The Lubbock Independent School District Board of Trustees has approved P-TECH, a new higher education-industry partnership at Coronado High School, and announced the names for the district’s three new elementary schools, which were approved for construction in the2025 Bond election.
The board also accepted the resignation of District 5 Trustee John Weddige and will begin the process of identifying the person who will serve the rest of the District 5 term on the board, during their meeting Thursday evening.
P-TECH provides innovative pathways for Lubbock ISD students
The board approved five memorandums of understanding related to the creation of P-TECH at Coronado High School, which the district describes as an innovative program partnership between Lubbock Independent School District and South Plains College,
Texas Tech University and industry leaders CoNetrix, City Bank and Tyler Technologies.
Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) give students an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma in addition to industry based certifications, Level 1 or 2 certificates, and/or an associate degree while engaging in work- based learning at every grade level. The new program at Coronado will support students as they earn college credit and industry certifications in high-demand fields like STEM, computer science and health care – all at no cost to students.
More information about P-TECH and the partnerships will be shared at a press conference at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Coronado High School, 4910 29th Dr. Members of the community and the media are encouraged to attend to learn more.
Trustees announce names of three new Lubbock elementary schools
When the 2025 Bond was approved by voters last year, one of the major projects included was the construction of three new elementary schools. The schools will ultimately replace six smaller, older and less efficient elementary schools to provide an improved educational experience.
In July, the board asked the community to submit nominations for the names of the three new schools. In August, the board reviewed all the nominations and selected finalists from the names that were submitted to the district. On Thursday, the board unanimously voted to name each school after one of these community nominations.
Curtis & Hattie Gipson
The trustees voted to name school ES01 after Curtis & Hattie Gipson. The new school will replace Bean Elementary School (Bean currently includes students from Hodges Elementary, which closed at the end of the 2024-2025 school year) and will be located at the site of the former O.L. Slaton Middle School.
Curtis and Hattie, both graduates of Lubbock ISD’s Dunbar High School, were also dedicated educators within the district. Curtis, who passed away this July at the age of 92, taught social studies and history at Dunbar High School, where he also served as the head basketball coach. He also served as assistant principal and principal at Estacado High School and Alderson Junior High School before retiring in 1993.
Hattie, who passed away at the age of 84 in 2020, was a teacher and principal in Lubbock ISD for 30 years. She taught at Hunt Elementary School, and served as the principal at Wheatley Elementary School before retiring in 1993.
Anthony Peppers
The trustees voted to name school ES02 after Anthony Peppers. The new school will replace McWhorter Elementary School and Wollfarth Elementary School and will be located at the site of the former Matthews site.
Peppers, more commonly known as “Coach Pep” by his colleagues and students, passed away at the age of 67 earlier this year. A graduate of Dunbar High School, Peppers spent more than 40 years serving Lubbock ISD. He taught physical education and health and served as a teacher at Whiteside Elementary School, Rush Elementary School, and J. T. Hutchinson Middle School. He concluded his time with the district at Lubbock High School, where he was promoted to head athletic trainer in 1998.
Velma Ruth Shambeck
The trustees voted to name school ES03 after Velma Ruth Shambeck. The new school will combine Williams Elementary School and Stewart Elementary School at the current Williams site.
Shambeck retired from Lubbock ISD after more than 30 years of service to the district. She first joined the district in the early 1960s, serving as a first-grade teacher at Martin Elementary School before transitioning to a role as a “demonstration teacher,” helping other teachers grow and overcome challenges. For more than a decade, she led Murfee Elementary School after being named the school’s founding principal. She then served as the district’s first assistant superintendent for elementary schools before her retirement. She continues to be an advocate for public education and a dedicated supporter of the district.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock ISD board approves new elementary school names, P-Tech at CHS
