What can a small school district offer that larger schools sometimes can't?

For Karnack ISD Superintendent Angela Fitzpatrick, the answer starts with relationships.

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver welcomes Fitzpatrick back to the podcast as Karnack ISD prepares to open its doors for another school year. They discuss how the small East Texas district uses its size as a strength—creating a school environment where educators know their students, families are connected to their schools, and the entire community plays a role in student success.

Fitzpatrick takes listeners behind the scenes of Karnack ISD's back-to-school preparations, including intensive staff development and safety training, the district's Back to School Bash, its first community bus tour for employees, and a special leadership session with author and speaker Robert Jackson.

The conversation also explores the challenges facing small and rural school districts, teacher recruitment and retention, career and technical education, open enrollment, and Karnack's commitment to expanding opportunities for students despite limited resources.

Most importantly, Fitzpatrick explains why a school can be much more than a building—it can become the heart of its community.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, parent, community leader, or supporter of public education, this conversation is a reminder of what can happen when schools, families, and communities work together.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #PublicEducation #EducationLeadership #KarnackISD #SmallSchools #RuralEducation #TexasEducation #SchoolLeadership #CommunitySchools #BackToSchool #StudentSuccess #EducationalLeadership

The Hallsville Bobcats enter the 2026 football season with experience, speed and expectations.

Hallsville head football coach Josh Strickland joins David Weaver From The Press Box to discuss the opening days of fall camp, what last year's young roster learned, and why this year's team could be poised to take the next step.

🏈 Fall Camp Begins

💪 Growth Through Experience

🛡️ Defensive Outlook

🔥 A Brutal Schedule

🌡️ Football in the Texas Heat

🏟️ Bobcat Pride

Plus, Coach Strickland shares his coaching philosophy, favorite stadiums, rapid-fire answers, and why coaching in his hometown continues to be a dream come true.

Thank you to our sponsors who made this episode of "From The Press Box" possible!

Elysian Fields ISD

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Year two has arrived for Elysian Fields head football coach Bo Maines, and with heightened expectations comes a new challenge: building a new identity while maintaining the championship standard established in his first season.

Coach Maines joins host David Weaver From The Press Box to discuss the Yellow Jackets' offseason, the start of fall camp, and why relationships—not just X's and O's—remain the foundation of a successful football program.

🏈 Getting Ready for 2026

🏆 Building a New Identity

🛡️ Defensive Philosophy

🤝 Leadership & Culture

🏟️ Community & Expectations

In a Rapid Fire segment, Coach Maines discusses his favorite football movie, the toughest road environment he's coached in, his admiration for Nick Saban, leadership lessons that have shaped his career, and the demanding non-district schedule awaiting the Jackets.

Whether you're an Elysian Fields supporter, a Texas high school football fan, or a coach looking for leadership insight, this conversation offers an inside look at building a winning program the right way.

#FromThePressBox #ElysianFields #BoMaines #TXHSFB #TexasHighSchoolFootball #EastTexasSports #Coaching #Leadership #SportsPodcast

College athletics continues to evolve—and this week may have been one of the most significant yet.

On this segment of From The Press Box, David and Matt examine the NCAA's latest courtroom setback, the fallout from a federal judge's eligibility ruling, and the growing momentum behind the proposed Protect College Sports Act.

🏈 NCAA Eligibility Ruling

⚖️ Protect College Sports Act

💰 The NIL Era

🏆 The Future of College Sports

From courtroom decisions to congressional legislation, this episode explores one of the biggest turning points in the modern history of college athletics.

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Football season has officially arrived in East Texas, and there's no shortage of major sports stories to discuss.

On this episode of From The Press Box, David and Matt kick off the high school football season before diving into Major League Baseball's blockbuster trade deadline, the latest NCAA eligibility controversy, and LeBron James' surprising move to Philadelphia.

Join us for another conversation covering the biggest stories from across the sports world—from East Texas to the professional ranks.

"From The Press Box" is brought to you by our Write Team family of sponsors:

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Carthage athletic director and head football coach Scott Surratt joins From The Press Box for a wide-ranging conversation about East Texas football, championship leadership and the remarkable dynasty he has built with the Bulldogs.

Entering his 20th season at Carthage, Surratt reflects on why a job he once viewed as a possible steppingstone became home for his family—and how the Bulldogs grew into one of the most successful programs in Texas high school football history.

In this episode:

East Texas Roots

The ETBU Years

The Road to Carthage

Building a Dynasty

Surratt also previews a talented but less experienced Carthage roster, discusses the difficulty of finding non-district opponents and reflects on the unforgettable experience of coaching his son, Jet, at quarterback.

This is an inside look at the preparation, consistency and leadership behind one of the greatest dynasties in Texas high school football.

#FromThePressBox #ScottSurratt #CarthageBulldogs #TXHSFB #TexasHighSchoolFootball #EastTexasSports #CarthageFootball #FootballCoach #ChampionshipCulture #SportsPodcast #TheWriteTeamPodcast

Thank you to our podcast sponsors!

Does a true leader ever really retire?

In this heartfelt closing conversation on School House Rocks, host David Weaver sits down with Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson to reflect on leadership, perseverance, and the desire to continue serving students—even after retirement.

Dr. Gibson shares behind-the-scenes stories about secretly recruiting highly-touted football coach Claude Mathis to Marshall ISD, discusses why great leaders sometimes have to make difficult personal decisions, and opens up about navigating professional challenges while maintaining his faith and commitment to education.

Most importantly, he explains why his greatest desire isn't another title—it's simply another opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Topics include:

• Recruiting Claude Mathis to Marshall ISD

Whether you're an educator, coach, administrator, or anyone navigating life's unexpected turns, this conversation is a powerful reminder that purpose doesn't end when a job does.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #Leadership #ServantLeadership #EducationLeadership #MarshallISD #EducationalLeadership #Resilience #FaithAndLeadership #Superintendent #Legacy #StudentSuccess

Should the Bible be taught in public schools?

It's one of the most discussed—and most debated—issues facing education today.

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver and retired superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson explore the intersection of faith, public education, constitutional rights, and school leadership.

As committed Christians and experienced educators, both men share why they believe faith is essential while also discussing the legal, constitutional, and practical challenges school leaders face when government mandates intersect with religious expression.

Topics include:

• Bible instruction in public schools

This is not a political debate—it is a thoughtful conversation between two longtime educators and believers seeking to navigate one of today's most complex educational issues with wisdom, conviction, and respect.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #FaithAndEducation #ReligiousFreedom #PublicEducation #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #FirstAmendment #ChristianLeadership #TexasEducation #EducationalLeadership #StudentFaith

What does the future hold for public education in Texas?

In this episode of School House Rocks, host David Weaver sits down with retired superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson for a candid conversation about the challenges facing today's public schools.

From school choice and education savings accounts (ESAs) to district funding, property taxes, and the increasing pressure on school leaders, Dr. Gibson offers a superintendent's perspective on navigating one of the most significant transitions in modern public education.

Rather than focusing solely on politics, the discussion centers on what school districts can control: providing exceptional educational opportunities, finding innovative revenue sources, strengthening career and technical education, and giving families compelling reasons to choose public schools.

Topics include:

• School choice and education savings accounts (ESAs)

Whether you're an educator, administrator, school board member, policymaker, parent, or taxpayer, this conversation provides valuable insight into one of education's most important issues.

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #EducationLeadership #PublicEducation #SchoolChoice #TexasEducation #SchoolFunding #EducationalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #Superintendent #EducationPolicy #StudentSuccess

What separates a good school district from a great one?

Former Marshall ISD Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson joins host David Weaver for an in-depth conversation about educational leadership, school improvement, and the philosophy that guided one of East Texas' most successful academic turnarounds.

From his early days in ministry and coaching to leading school districts across Texas, Dr. Gibson shares how servant leadership, accountability, and a relentless focus on students transformed struggling campuses into thriving schools.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How Dr. Gibson became an educator and superintendent

Whether you're an educator, administrator, school board member, parent, business leader, or simply interested in effective leadership, this conversation offers timeless principles for building organizations—and people—the right way.

Subscribe to The Write Team Podcast, for conversations that highlight the people shaping education across East Texas and beyond.

Thank you to our team of podcast sponsors:

#SchoolHouseRocks #TheWriteTeamPodcast #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #StudentSuccess #PublicEducation #MarshallISD #TexasEducation #Superintendent #Leadership #SchoolImprovement #EducationalLeadership