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Education isn't merely taking facts from a book and presenting them to students for Pine Tree High School teacher Candee Collins. Teaching social studies means instilling into students the responsibility of citizenship and the knowledge to fulfill that responsibility.

Though local school officials say they aren't expecting a swine flu outbreak, they are making a pre-emptive strike by thoroughly cleaning campuses before opening in August. Pine Tree ISD continues monitoring the H1N1 virus, and officials are in constant contact with the local health authorities. Tony Hollins, Director of Maintenance and Operations reports that custodial staff always do a great job of cleaning and disinfecting the schools and anything students may come in contact with. This will be no different with the new school year starting.

While students are enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer, local teachers are looking to take kids' imaginations under the sea, out West or through the jungle. It might be just decorations, but some teachers take decorating walls and bulletin boards seriously. Business has been brisk at the Knowledge Nook, said owner Paul Allegrezza. It has been equally busy at East Texas Educational Supplies, said owner Beth Carpenter. The two retail outlets are the main teacher supply stores in the Longview area.

The Pine Tree Independent School District Board of Trustees accepted former Superintendent Lynn Whitaker's letter of resignation in a special meeting on Friday, July 17, and expects to begin the search for an interim superintendent next week. Whitaker submitted his resignation to school board President Gil Gillam on Tuesday, citing "family and personal reasons" in his decision to "pursue other career options."

Keeta King works with students at Pine Tree High School in the Community in Schools Program. At the House of Hope she is learning how to better connect with homeless students in the district. She got her first eye opening experience one night last week when she didn't have a bed to sleep in.

While many teenagers were spending their summer working on their tans or advancing to new levels of video games, siblings Darin and Jessica Siu were volunteering. Darin and Jessica have been working at the Longview Community Ministries Food Box every Wednesday since summer break began. They help stock the shelves and distribute food. Executive Director Sharon Kale said the teens have been an asset to the nonprofit agency.

For thousands of teens nationwide, including more than 100 coming to Longview today, ripping rooftops and nailing down fresh shingles in the summer sun is a big part of a church camp that's more of a mission. "This is just a totally different experience altogether," Morgan Peck, 16, said last week. Peck, an incoming senior at Pine Tree High School, anticipated the arrival of fellow World Changers from a multi-state region who will join her and other local teens today for a week of work.

The board on Monday also approved a change to the student code of conduct allowing school officials to consider mitigating factors, such as disabilities and a student's record, when a student is disciplined.

The new Pine Tree Primary School should be completed by the beginning of August for less than the projected $11.1 million, Superintendent Lynn Whitaker said at the July board meeting. During a construction report at the Pine Tree Independent School District's board of trustees meeting, Tommy Barnes of J.E. Kingham Construction said the primary campus' concrete work has been completed and most of its topsoil has been placed.

Don't buy the notion that all East Texas educators are spending their summers lazing by the pool or going fishing. Teachers say they've found no shortage of ways to occupy their time during summer break. While some are kicking back, others are busier than ever.

At the Monday night board meeting, early budget projections for Pine Tree Independent School District showed preliminary budget numbers which have been calculated by school officials. Mr. Whitaker’s recommendations included looking closely at how the district can increase teacher salaries.

In the June 8th monthly board meeting, PTISD board of trustees approved a dress code committee's recommended changes to the dress code, including a stronger disciplinary provision.

In March the state health department, based on federal guidelines, adopted standards that require many students to receive additional vaccinations. The new policy makes mandatory the recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Emily Palmer, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. Some Texas school districts already require students to meet these recommendations.

Pine Tree Independent School District officials hope a federal grant might lead to improved security at several campuses. The Longview City Council has applied for about $55,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services Secure Our Schools program to pay for new surveillance and communication systems at the Pine Tree district. If the grant is awarded, the district must match the grant, bringing the total for the security upgrades to about $110,000.

Valedictorian: Hunter Skoog, 18
Speech excerpt: "We left our mark on this school and its history. We have all had our own obstacles, some larger than others, and obviously, by our presence here tonight, we have overcome them."

Salutatorian: Amy Pearson, 17
Speech excerpt: "High school is a wonderful and miserable experience that shapes each of us into who we will be as we go off into the world. ... High school is not the staff, the buildings or the classes that we sometimes do not want to take. It is instead a feeling, a remembrance, a memory."

Congratulations to the PTHS Academic Team who outscored all area districts at the recent competition held May 25-26, 2009 in Austin. Pine Tree won first place at the regional meet in Denton and came in second at the state meet held in Austin. The Meet Summary for Academics Spring Meet Conference 4A: Pine Tree HS – 102 points; Hallsville HS – 51 points; Longview HS – 10 points. Among Texas High School students participating in the Texas University Interscholastic League academic competition in Austin were several returning home with top finishes. Congratulations to all these students for earning the opportunity to compete at the prestigious state level events! Click here for photos.

Preliminary Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills passing rates show improvements in math and science at most East Texas schools. The Texas Education Agency released results of late-April and early May TAKS administrations to districts last week. Passing percentages will be finalized after students who failed are retested.

Pine Tree High School senior Brandi Hull has been selected to be a feature twirler at Ouachita Baptist University where she will be majoring in music performance and psychology.

The Longview lodges of the Knight of Pythias and the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan awarded 14 bicycles in raffle drawings to reading contest participants at four local elementary schools. The winners were: Pine Tree Elementary: Dayton McElyea, Gerardo Morena, Darnisha Washington, Adam Paz, all of Pine Tree Elementary School.

The Greggton Rotary Club donated about 500 books to kindergartners at Pine Tree Primary school this month. Called the "I Like Me" program, the books are personalized to fit each child. The program began in 2001 at the suggestion of Bill Rains, who was the acting district governor of Rotary. “My six-year-old granddaughter is in kindergarten at Pine Tree Primary School and she brought home the book and told me it was her very own, and she could keep it,” said grandparent Jeannette Ray, “The story promotes self esteem, friendship, and building relationships. The students are able to read a story about themselves, their two best friends, and their teacher.”

Pine Tree shortstop Brett McAfee has been selected to represent Texas in the Sun Belt Games. McAfee is one of 40 sophomores chosen by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association to play in the event June 4-7 that will include teams from across the nation — including Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri, Arizona and California — and Canada. McAfee hit .515 with six home runs and 18 stolen bases as a sophomore. "It's a big honor. It feels great getting it and I just want to help the team out any way I can," McAfee said. Pine Tree head coach Steve Marrs said the THSBCA select four teams each year — two senior teams and two sophomore teams — to compete in the Sun Belt Games.

Twenty-two teachers and 12 counselors were honored Thursday after being named teachers and counselors of the year at 11 East Texas school districts. The Greater Longview Organization for Business and Education honored teachers and counselors from Longview, Pine Tree, Spring Hill, Gilmer, Gladewater, Hallsville, Harleton, New Diana, Sabine, Tatum and White Oak school districts.

Kundanika Lakkadi, Darby J. Ball and Jason Zhang finished atop this year's Accelerated Reader program, according to Pine Tree reading teacher Paula Lea.

The postseason honors continue to roll in for the Pine Tree (boys and girls) soccer teams following seasons that saw two of the teams reach the Class 4A Region II tournament.

JH Science teacher, Karen Darby planned a lengthy class project for her students. When she began preparing, other science teachers wanted to participate as well, leading to six days of forensics in the junior high school's science classrooms.

Pine Tree's Brett Sharp won boys discus bronze with a throw of 167 feet.

A Kilgore-based construction company will demolish a Pine Tree Independent School District cafeteria and former Education Resource building this summer.

Huey Chancellor, who won 115 football games and had just one losing season in 14 campaigns at Bellville, has been offered and will accept the dual positions of athletic director / head football coach at Pine Tree High School. Chancellor, who was part of an extensive interview process at Pine Tree ISD, was greeted by a gathering of Pine Tree football supporters just after 9 p.m. Monday night outside the board meeting at the Pine Tree Community Center. Shortly after his arrival, Chancellor was officially named Pine Tree High School's new athletic director and head football coach.

Local veterans honored about 55 Pine Tree Junior High School students with lunch Saturday for expressing their patriotism through the pen.

Pine Tree Primary School: Tammy Friday, honored by student Taylon Mosley
Pine Tree Elementary School: Teresa Meadows, honored by student Kaelin Goodeman
Pine Tree Intermediate School: Mitzi Horton, honored by student Callie Ball
Pine Tree Middle School: Kim Ott, honored by student De'Qwuavin Henderson
Pine Tree Junior High School: Jim Manning, honored by student Israel Masceda
Pine Tree High School: Mary Graham, honored by student Lauren Dulweber