LampLighter Awards



The Longview ISD Foundation will celebrate its 25th Lamplighter Awards on Thursday, Aprill 3, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Pinecrest Country Club.  The Longview ISD Foundation will celebrate the power of great educators, members of the most influential profession in the world.  Without the education profession, there would be no other professions, for all of us learned our trade and skills from our teachers.  The Longview ISD Foundation believes that students long remember the teachers with whom they had strong relationships, who truly cared about them, and who helped them become the successful students and young people they are.

The Longview ISD Foundation sponsors three grant programs that enhance educational opportunity for LISD students:  the Great Rewards for Great Ideas Grant Program, the Campus Initiative Grant Program, and the John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grant.
 
Since May 1996, the Foundation has funded 786 grants through the Great Rewards for Great Ideas Program, returning $860,503.93 to Longview ISD classrooms, enabling innovative teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses to create new educational programs or to enhance existing ones so that they can provide the best instruction possible to all students.  These grants have funded programs and projects for students of all ability levels and in a variety of disciplines.  In addition to strengthening academics, the grants have also funded projects in music, art, technology, character education, health and physical education, guidance and counseling, and STEAM education.  The Longview ISD Foundation has also funded 54 Campus Initiative Grants for a total of $167,677.87. The Foundation believes that this grant program, targeting overall campus improvement, complements the Foundation’s annual Great Rewards for Great Ideas Program. 
 
In 2019, the Foundation began the John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grant with funding for $7,000 to provide field trips that extend classroom learning for fourth or fifth grade students and middle school students. The Foundation has now funded twenty-five academic field trip grants for fourth and fifth grade students and middle school students for a total of $112,564.10.
 
To date, the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. has proudly returned $1,140,745.90 to Longview ISD classrooms and campuses to enable innovative educators to provide enhanced educational opportunities for all students.  The Foundation appreciates the loyal community support that has made these opportunities possible.

The Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. sincerely thanks the sponsors of the 2025 Lamplighter Awards banquet and their overwhelming generosity and support of the educators and students in Longview ISD.


2025 Lamplighter Essay Competition Winners and Honorees
23rd Annual Cornerstone Award
presented to
Helen Davis and Carmen Hohlt, retired
Foster Middle School teachers,
and Foundation board members
Ware East Texas Montessori Academy
She-Ron DeLoach, physical education teacher
and P.E. Club director,
honored by Abraham Arce, fifth grader
 
Bramlette STEAM Academy
Mesha London, fourth grade teacher,
honored by Abigail Fedrico, fifth grader
 Ned E. Williams Elementary School
Katie Harrison, speech teacher,
honored by Alana Alvarez, fifth grader
 
East Texas Montessori Prep Academy
Denecia Redden, kindergarten teacher,
honored by Jocelyn Ramos, kindergartner
Forest Park Middle School
Ella Gupton, English/language arts teacher,
honored by Sarhi Harrison, eighth grader
J.L. Everhart Elementary School
Desanka Djurisic, fourth grade teacher,
honored by Adelynn Garay, fifth grader
Foster Middle School
  Jatinder Jhass, English/ language arts teacher,
honored by Amelia Beebe, eighth grader
Hudson PEP Elementary School
Brooks Hill, fourth grade teacher,
honored by Thomas Salmon, fifth grader
Judson STEAM Academy
Tracey Fernandez, former academic dean,
honored by Alexis Thomas, eighth grader
and 
Kelly Berry, girls' athletic coach,
honored by Lily Seay, eighth grader
  
Johnston-McQueen Elementary School
Staci Williams, second grade teacher,
honored by Colbi Standridge, fifth grader
Longview High School
Beverly Coker, International Baccalaureate Programme counselor,
honored by Taylen Johnson, senior;
and
Heather Downs,
International Baccalaureate Programme mathematics
and Advanced Placement calculus teacher,
honored by Angelena Vega, senior;
 
  
The Bailey School
Nallely Pascual, computer lab teacher
and UIL Chess Puzzles coach,
honored byDayane Soto, fifth grader		Longview Early Graduation High School
Claudia Viramontes, biology teacher,
honored by Alaisha Jones, sophomore


Lamplighter Awards donated by The Clowers Company

Raffle Items donated by Henry and Moore Jewelry Longview restaurants, Longview ISD,
Longview ISD Foundation members, and Alex and Lisha Mack

Educator Prizes donated by Whataburger
Student Prizes donated by Whataburger
Lamplighter Awards donated by The Clowers Company


Heart of the Community Sponsors
The Linebarger Firm The Monsour Law Firm E4 Contracting, LLC
Anonymous Donor PROCEDEO Group


Champions of the Foundation
Southside Bank Eastman Chemical Company CDI Contractors, LLC
Kona Ice Longview Regional Medical Center VeraBank
Sloan Law Firm Payne Mechanical of Texas, LLC Brandon Williamson--Edward Jones
U. S. Title Company Origin Bank


Sustainers of the Foundation
Texas Bank and Trust Jon and Hannah Cromer/Capital Wealth Group SCI Construction, Ltd.
Kay and John Ray


Advocates of the Foundation
Leslie and Cameron Carlile Austin Bank Kristen and Richard Ishihara
Hudson PEP Elementary School PTO JBA Financial Services Dolive Acres Dentistry
Meredith Roel Realty Group Carmen and Roger Hohlt Hiland Dairy Foods
Super 1 Foods East Texas Professional Credit Union Vector Fleet Management
Texas Oncology


Benefactors of the Foundation
Foster Middle School PTA Dr. and Mrs. Martin Hilton Jessica LaRue and Ed Merritt, Harbour, Smith, Harris & Merritt, P.C.
Gans and Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. Weber Landscapring and Maintenance Mack and Hansen Orthodontics
Rebecca Jenkins Melton Nikki Briscoe Kelsey and Carson Runge
Paula and Dale Poole Amy and John Hull Leah and Matthew Hickman
MALL Energy, Inc. W. R. Welborn and Son, Inc. Kilgore College
LeBus International, Inc Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Pevey Lanie and Jack Lenhart
Spring Hill State Bank Louis Morgan #4 Tatum Music Company


Friends of the Foundation
Sally Gossett Barron Laura and Brett Miller Casa Flora Flower Shop
Emily Erisman Myers Karen and Brent Haas McLendon Cleaners
Heidi and Kendall Archer