LampLighter Awards



The Longview ISD Foundation will celebrate its 26th Lamplighter Awards on Thursday, Aprill 9, 2026, 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 797 grants through the Great Rewards for Great Ideas Program, returning $878,552.52 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 56 Campus Initiative Grants for a total of $176,728.36. 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 thirty-one academic field trip grants for fourth and fifth grade students and middle school students for a total of $143,467.08.
 
To date, the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. has proudly returned $1,198,747.96 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 2026 Lamplighter Awards banquet and their overwhelming generosity and support of the educators and students in Longview ISD.


2026 Lamplighter Essay Competition Winners and Honorees

24th Annual Cornerstone Award
presented to:
Greg Jeffery, Longview ISD Foundation, Inc.
treasurer
Ned E. Williams Elementary School
Kentrell Brittentine, second grade
reading/English and language arts teacher,
formerly fourth grade teacher,
                                honored by Londynn Jones, fifth grader
 
 
 
Ware East Texas Montessori Academy
Cassandra Hunt, fifth-grade science teacher,
honored by Morgan Morrison, fifth grader
 

Clarence W. Bailey Elementary School
                           Susanna Yohe, Cafeteria Manager for Child Nutrition,
           honored by Mandalin Evans, fifth grader
 Ned E. Williams Elementary School
Katie Harrison, speech teacher,
honored by Alana Alvarez, fifth grader
 
Bramlette STEAM Academy
Imani Rogers, fifth-grade English/language arts teacher,
honored by Olivia Latham, fifth grader
Forest Park Middle School
Charles Mosley, Project Lead the Way Engineering teacher
and Technology Student Association advisor,
honored by Gerard Osorio, eighth-grader
J. L. Everhart Elementary School
                   Bitia Saravia, fifth-grade math and English/language arts teacher,
        honored by Matthew Matus, fifth grader
Foster Middle School
Dayton Wood,
Introduction to Agriculture and Principles of Agriculture teacher,
honored by Samuel Felix, eighth grader
 
Hudson PEP Elementary School
Deonne Collins, fifth-grade reading/language arts
and social studies teacher,
honored by Mallory Mims, fifth grader
Judson STEAM Academy
Ivonne Guerra, Emergent Bilingual teacher, grades 6-8,
honored by Kimberly Alvarado, eighth grader
 
  
Johnston-McQueen Elementary School
Laura Driver, fifth grade reading/language arts teacher,
honored by Chadin Kelly, fifth grader 
Longview High School
                  Clark Orren, Director of Athletic Performance,
honored by Jake Lundy, senior,
 
and
 
James Wright, International Baccalaureate history teacher
and the Lobos men’s soccer coach,
honored by Mary Claire Hilton, senior
 
  
 
Ware East Texas Montessori Academy
Cassandra Hunt, fifth-grade science teacher,
honored by Morgan Morrison, fifth grader
 		LEAD Early Graduation Academy
  Amy Tullos, English II teacher,
  honored by Kaustyn Helms, junior
 


Lamplighter Awards donated by The Clowers Company

Raffle Items donated by Henry and Moore Jewelry Longview restaurants, Longview ISD,
Longview ISD Foundation members, Hardin ACE Hardware, and Malcolm Kelly, Lobo graduate and current Texas Christian University assistant football coach

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 STEMCO
Anonymous Donor PROCEDEO Group


Champions of the Foundation
Southside Bank Eastman Chemical VeraBank
Fresh by Brookshire's Longview Regional Medical Center Brandon Williamson--Edward Jones
Kona Ice Payne Mechanical of Texas, LLC Longview Roofing
Sloan Law Firm Origin Bank DLR Group
U. S. Title Company


Sustainers of the Foundation
Texas Bank and Trust Jon and Hannah Cromer/Capital Wealth Group Jackson Construction Company
Kristen and Richard Ishihara SCI Construction, Ltd.


Advocates of the Foundation
Leslie and Cameron Carlile Austin Bank Somers Pediatric--Somers Urgent Care
Hudson PEP Elementary School PTO Carmen and Roger Hohlt Hellas Construction
Meredith Roel Realty Group East Texas Professional Credit Union Johnson and Pace, Inc.
Texas Oncology--Longview Cancer Center Dolive Acres Dentistry Wellness Pointe
Kay and John Ray Hiland Dairy


Benefactors of the Foundation
Gans and Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. W. R. Welborn and Son, Inc. Kelsey and Carson Runge
Rebecca Jenkins Melton Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Pevey Leah and Matthew Hickman
Paula and Dale Poole Louis Morgan #4 Kilgore College
MALL Energy, Inc. Karen and Brent Haas Dollar General
LeBus International, Inc Jessica and Alex LaRue Schneider Electric
Dr. and Mrs. Martin Hilton Mack and Hansen Orthodontics Spring Hill State Bank
Amy and John Hull


Friends of the Foundation
Sally Gossett Barron Laura and Brett Miller Johnston-McQueen Elementary School PTO
Emily Erisman Myers Tatum Music Company Judson STEAM Academy House Booster Club
Heidi and Kendall Archer McLendon Cleaners