Clay Gillentine, Superintendent - Brenham ISD

09/02/2026

We have an amazing Pre-K program here in Brenham ISD !

09/01/2026

This morning, our Brenham ISD Administrative Team came together for our second ATM of the school year. These meetings bring our principals, chiefs, directors, coordinators, and district leadership into one room to learn together, work through what is ahead, and make sure we continue moving Brenham ISD forward as One Team.

I believe strongly that leadership teams need this time together. There will always be another email to answer, another meeting to attend, another problem to solve, and another task waiting for us. But if we never make time to learn, reflect, challenge one another, and grow as leaders, eventually we stop getting better.

Today, we spent some time digging into Chapter 1 of Good to Great and connecting it to the work happening across Brenham ISD.

One of the principles we have worked intentionally on for several years is getting the right people in the right roles. When you have talented people who believe in the work, are passionate about their responsibilities, and have the freedom to lead, you do not have to constantly tell them to "go."

I told our team this morning that I would much rather have to say "whoa" than "go."

Give me leaders who are passionate. Give me people who see something that needs to be done and take ownership of it. Give me people willing to bring forward ideas, solve problems, take initiative, and move their area of Brenham ISD forward. My responsibility as superintendent is not to have every idea or make every move myself. It is to put great people in positions where they can use their strengths, support them, trust them, and then let them lead.

We also talked about the story of the two lumberjacks. One worked continuously throughout the day, while the other disappeared for an hour at lunch. Yet the second lumberjack consistently accomplished just as much, and sometimes more. When asked where he went each day, his answer was simple:

"I go to sharpen my axe."

There is a lesson in that for all of us.

Leadership requires us to work hard, but it also requires us to sharpen our axes. We need to make time to learn. To listen. To read. To reflect. To take care of ourselves. To learn from the people around us. Sometimes stepping away from the whirlwind long enough to sharpen ourselves is exactly what allows us to return better prepared to do the work.

That is part of what our Administrative Team Meetings are designed to provide.

When I looked around the room this morning, I was proud of the leadership team we have built. It did not happen overnight. We have spent years working to put the right people in the right positions, develop leaders from within, bring in new strengths when needed, and create a team of people who genuinely care about their work and the future of this district.

Good to Great begins with a simple idea: good is the enemy of great. We have a lot of GOOD things happening in Brenham ISD right now, and we should celebrate them. But our responsibility is to keep asking how we make them even better.

That is why we keep learning.

That is why we keep sharpening our axes.

And that is why we keep Going Greater.

08/31/2026

Friday night was a great way to open the 2026 season! I had a blast being at Cub Stadium and watching our Brenham Cubs earn a 49-14 victory over Huntsville. Even with a lightning delay before kickoff, our community showed up. Seeing a packed stadium filled with students, families, alumni, staff, and Cub fans made the night even more special, especially as we celebrated our seniors.

After Huntsville scored first, I loved watching the way our team responded. The Cubs answered almost immediately, took a 28-7 lead into halftime, and never looked back. Jakoby Dixon finished with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, CJ Glover added 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and the Cubs totaled 317 yards on the ground. It was a strong team performance on both sides of the ball and a great start to the season.

I am incredibly proud of our players, coaches, trainers, and everyone who works behind the scenes to prepare for nights like this. I also want to recognize our band, Belles, cheerleaders, MCJROTC, student groups, staff, and all of the students who help create the atmosphere and traditions that make Friday nights at Cub Stadium so special.

And to our community, thank you for showing up for our kids. There is something pretty incredible about looking into those stands and seeing Brenham come together to support its students.

It is only Week 1, and there is a lot of football still ahead of us. We know great teams are built one practice, one play, and one game at a time. But there is no question this is a talented group, and I am excited about what they can accomplish this season. I would certainly love nothing more than to see these Cubs make a run all the way to STATE! 🏆

Now it is time to take that energy on the road. The Cubs travel to Georgetown this Thursday, September 3, to take on East View at 7:00 p.m. at Birkelbach Field.

Congratulations on a great opening win, Cubs. Keep working, keep believing, and keep Going Greater!

1-0. On to the next one.

08/28/2026

What a great week to be a Brenham Cub!

As I look back on this week, I am reminded just how quickly the rhythm of a new school year takes hold. Our classrooms are busy with learning, extracurricular activities are in full swing, and everywhere I go, I see students beginning to find their place and our staff doing what they do best, creating opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed.

We certainly ended the week with some energy! This morning, I had a blast joining our Brenham High School students, staff, families, and community for the first home pep rally of the year. We also had the opportunity to celebrate our BHS Football Team receiving the Chevy Spotlight Trophy from Inside High School Sports Houston. What a great recognition for our program and the pride and tradition surrounding Brenham Cub Football. Tonight, that excitement moves to Cub Stadium as our Cubs take on Huntsville for our first home football game. 🏈

This week also brought another tremendous recognition for one of Brenham ISD's nationally respected programs. Our Brenham High School Marine Corps JROTC was named a Naval Honor School, placing the program among the top 20 percent of Marine Corps JROTC units nationwide. Congratulations to Capt. Bayse, SgtMaj Murcia, and our cadets. Their leadership, discipline, character, and commitment to excellence continue to make Brenham proud.

One of the things I enjoy most about this time of year is watching our students discover where they belong. That may be on a field, court, or course, in the band hall, on a stage, in theatre or fine arts, through MCJROTC or CTE, in a student organization, or in one of the many other opportunities available across Brenham ISD.

These experiences matter. They build confidence, leadership, discipline, perseverance, friendships, and a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves. Going Greater means preparing students academically while also helping them discover where they can contribute, lead, grow, and belong.

We also had some great news from our campuses this week. Every Brenham ISD campus posted attendance above 95 percent, and Brenham Junior High claimed this week's top spot with an impressive 97.48 percent ADA! Congratulations, BJHS! Being at school matters, and this is an outstanding start across our district.

I continue to be grateful for the community that surrounds our schools. The Washington County Fair recently reached out with opportunities for our campus organizations, booster clubs, and student groups to volunteer at the Fair while earning donations for their organizations. Downtown Brenham is also inviting our schools and student groups to participate in its annual Scarecrow Extravaganza. These may seem like small things, but they represent something important about Brenham. Our schools are part of this community, and our community is invested in our schools.

That partnership has also been evident in the tremendous amount of school supplies donated over the past several weeks. Because of that generosity, we have additional supplies available for students who may need them throughout the year. Thank you again to everyone who has helped make that possible.

And somehow, September is already here next week! We have a lot to look forward to. We will celebrate 151 years of Brenham ISD, recognize four remarkable graduates through our Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, join Adam's Angels in recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and soon gather as a community for our annual September 11 Remembrance.

There is so much happening across Brenham ISD, and behind every accomplishment, event, program, and opportunity are people working together to make it happen.

That is how we continue moving from good to great. Not through one moment or one program, but through consistent work, strong relationships, high expectations, and a community committed to its students.

Thank you for another great week, Brenham. I hope to see plenty of green and white filling Cub Stadium tonight!

Go Cubs!

08/28/2026

What a way to start a Friday in Brenham! 💚🏈

I had an absolute blast at our first Brenham High School pep rally of the year this morning. There is nothing quite like walking into that gym and feeling the energy of our students, staff, parents, and community all coming together to celebrate our Cubs.

Our students brought the SPIRIT! From our band, cheerleaders, Belles, Ice Cold Steppers, student organizations, and everyone helping lead the excitement, to a gym full of students cheering on their classmates, it was a great reminder of what makes Friday nights in Brenham so special.

Tonight, our Cubs take the field at home, and I know that same energy is going to carry right into Cub Stadium. I hope our community comes out, fills the stands, wears that green and white proudly, and gets LOUD for our students!

Days like today are just fun. I love getting to be part of them, and I am excited for everything ahead for our Cubs this year.

See you tonight! LET’S GO CUBS!

08/27/2026

One of the things I enjoy most about this time of year is watching our students find the places where they belong.

As our fall seasons get underway, I am excited to see our Brenham Cubs back competing and performing. Football, volleyball, cross country, tennis, cheer, Belles, MCJROTC, marching band, and so many others are putting in countless hours representing Brenham High School and our community. This Friday, we also have the opportunity to come together at Cub Stadium for our first home football game and recognize our seniors for Senior Night.

As superintendent, I am proud of the opportunities we provide our students. As a dad, I appreciate them on an entirely different level.

Allison and I have watched Holt grow through his own involvement in Brenham High School athletics, and as he begins his junior year and looks ahead to another golf season this spring, I am reminded of how much these experiences give our kids beyond competition.

That is why I believe so strongly in student involvement.

And it is certainly not limited to athletics. Whether a student finds their place on a field or court, in the band, on a stage, through theatre or fine arts, in MCJROTC, in CTE, a student organization, or another extracurricular activity, being connected matters.

These experiences give students an opportunity to discover their strengths, develop friendships, learn discipline and perseverance, work toward something bigger than themselves, and build relationships with adults who invest in their success. They create memories, but more importantly, they help develop young people.

Going Greater means creating opportunities for students to succeed academically, but it also means helping them discover where they can contribute, lead, grow, and belong.

I am looking forward to cheering on our students throughout the fall and watching all of our programs represent Brenham with pride. I hope our community will continue showing up for them too.

And on a personal note, I am thankful to local photographer Joseph Scott Alberico ( Joe Alberico Photography ) for capturing this photo of Allison, Holt, and me. These years go by quickly, and I am grateful to have moments like this captured along the way.

Good luck to all of our Cubs this season, and we’ll see you under the Friday night lights!

Go Cubs!

08/25/2026

Our 2025 Bond Program continues to move forward, and I want to share a few updates on the progress happening across Brenham ISD.

During our August Board meeting, Rice & Gardner provided an update on the first 90 days of program management. A tremendous amount of work has taken place during this initial phase. Campus assessments have been completed, Parkhill Architecture and the necessary engineering and facility consultants are now engaged, and we are moving from a broad list of facility needs toward defined projects, priorities, schedules, and procurement plans.

I have talked throughout this process about the importance of sometimes slowing down so we can move fast. This is exactly what that looks like.

Before we commit taxpayer dollars to a project, we need to understand the full condition of a facility, what is causing the problem, what additional requirements could be triggered by the work, and whether the proposed solution provides the best long-term value for our district.

Those assessments are already giving us valuable information.

Roofing has emerged as one of our highest priorities, with Brenham Junior High, Brenham Middle School, and the Early Childhood Learning Center currently identified as the greatest areas of need. Additional mapping and evaluation will help us develop accurate scopes before those projects move forward.

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing assessments have also been completed, and we are evaluating what those findings mean for several facilities. Interior projects at Krause Elementary, Brenham Elementary, Alton Elementary, and Brenham High School are becoming more defined as well.

We have also already completed one urgent Bond project. The failed HVAC unit serving the Krause Elementary gym and cafeteria was repaired on August 6, allowing our team to verify that everything was operational before students returned to school.

At the same time, Rice & Gardner is developing a districtwide master schedule that will help us determine what work can happen during the school year, what needs to occur during breaks or summer, and how we coordinate projects across multiple campuses. We have also begun working closely with the City of Brenham and other local partners on permitting, inspections, and the processes that will help projects move efficiently once construction begins.

There is still a great deal of work ahead, and I know our community is ready to see visible progress. So are we. But good stewardship means doing the work on the front end so that when we move, we move with purpose.

I remain incredibly grateful to our community for the trust you placed in Brenham ISD when you approved this $39 million investment in our schools. We take the responsibility of managing those dollars seriously, and we will continue communicating openly about the progress, challenges, decisions, and next steps along the way.

Our Communications team has also created a Brenham ISD BOND 25’ Updates & Information ParentSquare Community Group specifically to make staying informed easier. Anyone in the community can join, including parents, staff, alumni, grandparents, neighbors, and community members.
https://www.parentsquare.com/community_signups/c9437d23-ba91-4afa-bf1a-93d3f7c90589/new

We also have a Brenham ISD News Community Group for those who want to stay connected to district news and celebrations throughout the year.

Thank you for continuing to follow this work and stay engaged as we move our Bond Program forward.

Good planning. Responsible stewardship. Continued progress. That is how we Go Greater.

08/21/2026

What an incredible night at Cub Stadium!

Wednesday evening, our community came together for one of my favorite Brenham ISD traditions, our annual Fall Meet the Cubs. I had the opportunity to share a few words at the beginning of the evening, and looking out into the stadium at our students, coaches, directors, families, and community members was a great reminder of just how much pride there is in being a Brenham Cub.

Meet the Cubs gives us an opportunity to recognize the many students representing Brenham ISD throughout the fall season, from athletics to our marching band and other student programs. It was also special to recognize our seniors who are beginning their final year representing Brenham High School in the activities they have dedicated so much time and effort to throughout their high school careers.

These programs are about much more than competition or performance. They teach teamwork, discipline, leadership, perseverance, and what it means to represent something bigger than yourself. Those lessons are an important part of the education we provide our students.

I also want to thank our coaches, directors, sponsors, staff, parents, and guardians. There are countless hours behind every practice, performance, competition, and Friday night, and our students could not have these opportunities without the people supporting them along the way.

We talk a lot this year about Going Greater, and Wednesday night was another reminder that excellence takes many forms across Brenham ISD. I am excited to watch these students compete, perform, grow, and represent our community throughout the fall.

Have a great season, Cubs! We are proud of you!

08/21/2026

Want to stay connected with everything happening in Brenham ISD? [LINK in the post]

We're excited to introduce our new ParentSquare Community Groups, giving anyone in our community a simple way to stay informed about district news and important updates.
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, alumni, community member, business partner, former Cub, or simply someone who loves supporting Brenham ISD, these groups are for you!

Join our:
📰 Brenham ISD News Community Group
🏗️ Brenham ISD Bond '25 Updates & Information Community Group

HERE is the link: https://www.parentsquare.com/community_signups/c9437d23-ba91-4afa-bf1a-93d3f7c90589/new?fbclid=IwY2xjawT1id9wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTl0T3NCQnMxaXQ1ZW9MVTlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeH2uOs1kZs85FK0JHb_t-rnganLdismobT3Lcop8oKOzjfXSy00nnQjC2H9A_aem_zhfn7nFw7vjmaXhviOpvsg

The best part? You don't have to have a ParentSquare account to join! Simply sign up and start receiving updates from Brenham ISD.
Already a parent, guardian, student, or staff member? You're welcome to join too! These Community Groups are a great way to receive additional district news and Bond project updates in one convenient place.

Help us spread the word by sharing this post and inviting your family, friends, neighbors, grandparents, and fellow Cub supporters to join. The more connected our community is, the stronger Brenham ISD becomes.

Together, let's keep our community informed, engaged, and connected.

08/21/2026

This is another great example of what can happen when our community partners invest in the future of Brenham ISD students.

I am incredibly grateful to Viridien for their generous $10,000 donation through the Brenham ISD Education Foundation to support STEAM education across our district.

These funds will help provide technology that gives students more opportunities to explore, create, problem-solve, and learn through hands-on experiences. Investments like this allow us to continue expanding opportunities for students and preparing them with skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

Thank you to Viridien for believing in our students, and thank you to our Education Foundation for continuing to connect our schools with community partners who want to make a meaningful difference.

Going Greater requires strong partnerships, innovative opportunities, and a community willing to invest in its students.

A HUGE thank you to Viridien for their generous $10,000 donation to support STEAM education in Brenham ISD! 💚💻

Through the Brenham ISD Education Foundation, these funds will provide computers to expand hands-on learning and opportunities for students to explore, create, and problem-solve through STEAM.

Thank you, Viridien, for investing in Brenham ISD students and helping us continue to support innovative learning opportunities across the district! 🐾