Spring Branch ISD Featured News

At the heart of Spring Branch ISD’s (SBISD) thriving arts culture is a decades-long legacy of innovation and passion for creativity.

Pioneered by educators like Altharetta Yeargin—SBISD’s first full-time art teacher—who, in the mid-1970s, gifted over 600 sculptures and cultural artifacts collected during her and her husband’s global travels to establish the district’s one-of-a-kind art museum housed at the Westchester Academy for International Studies.

Today, SBISD leans into that legacy as it proudly accepts the Texas Art Education Association’s District of Distinction Award for the fifth year in a row—one of only 100 districts statewide to earn this honor for the 2024-25 school year!

“Seeing our students transform a blank canvas into a statement piece is what drives us every day,” said Lindsay Ripley, Visual Arts Coordinator. “This recognition belongs to every teacher, student, and community partner who believes that art isn’t just an elective, but an essential part of learning.”

The SBISD visual arts program not only met but excelled across every element of the district’s rigorous 14-point rubric, which assessed:

• TAEA Membership & Participation: Strong district-wide engagement in state and national art education associations
• Exhibitions & Contests: Record-setting student submissions and awards at regional and state levels
• Field Experiences & Community Service: Partnerships with local galleries, service-learning through art-based community projects
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Integrating visual arts with STEM, languages, and athletics

“From hanging student artwork in Memorial High’s galleries to organizing pop-up exhibits at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum,” said Houston Hayes, Director of Fine Arts and Health Fitness, “our teachers’ hard work and talent make art accessible to everyone in our district.”

Stephanie Walton, SBISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and art teacher at Wilchester Elementary, has also been named one of five Region 4 Elementary Teacher of the Year finalists. Renowned for transforming her classroom into a vibrant atelier—complete with a student-led “Art Ambassadors” club—Ms. Walton weaves professional‐level techniques into every lesson. “She doesn’t just teach art; she builds artists,” praised Ripley.

Join us in celebrating Lindsay Ripley, Houston Hayes, Stephanie Walton, and every SBISD fine arts educator whose passion fuels our students’ creative journeys and demonstrates the transformative power of the arts. Here’s to another year of nurturing young imaginations, empowering self-expression, and inspiring the next generation of artists!

Visit the Performing and Visual Arts website to learn more.