This picture of Mrs. Houston was taken in training today. She has been doing ALL the things to gear up for a great year! She truly has a servant heart taking care of everyone (especially Mrs. Sherman). What would we do without her? Mrs. Houston, thank you for ALL the things you do for TLMS! 💜
P.S. Also pictured Mrs. Mendez who takes great care of Mr. Sherman and the great folks over at Tyler Legacy! ❤️
✏️ Parents! Bring your student to the School Is Cool event at the W. T. Brookshire Conference Center TOMORROW from 4:30pm-7pm for FREE school supplies! 📚
We had the BEST DAY EVER with our new staff today! We can't wait to bring back all staff next week and our Gators the following week! Our new teachers got to go on a surprise shopping spree this afternoon to help get their classrooms started. It's going to be another great year for the Gators y'all!
Help us welcome Melissa McElveen to the swamp! Mrs. McElveen will be our RLA Inclusion teacher at TLMS. Coach McElveen retired from teaching (he will still be coaching high school golf) and we gained his better half ;) ; both are special to the swamp!
Where are you from? I’m Melissa McElveen and I think you will recognize my husband, David. He just retired from teaching. We moved to Bullard from Lufkin 11 years ago. I grew up in Lufkin and still have family there.
Family? I have 2 grown stepchildren and 1 grandchild. Aubrey went to Three Lakes and she keeps us busy.
Hobbies? When I’m not teaching, I love reading, singing, golfing and helping others with health & wellness. I’m also an Aussie mom to Tucker Boone.
Experience in education? This is my 18th year in education. I’ve taught gifted & talented, been an instructional specialist and an assistant principal in Tyler ISD. I trained teachers for 3 years all over the state and missed working with students. I just finished working in special education in Bullard and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have an opportunity to be back in Tyler ISD. I’m home!
Favorite middle school memory? My favorite memory about my own middle school experience is finding my voice. I had the most amazing choir teacher named Glen Miller. He taught me how to use my gift and helped me develop my talent. I sang in show choir and was the absolute best year! Just like my middle school teacher, I want to bring my best and make a lasting impact on students.
I’m so excited to be a part of the Gator family!
Congratulations to Coach Blajeski on being named a Tyler ISD Middle School Coach of the Year! 🎉
Our Gators have put in the work and they're ready to compete! Last day of camp today, but we will be seeing you all again soon! We are proud of your commitment to being the best you can be this summer! 🐊 🏈
Help us welcome Amy Drake to the swamp! Mrs. Drake is a TLMS parent and will now be our Choir Teacher here at Three Lakes. We are so excited to have 3 of the 5 Drake's here at the swamp each day!
Where are you from? I’m originally from Louisiana but have lived in Tyler for 24 years.
Family? I’ve been married to Chris for 16 years and we have 3 kids, Cooper will be a Freshman at Legacy, and I have two Gators, Emory (8th) and Micah (6th).
Hobbies? I love to SING, cook, travel, snow ski and spend time with my friends and family.
Experience working with children? I spent 14 summers working at Pine Cove Camps, much of that was with Junior High students. I’ve also volunteered with the student ministries at my church, done some substitute teaching and have taught private voice lessons.
Favorite middle school memory? I loved being a cheerleader and doing math competitions.
Anything else you want to share...I’m excited to be a part of the special team of educators and staff at TLMS and to build confidence in students’ lives through music and singing!
Help us welcome Nick Hobbs to the swamp! Coach Hobbs will teach Speech/Careers and coach at Three Lakes and baseball at Tyler Legacy. We are thrilled he will be a Gator!
Where are you from? I'm from Canton, TX
Family? I am married to my wife, McKenna. No kids yet!
Hobbies? I enjoy all things sports, golfing, working out and spending time with my family and friends.
Experience in education? Last year was my first year teaching. I taught physics and coached baseball and football at Tyler Legacy!
Favorite middle school memory? Playing football and all the friendships that were made
Yearbooks are here for pickup...
Help us welcome Sydney Lyons to the swamp! Mrs. Lyons will be one of our SpEd Inclusion Paraprofessionals at Three Lakes.
Where are you from? Born and raised in Tyler, Texas
Family? I’m a wife married to Courtland Lyons 6 years in with a 2 year old name Kyson Isaiah Lyons.
Hobbies? I love to do hair. I own a Natural Hair business by the name of Naturally Sydney.
Favorite middle school memory? My favorite memory at Moore Middle school is when our cheer team when to the Dallas Cowboys stadium to perform and won first place.
Anything else...I’m so excited to be returning to Three Lakes Middle School to make a difference, make an impact, and bond with the students!
Last week of summer workouts ends this week. Gators are finishing strong 💪🏼
⚗️ Mrs. Clague is getting ready for back to school by learning fun STEM activities thanks to Discovery Science Place! We love community partnerships and the investment DSP is making into science education. 🧬
Help us welcome Tyrone Ross to the swamp! Coach Ross will be in boys P.E./Athletics along with Coach Cole.
Where are you from? I was born and raised here in Tyler, Texas. I attended W.A. Peete Elementary School, Hogg Middle School, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.
Family? I was raised in a single parent household by the best mother anyone could ever ask for and a big sister who I wouldn’t trade for the world!
Hobbies? I am always dying to get to any creek or lake to do some fishing! I love to grill on any given day, you might catch me firing up my pit to do some baby back ribs; and for some reason now cutting my grass has become a thing of mine!
Favorite middle school memory? My 8th grade coach told me something that would stick with me forever and that was “never underestimate your ability to improve” and “never be afraid to fail!"
I am looking forward to a great year and I’m excited to be here at Three Lakes!
Future and former Gators continuing to work hard this summer at workouts. Get Better Everyday 💪🏼
Help us welcome Sencion "Sonny" Barajaz to the swamp! Coach Barajaz will join the 7th grade SS team next year and be a boys coach here at TLMS.
Where are you from? Born and raised in Galveston Texas and attended Dickinson High school. Moved to Tyler in 2010 and it has been my home since.
Family? Married to my wife Angie and we have two kids, Adrian and Layla along with our three boxer dogs named Zeus, Luna and Patty.
Hobbies? Coaching baseball, fishing, outdoor activities, weightlifting and family time.
Favorite middle school memory? When we had field day and would compete against other classes/teachers.
Anything else? I am excited about my new journey into education/coaching and being able to do it with Tyler ISD at Three Lakes Middle School.
Gator Band representing and "Sharpening the Saw" at Green Acres Band Camp.
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Help us welcome Robin Godwin to the swamp! Ms. Godwin will join the 8th grade RLA team next year. Here is a little more about Ms. Godwin:
Where are you from? I am originally from Longview, Texas. I lived in Clear Lake, Houston for 7 years and have lived in Austin for 14. I am moving back to Tyler this summer to be closer to my parents.
Family? I have a lot of family in Longview and am excited to be closer to all of them soon.
Hobbies? I love to do jigsaw puzzles, read, explore new places, take roads I've never taken, and go boating and camping. I'm usually up for anything as long as I'm with fun people.
Experience in education? This will be my 25th year to teach.
Favorite middle school memory? My 6th grade teacher was named Ms. McIntosh. Ms. McIntosh believed in me and went the extra mile to encourage me to explore my gifts. The reason I wanted to move up to a higher grade level this year is so I can be "Ms. McIntosh" to my students at a time when they need a little extra boost of confidence and encouragement.
Anything else you want to share...I LOVE Tex Mex and can't wait to try every restaurant in Tyler until I find my favorite. I would love to receive recommendations from those of you who know Tyler well.
Help us welcome Joanna Stamps to the swamp! Mrs. Stamps will join the 7th grade science team next year. Here is a little bit more about Mrs. Stamps:
Where are you from? I was a Navy brat, so we moved all over the west coast until I was 10. My father then retired and we moved back to East Texas to be close to my grandparents. I graduated from the small town of Big Sandy in 1988.
Family? I got married in 1991 to my husband, Shaun, and moved to the Tyler area. Here we raised two girls, Caylee, 31, and Emma, 23. They both live in Washington, D.C. Caylee is married to her husband, Jordan Reid, and they are expecting my first grandbaby in October. I am so excited! Emma is pursuing a career in the graphic design field in D.C. and planning on helping Caylee with the baby and to be the very best Auntie Em.
Hobbies? My hobbies include crafting, reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and my 2 beagles, Lucy and Scout, and two cats, Star and Po.
Experience in education? This is my 30th year in education! I’ve taught in grades 2-5 and 7th. Science is my absolute favorite subject. I did not know how much I would love 7th grade students until this last year. Now I know how much fun I have been missing. I love the humor and relationships that 7th graders cultivate; never a dull moment!
Favorite middle school memory? The thing that I remember most about middle school (we called it junior high back in the day) was trying out to play Jo in Little Women. I did it because I wanted to be with all my friends, but it ended up being my favorite thing the rest of my junior high and high school years. I almost majored in theater, but decided I could use the skills in the classroom and became a teacher instead of an actor. Those old skills come in handy every now and then, even in science.
I am so excited for a wonderful new adventure at Three Lakes!
Help us welcome Ms. Miranda Gregory to the swamp! Ms. Gregory will join the 6th grade math team next year. We are so glad she is back in Tyler ISD at TLMS!
Where are you from? I am from Marshall, Tx.
Family? I have 3 wonderful little boys.
Hobbies? I love art and music; mostly painting and singing.
Experience in Education? I taught Math and Science in Elementary school for 4 years.
Favorite Middle School Memory? My favorite middle school memories come from getting to be involved in extracurricular activities for the first time. I was in band and on the drill team!
