Written by Ben Cox – With a new school year not only knocking on the door, but begging to come in, lets take a look at what back to school looks like from a unique perspective. In this series of articles, we will visit with each of Brownwood ISD’s principals to see what they think about returning to school for a new term.
Leaving elementary education, we turn our sights to Coggin Intermediate and visit with their principal, Todd Lewis. Entering the second year of the new Coggin Intermediate, Lewis faces a unique set of opportunities in the district.
This years sixth graders, who are in the 2 story building that was formerly Coggin Elementary, are the only class to have been in the building twice. Once as fourth graders and again as sixth graders. “That group of kids is a great group. I said to them this is something they’ll get to remember for a long time. This is the only group that got to do this. That’s something special.”
Lewis, who is entering his 28th year in education and 18th year as a principal, says he loves “seeing all the kids and seeing how they grow. This year is gonna be fun to see the fourth graders and fifth graders move up.”
A S.T.E.M. project called Maker Space, money for which was donated to the district, is something that has Lewis excited to get the school year underway. “Getting that equipment in and seeing what the teachers can do with it and what the kids will do with it is pretty exciting.”
Robotics is also on the slate for Coggin Intermediate again this year, after sending teams to San Angelo and also Ballinger to compete last year. “Our kids do a good job of getting in there and working hard and participating in UIL.”
“The district has put a lot of money into this campus over the last year. We have new Promethean Boards in every classroom, they resurfaced the gym floor and painted it so it’s super nice.” New tiles to replace the old flooring in the cafeteria is also a change Lewis is grateful for.
Ann Fowler and Stacy Loftin are the two Vice Principals for the dual building campus, and Lewis says he could not begin to do his job without the support of these two women. “They’re really smart ladies. They really care about kids and they support teachers. They’re way smarter than I am!
Lewis says he is prepared for the first day of school and despite the amount of work it takes to make a school and staff ready for a new year, it’s worth it. “That first day, it’s a hard day, but it’s a fun day. Seeing those third graders coming up to fourth grade coming in with their eyes real wide is fun.”
Lewis says the staff has some fun things planned for the first day, because its a special day. “Your first day of school only happens one day a year, so let’s make it special.”
Fourth Grade meet the teacher is the 20th at 5:30 p.m., for Fifth Grade will be meet their teachers at 6:30 p.m. on the 20th and Sixth Grade has their Meet the Teacher on the 21st at 5:30 p.m.
School starts at 7:50 a.m. and releases at 3:25 p.m. Loading zones and bus information are available on the school’s website.
