Van Junior High School
7th - 8th Grade
🎉🐾 Please welcome Emmalee Fishman, the newest AG Science teacher at Van Junior High! 🌾🐄
To introduce Emmalee to our Vandal community, we asked her a few questions:
🎓 WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
I earned my Bachelor's degree from Fresno State in California's Central Valley and worked on my Master's degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
🍎 PREVIOUS JOBS?
I have taught agricultural science for the last 15 years, most recently in Forney ISD. Before moving to Texas, I taught ag in Napa and Hanford, California.
🦒 FUN FACT?
I went on a safari hunt in South Africa! I'm the proud owner of a record-sized impala I've named Paul. 😄
⚾🐖 HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and three kids. You're most likely to spot us at a baseball game or a livestock show!
❤️ WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT AT VAN ISD?
I am excited to build meaningful connections with my students, their families, and members of the Van community!
🎉 Welcome to #TeamVISD, Emmalee! We are so excited to have you and can't wait to see the impact you'll make at Van Junior High! ❤️🤍
#WeAreVan
To introduce Emmalee to our Vandal community, we asked her a few questions:
🎓 WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
I earned my Bachelor's degree from Fresno State in California's Central Valley and worked on my Master's degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
🍎 PREVIOUS JOBS?
I have taught agricultural science for the last 15 years, most recently in Forney ISD. Before moving to Texas, I taught ag in Napa and Hanford, California.
🦒 FUN FACT?
I went on a safari hunt in South Africa! I'm the proud owner of a record-sized impala I've named Paul. 😄
⚾🐖 HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and three kids. You're most likely to spot us at a baseball game or a livestock show!
❤️ WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT AT VAN ISD?
I am excited to build meaningful connections with my students, their families, and members of the Van community!
🎉 Welcome to #TeamVISD, Emmalee! We are so excited to have you and can't wait to see the impact you'll make at Van Junior High! ❤️🤍
#WeAreVan
🎭 Please welcome Holden Guinn, the newest Theatre Arts Teacher at Van Junior High School!
To introduce Holden to our Vandal community, we asked him a few questions:
🎓 Where did you go to college?
Stephen F. Austin State University
📚 Previous jobs?
This will be my seventh year in theatre education. I spent the last four years teaching at Malakoff ISD.
🎉 Fun fact?
I'm getting married in November!!
🏈 Hobbies?
I enjoy watching football, Marvel movies, and acting in community theatre.
🎭 Why are you most excited to work in Van ISD?
I'm excited to work with Mr. Healey and the Vandal Theatre Company! I'm ready to create stories, inspire students, and make lasting memories.
Welcome to #TeamVISD, Holden! We are so excited to have you!
#WeAreVan
To introduce Holden to our Vandal community, we asked him a few questions:
🎓 Where did you go to college?
Stephen F. Austin State University
📚 Previous jobs?
This will be my seventh year in theatre education. I spent the last four years teaching at Malakoff ISD.
🎉 Fun fact?
I'm getting married in November!!
🏈 Hobbies?
I enjoy watching football, Marvel movies, and acting in community theatre.
🎭 Why are you most excited to work in Van ISD?
I'm excited to work with Mr. Healey and the Vandal Theatre Company! I'm ready to create stories, inspire students, and make lasting memories.
Welcome to #TeamVISD, Holden! We are so excited to have you!
#WeAreVan
STAAR scores are now available in Skyward Family Access!
To view your child’s STAAR scores, please follow the steps below:
⭐️ Log in to Skyward Family Access (use a desktop browser or, if using the mobile app, tap “Open in Browser”)
⭐️ Click on “District Links”
⭐️ Select “STAAR Scores” from the dropdown menu
If you experience any difficulty accessing Skyward, please contact your child’s campus for assistance.
To view your child’s STAAR scores, please follow the steps below:
⭐️ Log in to Skyward Family Access (use a desktop browser or, if using the mobile app, tap “Open in Browser”)
⭐️ Click on “District Links”
⭐️ Select “STAAR Scores” from the dropdown menu
If you experience any difficulty accessing Skyward, please contact your child’s campus for assistance.
🍽️ Join the Van ISD Food Service Team! 🍽️
We are seeking full-time and substitute Food Service team members to help keep our students fueled and ready to learn each day! 🥗🍎
👉 Apply NOW! https://www.vanisd.org/o/visd/page/careers
#WeAreVan #TeamVISD
We are seeking full-time and substitute Food Service team members to help keep our students fueled and ready to learn each day! 🥗🍎
👉 Apply NOW! https://www.vanisd.org/o/visd/page/careers
#WeAreVan #TeamVISD
REMINDER: The last day of school is this Thursday, May 21, 2026, and it will be an early release day for all Van ISD campuses to kick off summer break! ☀️
Students will be dismissed 3 hours earlier than their regular dismissal times.
Thank you for a great school year, Vandals! Wishing everyone a safe, restful summer ahead. ❤️
Students will be dismissed 3 hours earlier than their regular dismissal times.
Thank you for a great school year, Vandals! Wishing everyone a safe, restful summer ahead. ❤️
Reminder: Tomorrow, April 3rd, is a school holiday. Classes will resume on Monday, April 6th. Have a great three-day weekend, Vandals!
Join us in wearing RED this Friday to support one of our very own Vandals! ❤️
Friday is an important day for 6th grader Ryder Shaw as he receives test results and continues treatment in his fight against leukemia.
Let's come together as a district to show Ryder and the Shaw family that they are surrounded by love and support, because no Vandal fights alone! 💪 #WeAreVan
Friday is an important day for 6th grader Ryder Shaw as he receives test results and continues treatment in his fight against leukemia.
Let's come together as a district to show Ryder and the Shaw family that they are surrounded by love and support, because no Vandal fights alone! 💪 #WeAreVan
Reminder: Tomorrow, March 6th, is a Student Holiday/Staff Work Day, and next week (March 9-13) is SPRING BREAK! We’ll see everyone back on campus Monday, March 16th! 🎉☀️
Van ISD has discontinued its partnership with Lifetouch.
All remaining scheduled photography sessions with Lifetouch for this school year have been canceled. For the remainder of the school year, all student photography will be handled in-house by the district.
The safety and privacy of our students remain our top priority and will continue to guide our decisions. Thank you for your continued support of Van ISD.
All remaining scheduled photography sessions with Lifetouch for this school year have been canceled. For the remainder of the school year, all student photography will be handled in-house by the district.
The safety and privacy of our students remain our top priority and will continue to guide our decisions. Thank you for your continued support of Van ISD.
Van ISD is aware of concerns regarding student photographs and our partnership with Lifetouch.
Please know that the safety of our students is always our top priority — both physically and digitally. As soon as this was brought to our attention, we began reviewing our current agreement to ensure student images are securely stored, used only for portrait and yearbook purposes, and fully compliant with FERPA and all applicable privacy laws.
If we cannot obtain clear, documented assurances regarding data security and image-use limitations, we will not continue this partnership.
We recognize the tremendous trust families place in us to protect their children, and that responsibility matters deeply. We will communicate clearly once our review is complete.
Thank you for your continued support of Van ISD.
Don Dunn
Van ISD Superintendent
REMINDER: Monday, February 16th, will be a student holiday.
Classes will resume Tuesday, February 17th. Have a safe three-day weekend, Vandals!
Classes will resume Tuesday, February 17th. Have a safe three-day weekend, Vandals!
Hat Day for a Cause 🧢 🎩 👒
This Friday, students may wear a hat for $1 to support a Van ISD family who lost their home in a house fire this weekend. All proceeds will go directly to the family.
When we come together, it makes a difference. Thank you for showing what #WeAreVan really means. ❤️
The TELPAS Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026. If you have an EB (Emergent Bilingual/ESL) student, this meeting is for you! We invite you to attend our TELPAS Parent Information Meeting, which will provide general information about the TELPAS assessment and explain the ESL classes and support services offered throughout the school year.
TELPAS Parent Information Meeting
📅 Tuesday, February 3, 2026
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 J.E. Rhodes Elementary Library
Child care will be available during the meeting.
We hope you can join us for this informative session. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Berta Campa at bertha.campa@vanisd.org
🚨 SCHOOL RESUMES TOMORROW 🚨
We’re looking forward to seeing our students tomorrow (Jan 29th) and getting back into our normal routine! See you soon, Vandals!
We’re looking forward to seeing our students tomorrow (Jan 29th) and getting back into our normal routine! See you soon, Vandals!
Van ISD will remain closed tomorrow, January 28, 2026, due to icy road conditions and freezing overnight temperatures.
Our focus remains on the safety of our students and staff as we continue to monitor conditions across our district. Stay warm and safe, Vandals!
Our focus remains on the safety of our students and staff as we continue to monitor conditions across our district. Stay warm and safe, Vandals!
🚨 Winter Weather Update🚨
Our district leaders are currently driving the back roads across our district to assess road conditions.
A final announcement will be made by 6:00 PM tonight regarding the decision for school tomorrow.
As always, the safety of our students & staff is our top priority. Thank you for your patience, Vandals! ❄️
Due to the district closure on Tuesday, January 27th, the TELPAS meeting originally scheduled for January 27 has been canceled. We will reschedule the meeting and share the new date and time as soon as it is finalized.
Van ISD will be closed tomorrow, January 27, 2026, due to continued winter weather conditions.
Please continue to monitor Van ISD’s social media channels, website, and mobile app for the most up-to-date information regarding closures. We hope all of our Vandals are staying warm and safe! #WeAreVan
Please continue to monitor Van ISD’s social media channels, website, and mobile app for the most up-to-date information regarding closures. We hope all of our Vandals are staying warm and safe! #WeAreVan
Due to icy road conditions, Van ISD will be closed tomorrow, January 26, 2026.
We will continue to monitor weather and road conditions. Please watch Van ISD's social media channels, website, or mobile app for the most up to date information concerning these closures.
Stay warm and safe, Vandals!
Parents,
If you have an EB (Emergent Bilingual/ESL) student, this meeting is for you! We invite you to attend our TELPAS Parent Information Meeting, which will provide general information about the TELPAS assessment and explain the ESL classes and support services offered throughout the school year.
TELPAS Parent Information Meeting
📅 Tuesday, January 27, 2026
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 J.E. Rhodes Elementary Library
Child care will be available during the meeting.
We hope you can join us for this informative session. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Berta Campa at bertha.campa@vanisd.org
Si usted tiene un estudiante EB (Aprendiz del Idioma Inglés/ESL), ¡esta reunión es para usted! Los invitamos a asistir a nuestra próxima reunión informativa para padres sobre TELPAS, que brindará información general sobre la evaluación TELPAS y explicará las clases de ESL y los servicios de apoyo que se ofrecen a los estudiantes durante el año escolar.
Reunión de información para padres de TELPAS
Martes 27 de enero de 2026
6:00 a 7:00 p. m.
Biblioteca primaria JE Rhodes
Habrá cuidado de niños disponible durante la reunión.
Esperamos que nos acompañen en esta sesión informativa. Si tienen alguna pregunta o necesitan más información, por favor, contacten a Berta Campa en bertha.campa@vanisd.org.
