Made With Pride in Duncanville

Each month, Duncanville ISD recognizes a student, teacher and staff member who exemplify what it means to be “Made with Pride in Duncanville.” All three honorees receive a special gift, surprise visit from district leaders and are featured in a video. They are also invited to attend the Duncanville ISD board meeting where they are recognized before the Board of Trustees.  

This month’s Made with Pride in Duncanville honorees include staff, Don Gadberry and David Searl; student, Wyatt Kind; and teacher, Jessica Shogreen.

Don Gadberry is a fleet manager and David Searl is a shop foreman in the Transportation Department. Don and David were nominated by a Hyman Elementary School counselor Debra Thibodeaux. She was in a warehouse vehicle and had driven to a church in Irving to pick up donations to their school. Ms. Thibodeaux noticed that the tire was low and called transportation to ask if they should drive on it. They told the Hyman employees to sit tight and went into action. Ms. Thibodeaux said: “Don and David battled traffic to Irving at 5:30 p.m. after already putting in a 12-hour work day, change the tire quickly and even drove us and the truck back to our school since it was dark and the traffic was very heavy.”

Wyatt King is an 8th grader who was nominated by his principal Bryan Byrd at Reed Middle School. Wyatt wants to be a mechanical engineer and plans to attend MIT. He is currently taking all Pre-AP courses, and is a member of the boys choir and chess club. Wyatt is also an avid golfer. He’s a member of the North Texas Junior PGA, First Tee of Greater Dallas and Cedar Crest’s Junior Golf program. Over the years, Wyatt has collected more than 1,200 pairs of shoes for children in need through his shoe drive efforts he call - Wyatt’s Big Give. Wyatt was the very first “Made with Pride in Duncanville” honoree as an elementary student, and he’s still impressing those around him with his selflessness and commitment to academic excellence.

Jessica Shogreen is a second grade teacher at Acton Elementary School and was nominated by the principal Kyalla Bowens and campus secretary Candace Edwards.. Jessica is described as the epitome of a dedicated teacher and team member. Her car is the first one to arrive and the last one to leave daily. She has a true servant heart and is on a mission to do her best by those she serves. She serves on multiple committees, fundraisers and spends her down time decorating the campus. Jessica is also well respected amongst her peers. She’s a former campus teacher of the year, a title that is selected by fellow teachers. If a student is transitioning to 2nd grade and is seen as challenging, she requests that student in her class and when she has that students, she works overtime to learn the best ways to reach them.

Published 2/26/19