Elizabethtown Independent School District

08/20/2026

🎒 A Big Day for Our Little Panthers! 🐾💛

Panther Academy Preschool officially got underway this morning, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome our youngest Panthers to EIS! 🥰

There were new faces, new friends, a few first-day jitters and plenty of smiles as our little learners began their school journey.

Welcome to Panther Academy, Little Panthers! Your EIS adventure starts today! 💛🐾

08/20/2026

🏫💛 T.K. Stone Open House Was a Huge Hit! 🐾

The halls of T.K. Stone Middle School were packed with excitement Wednesday night as Panthers and their families came together for Open House!

Students had the chance to show their families their classrooms, meet teachers and get ready for an incredible year of learning. The energy throughout the building made it clear that our Panthers are off to a good start! 🎒📚

A huge thank you to our T.K. Stone staff for creating such a welcoming evening and helping make Open House a tremendous success!

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

🐾 Ahead of Schedule: T.K. Stone Middle School renovation transforms Panther learning space 💛

Nearly a year and a half into construction, the transformation underway at T.K. Stone Middle School is impossible to miss, and it's happening ahead of schedule.

"We are pleased that the renovation of T.K. Stone Middle School remains ahead of schedule, and we are excited by the progress being made each week," Superintendent Paul M. Mullins said. "We look forward to seeing our students and staff move into a completely transformed learning environment in approximately 12 months."

The $22.6 million project marks the third major update to the school's classroom spaces, following renovations in 1993 and 2003. But Mullins said this project is about far more than an update.

Read more about T.K. Stone Middle School renovation on our website at etown.kyschools.us/all-news

08/14/2026

Investing in leadership: EIS continues work with Rutherford

Helmwood Heights Elementary Principal Aaron Howell and Assistant Principal Kendra Adams and Morningside Elementary Principal Heather Goodman and Assistant Principal Samantha Henderson found out they had more in common than expected.

The four building leaders were among the EIS administrators who sat down together as part of the district's continued work with Dr. Mike Rutherford, and as they worked through his leadership framework, the exercise revealed shared ways of leading that many of them didn't know they had in common until they saw it laid out in front of them.

As part of the session, leaders also completed a DISC assessment, a behavioral tool that helps identify how a person communicates, makes decisions, and works with others. Rather than sorting leaders into fixed categories, the assessment highlighted the blend of styles each person brings to their role, giving EIS administrators a shared language for understanding their own tendencies and those of their colleagues.

Before teachers and students returned to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year, Elizabethtown Independent Schools leaders spent time investing in something just as important: themselves.

Read more about the focus on building great leaders at EIS on our website at etown.kyschools.us/all-news

08/14/2026

🎒 One Day. So Many Memories. 🐾

The first day of the 2026–27 school year brought big smiles, new beginnings, hugs, high-fives and plenty of Panther Pride across EIS!

From our youngest Panthers taking their first steps into school to familiar faces returning for another year of learning and growing, Day One was one to remember.

🎥 Press play and relive some of the moments that made the first day so special! 💛

08/14/2026

🎒🐾 The Show Has Begun!

Before the sun came up on Aug. 12, EIS bus drivers were already rolling, seniors were gathering for Senior Sunrise, and families were walking their youngest Panthers into Panther Academy for the first time. Across the district, classrooms filled, first-day jitters turned into smiles, and months of preparation came to life.

From the first bus route to the final bell, EIS was ready for the first day.

Superintendent Paul M. Mullins called it an “outstanding start” to the 2026–27 school year, praising the teachers, staff and administrators whose preparation made the day a success. 💛 🐾

Read more about the first day of school at EIS on our website at etown.kyschools.us/all-news

08/13/2026

🎒🐾 What a first day! 💛

The 2026–27 school year is officially underway, and our Panthers brought the energy, excitement and smiles! From the first hugs to the first lessons, it was a day filled with new beginnings and plenty of Panther Pride.

Take a look at the first day through the eyes of EIS! 💛

08/13/2026

🍎 The first-year teacher journey for four EIS teachers 🐾

Every teacher remembers their first classroom.

For four EIS educators, this year marks the start of that journey, though each of them is arriving at it from a different path. Some are stepping into their own classroom for the first time after years supporting other teachers as instructional assistants. Others are returning to a district that shaped them as students.

What they share is the support system behind them: instructional coaches, veteran colleagues, and the EIS Care Team, all working to make sure no new teacher walks into the year alone.

“Starting your first year as a teacher is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming, and we never want our new teachers to feel like they are doing this work alone,” EIS Director of Personnel Derisa Hindle said. “At EIS, we are intentional about surrounding first-year teachers with resources and support. We want them to know they have people they can ask questions, lean on, learn from and celebrate with. When we support our teachers well, we are also supporting every student who walks into their classroom.”

Read more about the path of Natalie Shaw, Allyssa Brown, Eric Bristol and Amy South to EIS on our website at etown.kyschools.us/all-news

08/13/2026

🛠️🏫🐾 Getting EIS schools ready: The teams behind the scenes 🧹💻🍎

When students walk through the doors on the first day of school, they see freshly prepared classrooms, clean hallways, working technology, stocked cafeterias, and welcoming offices. What they don't always see is the months of work happening behind the scenes to make sure everything is ready.

Across Elizabethtown Independent Schools, maintenance employees, custodians, technology staff, nutrition employees, and office teams have been working throughout the summer to prepare schools for the arrival of students on Aug. 12.

From painting classrooms and completing repairs to cleaning buildings, preparing technology, organizing supplies, and getting cafeterias ready, these employees play an essential role in creating the environment where learning can happen.

Superintendent Paul M. Mullins said the effort behind opening day rarely gets the recognition it deserves.

A huge shoutout goes to the maintenance employees, custodians, technology staff, nutrition teams and office staff who worked tirelessly throughout the summer to prepare EIS schools for the first day of school.

Read more about EIS teams that made schools ready for Day One on our website at etown.kyschools.us/all-news