make a positive impact on the world around them.

Thank you to our parents, staff, community members, and Board of Trustees for the trust and support you show our schools each day. It truly takes all of us working together to make our district successful.

As always, it’s a great day to be a Mustang.

Larry Calhoun
Superintendent
Overton Independent School District

Overton ISD is proud to announce that Mrs. Lisa Cox has been selected as the district’s next Secondary Principal for the 2026–2027 school year.

“Mrs. Cox brings a tremendous depth of experience and leadership to our district,” said Superintendent Larry Calhoun. “Her background in instruction, campus leadership, and district administration — combined with her deep connection to this community — makes her an outstanding choice to lead our secondary campus. We are excited about the experience and perspective she will bring to Overton ISD.”

Mrs. Cox brings 34 years of experience in education and a strong record of leadership across a variety of roles. During her career she has served as a classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, assistant principal, middle school principal, special education director, and associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction. While serving as associate superintendent, she also stepped in multiple times to serve as interim high school principal, providing direct campus leadership and support when needed.

Mrs. Cox earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1992 and later completed her Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2001. Her professional expertise includes instructional leadership, differentiated instruction, campus discipline management, special education support, and building strong relationships with students and staff.

In addition to her extensive experience in education, Mrs. Cox has deep ties to the local community. As a long-time resident of Rusk County, she has remained actively involved with youth and families in the area, including coaching Little Dribblers. Her investment in the community and her passion for helping students succeed make her a natural fit for Overton ISD.

Mrs. Cox is committed to creating a school environment where students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Her leadership experience and dedication to students will help continue the strong traditions of excellence at Overton ISD.

As the start of the school year approaches, Overton ISD and Mrs. Cox will create opportunities for both staff and community members to meet her, hear her vision for the campus, and personally welcome her to this new leadership role. Ms. Cox will succeed our current secondary principal, whose leadership and impact on Overton ISD are highlighted later in this newsletter.

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Lisa Cox as the next Secondary Principal of Overton ISD.

It’s a Great Day to be a Mustang! 🐎💚

The Overton ISD Board of Trustees has officially approved the academic calendar for the 2026–2027 school year, providing families and staff with an early look at important dates and a few meaningful adjustments designed to support both student learning and staff collaboration.

One notable change for the coming year involves how the district will structure time previously set aside for enrichment days. In past years, enrichment days were scheduled where only certain students were asked to attend. For the 2026–2027 school year, those days will instead be replaced with four districtwide early-release Fridays, with two scheduled in each semester.

On these designated Fridays, all students will attend a half day of instruction, after which teachers and staff will use the afternoon hours for professional development, collaboration, and planning. This structure supports several important goals for our district. It increases the total instructional minutes available to students, ensures all students benefit from the additional learning time, and provides dedicated time for our educators to work together to strengthen instruction and support student success.

The calendar also reflects feedback received from both staff and community members. While continuing our successful four-day instructional week model, the approved calendar meets all TEA and state requirements while avoiding any consecutive five-day weeks of instruction, helping maintain a schedule that supports both learning and staff sustainability.

Families may also want to note the following key dates:

          Meet the Teacher / Meet the Mustangs Night: Thursday, August 6, 2026

          First Day of School for Students: Wednesday, August 12, 2026

          Last Day of School: Thursday, May 27, 2027

          Graduation Ceremony: Thursday evening, May 27, 2027

As always, consistent attendance remains one of the most important factors in a student’s academic success. Every day of instruction builds upon the previous one, and even occasional absences can make it more difficult for students to stay on pace with their learning.

With that in mind, we encourage families to schedule routine doctor’s appointments, travel, and other family obligations on Fridays when school is not in session whenever possible. Doing so helps students remain engaged in the classroom and supports their continued academic growth.

The 2026–2027 academic calendar reflects Overton ISD’s ongoing commitment to strong instructional time, thoughtful planning for staff, and a schedule that works well for families.

Overton ISD is proud to recognize Texas Bank & Trust for their generous sponsorship of the district’s new softball scoreboard, which now stands as the finishing touch on the Lady Mustang softball facility.

Community partnerships like this continue to make a meaningful difference for our students. Thanks to Texas Bank & Trust’s support—and the outstanding work of our own maintenance department—the entire project was completed in a cost-effective way for the district.

A special thank you goes to Chuck, Jason, and George from the OISD maintenance team, who completed the entire installation in-house. Their hard work and expertise made the project affordable enough that the sponsorship from Texas Bank & Trust was able to fully fund the new scoreboard.

The addition of the scoreboard completes a series of recent improvements to the softball field, including the installation of new LED lighting earlier this year. Together, these upgrades have enhanced the game-day experience for players, coaches, and fans while continuing to elevate our athletic facilities.

The scoreboard was officially “christened” on March 2nd, when the Lady Mustangs hosted Elysian Fields for their district home opener. The team celebrated the occasion in style with a 10–2 victory, giving fans plenty of opportunities to see the new scoreboard in action.

Overton ISD is grateful for partners like Texas Bank & Trust and for the dedication of our maintenance team, whose work helps ensure that our students have facilities they can be proud of.

Go Lady Mustangs! 💚

Overton ISD proudly celebrates thirteen outstanding educators who have earned a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designation—a well-deserved recognition grounded largely in student growth and achievement, and verified through rigorous student testing data. This designation reflects the measurable impact these teachers have on student learning and success. 

Please join us in congratulating our TIA teachers:
Shawna Daughtry, Josh Furlow, Jim Haley, Alicia Herron, Suzanne Hogg, Jennifer Mauldin, Crystal Merritt, Jamie Peasley, Lisa Moore, Madi Smith, Janel Williams, Kara Young, and Sarah Pierce.

While we celebrate these 13 educators today, we are grateful for all of our hard-working, caring, and committed teachers and staff who invest in our students every single day. Student growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens because of dedicated professionals working together with purpose. 

The future is bright in Mustang Nation. With a strong focus on growth, excellence, and student outcomes, Overton ISD is moving forward with momentum—and our best days are still ahead.

It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

It is difficult to put into words the impact one leader can have on a campus, a district, and an entire community — but over the past six years, our secondary principal has done exactly that.

Though his time at Overton ISD has been measured in years, his impact will be measured in generations.

From the moment he stepped onto our campus, he began building more than schedules and systems — he built culture. He cultivated an environment where students felt known, where teachers felt supported, and where excellence was pursued with both grit and grace. He has been the architect of a campus culture grounded in high expectations, mutual respect, and unwavering belief in kids.

One of the phrases he has consistently challenged our staff with is this: be “hope-givers.”

He has reminded teachers that every hallway conversation, every classroom interaction, and every moment of correction or encouragement is an opportunity to give hope.

What makes that message so powerful is that he has lived it.

Our students have had a champion in him.
He has celebrated their victories, counseled them through setbacks, and consistently reminded them that their future is bright. Whether in the hallway between classes, at a ballgame, in the band hall, or in quiet conversations in his office, he has been a steady voice of encouragement and belief.

Our staff have had a true leader.
He has been more than a supervisor — he has been a shoulder-to-shoulder partner. He has cheered on innovation, defended his team when needed, and modeled what it looks like to lead with integrity and courage.

There have also been seasons of trial. In those times, he demonstrated what authentic strength looks like. He showed our students and staff what it means to be grounded in faith, steady in character, and unwavering in conviction. Without fanfare or bitterness, he walked through adversity with grace, resilience, and quiet confidence.

In the storm, he did not waver.
In uncertainty, he did not retreat.
Instead, he continued to give hope.

Our community has had a servant leader.
He has represented Overton ISD with pride, humility, and authenticity. His presence at events, his relationships with families, and his investment in our students reflect a deep commitment to the Mustang family.

Leadership is often most evident during difficult moments. In times of challenge and change, he has reminded us — by both word and example — that our work is not just about programs or performance, but about people. About character. About faith. About hope.

His career in education spans 37 years — nearly four decades of pouring into students, supporting educators, and strengthening the communities he has served. As he prepares to retire at the end of this school year, we are filled with profound gratitude. While transitions are never easy, we celebrate knowing that the foundation he helped lay — a culture of hope, resilience, and belief in students — will continue to bless our campus for years to come.

There will be more opportunities in the coming months to formally celebrate and honor his legacy. For now, we simply want to say:

Thank you for being a hope-giver.
Thank you for leading with strength and faith.
Thank you for loving our students and staff so well.

Your impact on Overton ISD will endure — and it is, indeed, a great day to be a Mustang!

There are certain people in an organization whose titles never quite capture the weight of their influence. At Overton ISD, Karen “K.K.” Casey is one of those people.

For three superintendents, countless board meetings, hundreds of agendas, thousands of phone calls, and more moving pieces than anyone could ever tally, K.K. has been the steady force in our administrative office. As she prepares to retire this year, it truly marks the end of an era for our district.

If you’ve ever walked into the administration building, you know exactly what I mean. There’s energy. There’s motion. There’s direction. And there is no doubt who is running the front of the house.

While her official title is Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, anyone who has worked closely with her knows the truth: Karen is the driver of the bus. She keeps us out of the ditches and on the road — sometimes by grabbing the wheel with both hands and telling us exactly where we need to go.

Karen definitely has everything under control. But “calm” would not be the right word. She is what I like to call “bossily friendly.” She will greet you with warmth, and in the same breath tell you what you forgot, what you need to fix, and where you’re supposed to be in five minutes. And she will be right.

She anticipates needs before they’re spoken. She remembers details others forget. She doesn’t just protect the integrity of the process — she enforces it. When the pace is fast and the pressure is high, Karen doesn’t sit quietly in the background. She leans forward and makes sure things get done.

It has often been said — only half joking — that Karen knows more about the superintendent’s job than most superintendents. After serving through three different leaders, she has seen it all: transitions, celebrations, challenges, victories, late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. Through it all, she has been the constant voice saying, “Did you remember…?” and “We need to…” and “That has to be turned in by 3:00.”

That kind of institutional knowledge cannot be written into a handbook. It cannot be replicated in a checklist. It lives in experience, sharp instincts, high standards, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way — whether we are ready or not.

Karen has been the guardian of timelines and compliance, the firm-but-caring voice that keeps us accountable, the gatekeeper who ensures things don’t slip through the cracks. When things feel overwhelming, there has always been comfort in knowing: “Karen has it under control.” Even if she lets you know — clearly — that you’re about to mess something up.

And that’s what we will miss beyond belief.

We are, of course, happy for her. Retirement is well-earned, and no one deserves the opportunity to slow down, enjoy family, and savor the next chapter more than K.K. But it would be less than honest not to say that the halls of the administration building will feel different without her. They will be strangely quiet without the familiar sound of her voice giving directions down the hallway. There will be moments when we instinctively look toward her desk for guidance — and maybe a gentle (or not-so-gentle) reminder.

Karen Casey is irreplaceable. Not because someone won’t eventually fill the role, but because no one will ever fill it the way she did — with loyalty, grit, sharp wit, high expectations, and a heart that fiercely loves this district.

For years, she has been the engine behind the scenes — making sure the work moved forward so that our focus could remain where it belongs: on students.

K.K., thank you for keeping the bus on the road — even when we drifted toward the ditch. Thank you for your voice, your standards, your humor, and your unwavering commitment to Overton ISD.

It truly has been a great era to be a Mustang because of you.

Overton ISD is proud to celebrate the continued growth of one of our own as Ms. Sheila Roach transitions from paraprofessional to Pre-K classroom teacher for the 2026–2027 school year.

Ms. Roach has been a valued member of our elementary team, where she has consistently demonstrated the qualities that make great educators: patience, dedication, a strong work ethic, and a genuine love for children. Through her work with our youngest learners, she has already built meaningful relationships with students and staff while gaining valuable classroom experience.

This summer, Ms. Roach is completing the final semester of her college degree and will obtain her teacher certification in the fall. Her promotion to a teaching role reflects both her commitment to the profession and the confidence our district has in her ability to lead a classroom and make a positive impact on students.

At Overton ISD, we are especially proud when members of our school family choose to pursue careers in education and continue serving the students of our community. Supporting and developing talented individuals who are already part of our team strengthens our district and ensures continuity in the caring environment our students deserve.

Ms. Roach has already shown that she possesses the demeanor, work ethic, and heart for children that are essential for great teaching. We are confident she will be an outstanding educator, and we are excited to support her as she begins this new chapter in her career.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Sheila Roach as she prepares to step into her new role as a Pre-K teacher and continue making a difference in the lives of our youngest Mustangs.

Mustang Family join us in welcoming Coach Chris Langford to Overton ISD. Coach Langford will be teaching at the High School and Middle School as well as coaching on the boys side.

Overton ISD is pleased to welcome Beth Perez as our new Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. Beth brings eight years of experience from the UT Tyler Police Department, where she served as a Level III Administrative Assistant and Communications Operator, a role that required exceptional organization, professionalism, and attention to detail.

During the latter part of the spring semester, Beth will be cross-training with Karen “K.K.” Casey to help ensure a smooth transition as Karen prepares for her well-deserved retirement. We are grateful for the opportunity for Beth to learn from Karen’s extensive knowledge of district operations and administrative processes.

Beth’s background in a fast-paced professional environment, combined with her administrative expertise, will be a tremendous asset to our district. We are excited to welcome her to the Mustang family and look forward to the contributions she will make to Overton ISD.

Overton ISD is proud to celebrate Mr. Preston Parker, who has been named a recipient of the Arts Teaching Excellence Award by Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. Mr. Parker will be formally honored at the 15th Annual Arts in Education Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, March 19th at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.

This award recognizes educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to arts education and who inspire creativity, expression, and excellence in their students. Through his passion for the arts and his dedication to students, Mr. Parker and his wife, Randa have made a lasting impact on the culture of learning and creativity at Overton ISD.

Mr. Parker’s work reflects the belief that the arts play a vital role in the development of well-rounded students. By encouraging creativity, discipline, and confidence, he helps students discover talents they may not have realized they possessed and provides opportunities for them to grow both academically and personally.

The recognition from Young Audiences of Northeast Texas highlights the importance of arts and music education and celebrates teachers like Mr. Parker who bring energy, vision, and inspiration to their classrooms every day.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Parker on this well-deserved honor. His dedication to our students and to our band continues to enrich the educational experience at Overton ISD.

The 2025–2026 basketball season was an exciting one for Overton ISD, as both the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs delivered outstanding performances and represented our school and community with pride.

The Mustangs continued to build on their success by repeating as Bi-District Champions, earning a convincing playoff victory over Union Grove. The team advanced to the Area Round, where they battled a very strong San Augustine squad before their season came to a close. Finishing the year with an impressive 17–9 overall record, the Mustangs have firmly established themselves as a consistent and competitive basketball program. Their hard work, discipline, and teamwork were on full display throughout the season and provided many memorable moments for Mustang fans.

The Lady Mustangs also had a successful season, achieving one of their team goals by earning a postseason appearance in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Although they fell to Union Grove in the opening round, the Lady Mustangs demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the year, overcoming challenges and continuing to improve as a team. Their effort and perseverance were evident in every game they played.

Both programs gave our fans and community a season full of exciting basketball and showed what it means to compete with pride and determination.

Congratulations to the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs on outstanding seasons, and thank you to our coaches, players, and supporters for making this year one to remember. As always, it’s a great day to be a Mustang. 🏀

Overton ISD students proudly represented the Mustang community at this year’s Rusk County Youth Project Show, demonstrating outstanding dedication, preparation, and pride in their agricultural projects.

Our FFA and agricultural students competed across a wide range of events, showcasing animals that included pigs, cattle, rabbits, and goats. Throughout the show, Overton students displayed excellent showmanship, responsibility, and sportsmanship, representing both themselves and our school with pride.

Overton students also made a strong showing in the Agricultural Mechanics competition. In fact, Overton ISD had the second-highest number of project entries of any district participating in the show. Of the 24 projects entered by our students, an impressive 21 earned blue ribbons, while the remaining three projects received red ribbons, reflecting the high quality of work and craftsmanship demonstrated by our students.

The Rusk County Youth Project Show is an important tradition that highlights the hard work, discipline, and practical skills students develop through agricultural education. From long hours caring for animals to the careful construction of agricultural mechanics projects, these students exemplify the dedication and work ethic that define the Mustang spirit.

Congratulations to all of our Overton FFA and Ag students who participated in the show. Your effort, preparation, and pride made this a great event, and the Mustangs were a big part of its success.