Bastrop ISD

Bastrop ISD is hiring multiple Assistant Principals for the 2025-2026 school year! 🔗 Apply now and view other job postings at: www.bisdtx.org/careers

🩺 Are you a registered nurse looking for a rewarding career working with children? Bastrop ISD has multiple schools looking for RNs to join our team beginning the 2025-2026 school year! Enjoy great benefits, a fun and supportive environment, and summers off! Apply today for this or other positions at www.bisdtx.org/careers.

This year’s Youth Career Day was a massive hit! 💼✨ Our Juniors and Seniors had the chance to engage with local employers, explore diverse career options, and gather the tools they need to take their first steps toward a bright future. A big thank you to all the employers and volunteers who made this event possible — together, we're shaping tomorrow’s leaders!

Bastrop ISD's CTE Program Prepares Students for Future Careers! We're excited to share this incredible article from Community Impact that highlights how our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is helping students gain real-world skills and hands-on experience. Read more: https://bit.ly/4imDgFY

Marc Telles has been named Director of Fine Arts for Bastrop ISD. This role oversees the District’s fine arts programs, and the operations of the District’s performing arts center, Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts. He will begin his new role in late April. “I am excited to begin my journey as the Director of Fine Arts for Bastrop ISD and to have the privilege of serving our students, teachers, and the entire community. Fine Arts programs are not just an enrichment of education; they are a vital component in developing well-rounded individuals who are creative, dedicated, and critical thinkers. I look forward to collaborating with our talented educators and supporting our students in discovering and honing their creative potential,” said Telles. “Together, we will build on the existing strengths of the fine arts program and work toward expanding its reach, impact, and opportunities. I'm eager to help move Bastrop ISD forward, embracing fine arts's power to enrich students' educational experiences!” Telles comes to Bastrop ISD from Seguin ISD where he currently serves as the Director of Fine Arts and Bands, and oversees K-12th grade visual and performing arts programs district-wide. With over 22 years of experience, he has also served as a band director in Pflugerville ISD, Harlingen CISD, and Northside ISD. Read more: https://bit.ly/3DqCPvq

Congratulations to both the Bastrop ISD Communications Department and Community Relations Department for winning a total of nine awards, including a Crystal Certificate of Merit, six Gold Star awards, and two Silver Star awards at the annual Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) conference earlier this week. The Crystal Certificate of Merit and three Star Awards recognized BISD photography, showcasing the Communications Department’s commitment to capturing authentic moments that highlight our students, staff, and schools. Over the past year, the district has shared more than 12,000 photos via social media and the BISD website, telling the stories of our school community through achievements, milestones, and everyday moments. Each of these honors reflect the district’s commitment to excellence in school communications, storytelling, and community engagement.

Forensic Science students at Bastrop High School took their learning to the next level with a hands-on Arson unit. On Friday, January 31, students set fire to miniature structures they built, observing and documenting the behavior of fire. The project, designed to help students understand fire patterns and arson investigation techniques, began with students developing a fictional storyline that explained the reason behind the fire. Teams then constructed model structures using craft supplies. Once the structures were set ablaze, students recorded their observations, noting factors such as weather conditions, ignition difficulty, smoke color, and material burn rates. They also captured photos and videos of the fire to analyze afterwards. “Hands-on experiments like this keep our students engaged and excited about learning,” said Sean Hensley, Bastrop High School Forensic Science Instructor. “They’re not just memorizing facts, they’re experiencing science in action.” This Forensic Science class is one of Bastrop ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. Bastrop ISD offers 15 diverse Programs of Study across both high schools, providing students the opportunity to explore areas of career interests through course content, work-based learning experiences, industry-based certification completion and student organizations. These experiences prepare students to pursue opportunities for high wage, high skill and in-demand careers either after graduation or after pursuing post secondary education. Learn more about our Career and Technical Education programs at www.bisdtx.org/CTE.

Students in Construction Technology I at Cedar Creek High School got to see up close the construction career opportunities available by touring the expansion project at their high school. “It’s important for students to see in real life so they can make the determination if this is a career for them,” said Danny Pollard, Cedar Creek High School Construction Teacher. Students met with the site Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager to talk about the different options when choosing this career path. “The students observed the use of drones, 360-degree cameras, and cloud-based software for managing plans. This experience helps them recognize that construction is more than just manual labor—it also involves innovation and advanced technology,” said Luis Medina, Assistant Project Manager for Bartlett Cocke General Contractors. Students also got to walk the site which is in the very early stages and will come back again as construction continues. “I’m excited for our next walk! We’re passionate about what we do and eager to inspire and shape the minds of tomorrow,” added Medina. Construction Technology I is part of the Carpentry/Construction Career & Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Bastrop ISD. To learn more about all the CTE programs, visit www.bisdtx.org/cte.

Bastrop ISD has named Bluebonnet Assistant Principal Denise Guerrero to serve as the inaugural principal of Adelton Elementary School, one of two new schools passed in the 2023 Bond. She will assume the position in the coming weeks as she transitions from her current role. Adelton will open its doors in August of this year. “I am beyond excited and incredibly honored to have been selected to serve as the new principal of Adelton Elementary,” said Guerrero. “It is with great pride that I step into this role, and I am thrilled to continue the tradition of Bastrop ISD to build a vibrant and dedicated community of students, educators, staff, and families.” Guerrero has 20 years of teaching and school leadership experience. She has served as assistant principal at Emile Elementary, Booker T. Washington Elementary (Elgin ISD), and most recently at Bluebonnet Elementary. Throughout her career, she has developed programs focused on instructional gains, positive behavior and character development, and support for dual language and bilingual education. Her leadership responsibilities have also included coordinating state assessments, master schedules, safety drills, and instructional support for teachers. “Denise is an exceptional leader and is committed to fostering an academically challenging, yet nurturing environment for students and families. We are confident that under her direction, Adelton Elementary will build a strong foundation for success and inspire every child to reach their full potential,” said Superintendent Barry Edwards. Guerrero’s initial focus will be hiring a leadership team as well as teachers and other staff, creating instructional and operational schedules and the budget, managing furniture delivery and installation, and helping to monitor the remaining months of construction. She says her focus will also be on working with staff and families to establish rich traditions for Adelton Elementary, including the selection of school colors and a mascot. “I look forward to getting to know each and every one of my students and staff as we embark on this exciting chapter. I am ready to get started!” added Guerrero. Denise holds a master’s of education from Concordia University and a bachelor of mass communication from Texas State University (Southwest Texas State University).

Meet Tatyana Contreras, a remarkable student from Cedar Creek High School who is blind and is shining bright in her choir class and beyond! Tatyana is thriving, proving that with support and opportunity, all students can achieve greatness!