Texas Education Agency Says Less Than Half of New Texas Teachers are Certified
May 13, 2025 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has raised concerns over a troubling trend: a significant decline in the number of certified teachers in Texas classrooms. For the 2024–2025 school year, Texas schools hired approximately 43,800 new teachers, but only 45% of them were fully certified. This marks a sharp drop in the proportion of credentialed educators entering the profession, a development that officials say could...
East Texas A&M News Release: Outstanding Alumni Honored at Awards Gala
May 9, 2025 – The 2025 Alumni Awards Gala Honors Alumni Who Inspire, Lead and Give Back. COMMERCE, TX, May 7, 2025— The East Texas A&M University Alumni Association hosted the 2025 Alumni Awards Gala on April 26. The formal dinner and program honored six exceptional Lions whose lives reflect a deep commitment to service, leadership and the university community. Held at the Rayburn Student Center, this year’s gala celebrated...
ETAMU to Celebrate Largest Graduating Class of All Time on May 9 & 10
May 6, 2025 – Students will receive their degrees in one of five ceremonies across two days. COMMERCE, TX, May 6, 2025— More than 1,600 East Texas A&M University students are poised to break a record as the largest graduating class in the 135+ year history of the university at commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10. In total, 1,646 graduates will receive their degrees across five...
Student Taken into Custody Following What’s Called a “Spoofing” Incident
May 5, 2025 – The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office says a student has been taken into custody following what’s called a “spoofing” incident which targeted a teacher. The Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD says a person called a teacher Friday from a spoofed number and threatened to shoot her if she didn’t change the caller’s grade. Superintendent Dr. Greg Bower says: “The student suspect has been identified and...
Texas Bill Would Remove Protection For School Librarians
April 5, 2025 – Texas House Bill 412, authored by Representative Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), has successfully passed the House with bipartisan support (99-31), signaling a significant shift in the legal landscape concerning the distribution of potentially harmful material to minors. The bill seeks to eliminate broad exemptions in current Texas law that have shielded school officials, librarians, and other individuals from...
Wildfire Awareness Month Highlights Proactive Safety Strategies
May 4, 2025 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In 2024, 5,187 wildfires burned over 1.3 million acres in Texas, and since wildfires have no boundaries, Texans should always be prepared for wildfires. During Wildfire Awareness Month, Texas A&M Forest Service is highlighting the ways that Texans can not only prevent wildfires but how they can prepare for when they occur. “Preparation for wildfires is key to...
Wildcats Baseball Team and the Ladycat Softball Team won Playoff Games Thursday night
May 2, 2025 – Both the Sulphur Springs Wildcats baseball team and the Ladycat softball team won playoff games Thursday night. The Ladycats claimed a 1-0 pitchers duel vs. Gilmer in their best-of-three area-round series at Mt. Pleasant. Game two of the series will be at 5 p.m. Friday and will be broadcast on KSST. Game three, if necessary, will be played shortly after game two. The Wildcats took a 2-1 win over Nevada Community in...
Sulphur Springs did Well At the State Track Meet in Austin
May 2, 2025 – At the state track meet in Austin, Sulphur Springs Wildcat pole vaulter Jaicee Jasmer won the state championship and set a new 4A state record and a new UIL state meet record, clearing 14 feet, four inches. It’s the second year in a row for Jaicee to win the girls’ pole vault state title. Wildcat boys pole vaulter Ty Bybee finished third at the state meet, clearing 15 feet. Two athletes tied for first at 15 feet,...
Sulphur Springs LadyCats Golf Team Placed Fourth in State
May 1, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs LadyCats Golf Team has placed fourth in the state tournament. Members of the team are seniors Alyson Thomas, Kenzie Posey and McKenna Meskimen, junior Evelyn Birdsong and freshman Ramsey Ragan. The Ladycats had great success and showed steady improvement over the past three seasons. They finished in 10th place two years ago and in ninth place last year before this year’s...
In the UIL Region 2-4A Academic Meet, Sulphur Springs High School Placed Second
May 1, 2025 – In the UIL Region 2-4A academic meet, Sulphur Springs High School placed second to the Dallas School of Science and Engineering, a magnet school. Wildcat academicians tallied 282 points behind the Dallas school’s 342. Suunnyvale was third with 122 points. The Wildcats earned21 Medals,10 first-place finishes andeight second-place finishes. First place winners included the...
