Izard County STEM School

Cougar football fans — GET READY! 🏈

The Spring Game is back!

Come out and get your first look at the 2026 Football Cougars as they wrap up spring practices. Our guys have been putting in the work, and they’re excited to compete in front of our community!

Stay tuned for a big announcement tomorrow about a Spring Game raffle — there will be prizes you won’t want to miss!
#CougarPride

It was a fantastic Earth Day for Izard County STEM Art Students, as they swept the 6-12 category winners at Arkansas State University's Earth Day Celebrations. This year's theme was "Our Power, Our Planet". ASU-Jonesboro held a recycled art competition, sponsored by The Keep Jonesboro Beautiful group. Congratulations to these IC STEM students: Kennedy Manecke (11th grade) - Best of Show Chloe Zitzelberger (10th grade) - 1st place Madison Billingsley (8th grade) - 2nd place Maya Vargas (9th grade) - 3rd overall We had many students work incredibly hard on some truly unique pieces for this event! Check out additional photos, here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17Se7AhRe3/

It’s almost time for tryouts for the 2026-2027 Cougars Cheerleaders! 📣🐾

If you are currently in grades 6-11 and interested in being part of next year’s team, make plans to attend the cheer clinic on May 4 and May 5, followed by tryouts on May 6.

All events will take place after school in the elementary gym and will wrap up around 4:30 each day.

We can’t wait to see everyone ready to bring the spirit and represent the Cougars! 🖤🤍

The Cougars and Lady Cougars are on the road to Marshall today to wrap up conference play! The games will begin at 4:00.

Good luck today, Cougars!

As we continue recognizing the Class of 2026, we’re proud to spotlight Shawn Douglas Bryson!

Shawn has been involved in Football, FFA, and Trap, making the most of his time at ICHS through athletics and extracurricular activities.

When asked about his favorite memory from high school, Shawn shared that some of his best memories were going on livestock trips with Mr. B and the Chapman brothers.

After graduation, Shawn plans to begin a career in HVAC with Richards Heating and Cooling.

When asked to share advice with younger Cougars preparing for middle or high school, Shawn said:
“Work hard for what you want—nobody’s going to give it to you.”

Congratulations, Shawn! We are proud of you and wish you all the best in the future!
#CougarSeniorSpotlight

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today we celebrate the incredible individuals who keep our school running smoothly behind the scenes. From answering phones and greeting visitors to managing schedules, solving problems, and supporting students, staff, and families—our administrative professionals do it all with care and dedication. Thank you to Kelli Orf, Liz Williams, Alissa Foyt, Angela Millington, and Amber Hicks for being the heart of our offices and for everything you do each day to support our school community. We appreciate you more than words can express! 💙📚

In order to allow all of our district families and staff to prepare for and attend elementary's annual patriotic choir concert, there will be NO After School Program on Monday, April 27.

If you haven't yet, it's time to register your team for this Saturday's tournament! Please call (870)670-5252.

It’s National Public School Volunteer Week, and we want to take a moment to recognize the many individuals who give their time to support our students, staff, and school community. From helping in classrooms to supporting events and activities, your willingness to step in and serve does not go unnoticed. You help create a positive, welcoming environment where our students can thrive. Thank you for the time, care, and energy you invest in our school—we appreciate you!

We've got a bit of a slower week, but there's still plenty of opportunities to support our Cougar student-athletes. Have a great week, Cougar Nation!

We’re excited to announce a new addition to Izard County STEM Elementary! Please join us in welcoming Katie Callahan, who will be joining our fourth grade team in the 2026-27 school year. A 2024 graduate of Arkansas State University, she recently completed her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and brings experience from teaching first grade. She is passionate about creating a fun, hands-on learning environment where students feel confident, supported, and encouraged to grow. "I am so excited to bring my energy and dedication to my students," shared Katie. "Our classroom is a place where we will celebrate progress, support each other, and grow together. It’s going to be a great year!” Outside of the classroom, Katie enjoys staying active by traveling, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. We are thrilled to have her join our school family!

🚨 ONCE THEY’RE GONE - THEY'RE GONE 🚨 Izard County STEM School is finalizing its yearbook order with Jostens. To guarantee one for your student, order now. Only a few extras will be available, first come, first served—no guarantee after this deadline. GUARANTEE YOUR COPY › FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS We’ve made purchasing your yearbook easy and convenient. Just choose which payment option works best for you: Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Afterpay, Cash App or credit card! ORDER YEARBOOK › https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1002774/Izard-County-High-School/2026-Yearbook/2025072404192164062/CATALOG_SHOP

Each year, teachers and staff are asked to nominate outstanding seniors for Mr. and Miss ICC, as well as freshmen for the honor of Junior High Mr. and Miss ICC. Some of the comments made about this year's recipients include: Always on the go, but still very responsible and keeps up with school work. - Overall good character. - Driven and kind to classmates. - Good kid and student. - Active in sports and extracurriculars. - Fiendly, sociable, good representative of school. - Supportive of classmates. - Represents Cougar Pride and what it means to be a positive leader. - Leads with confidence and integrity, consistently setting a positive example for peers both in and out of the classroom. - Kind spirit and compassionate heart. - Someone others naturally look up to and feel supported by. Congratulations to this year's recipients: Caden Wiseman and Akynna Nielsen; Kane Johnson and Jacee Morehead!

Let’s give a warm Cougar Nation welcome to our newest addition! 🐾

We are excited to welcome Kaylee McBride to the Izard County School District as our new 5th & 6th grade science teacher! 🔬🍎

Kaylee is originally from West Plains, Missouri, and recently graduated with a degree in Middle Level Math and Science. She brings a passion for learning and a heart for working with students that we know will make a big impact in our classrooms.

A little about Kaylee — she enjoys thrifting, watching Landon golf, and spending time with friends. Most importantly, she is passionate about building relationships with her students and creating a classroom where learning is fun, engaging, and meaningful.
Kaylee shared, “I’ve always had a heart for working with kids, and I’m so excited to build relationships and make learning something my students enjoy.”

She is looking forward to a year full of growth, curiosity, and hands-on learning experiences for her students!

Help us give Kaylee a big Cougar welcome! 🖤🤍

Mrs. Mesa McAnally will be making the move from 5th/6th grade science back to Kindergarten next year—and while we will certainly miss her in the upper grades, we are so excited for her and our littlest Cougars!

This past year, Mrs. Mesa did an incredible job in 5th and 6th grade science, building meaningful relationships, sparking curiosity, and growing right alongside her students. As she shared, “This past year in 5th and 6th grade science stretched me in the best ways… it wasn’t something I expected to love as much as I did.”

But sometimes, your heart leads you right where you’re meant to be.
Mrs. Mesa says, “Kindergarten is still where my heart feels most at home… there’s something so special about those early years, the growth, the joy, and the little moments that turn into big milestones.”

We couldn’t be more excited to see her return to her “littles” next year, where her passion and love for early learners will continue to make a lasting impact.
Kindergarten is lucky to have you back, Mrs. Mesa! 🐾 #CougarPride

We are excited to announce that Michelle McCord has been named Dyslexia Coordinator for our district in the upcoming school year. Michelle has served our district as both a second grade and kindergarten teacher, most recently in kindergarten, where she has built strong relationships with students and families and demonstrated a deep commitment to student success. Michelle brings valuable experience to this role, including training in the BUILD early dyslexia program. Over the past year, she has provided dyslexia interventions for identified kindergarten students, giving her hands-on experience in both identifying and supporting struggling readers. In her new role, Michelle will lead dyslexia assessment and intervention efforts across the district, working closely with students and staff to ensure early identification and targeted support. We are confident that her experience, knowledge, and dedication will make a meaningful impact on the students we serve. Please join us in congratulating Michelle on this new role!

We’ve finally made it to Intramural Soccer Week, and we know we’ve got some excited families whose kiddos are ready to hit the field! ⚽️🎉

Our first game day is this Saturday, April 18—we can’t wait to see everyone out there!

Please take a look at the graphic for all the details on arrival times and game schedules, and be sure to plan ahead so your player is ready to go.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Go Cougars! 🐾

Great to see the next generation of Red Wolves on campus! 🐺✨
Our students had an awesome day at ASU Jonesboro exploring their future paths through program-specific tours and getting a real taste of college life (literally—lunch was a hit! 🍔).
From the classrooms to the student lounge, the energy was unmatched. We can’t wait to see where these bright minds go next!
#AState #RedWolves #CollegeBound #FutureLeaders #ASUJonesboro #CampusVisit

Have a great week, Cougar Nation!