Deepwater Elementary parents and students, meet your new principal, Angie Cabaniss! A Deer Park High School graduate, she is also a former DWE student and teacher.  She most recently worked as an assistant principal at Bonnette Junior High.

First, tell us a little bit about yourself.  What’s your story? Where did you grow up?  From what high school did you graduate?  Where did you go to college, and what did you study?

I was born and raised in a little town just outside of Waco  called Robinson.  I have an older brother, Brad, who is married and has blessed me with two nephews, Ethan and Morgan.  My parents, Danny and Suzie, moved our family to Deer Park in 1989. I attended Deepwater Elementary, Fairmont Elementary, Deepwater Junior High, and Fairmont Junior High and graduated from Deer Park High School in 1999.  I attended McNeese State University on a full volleyball scholarship and earned a degree in elementary education in 2004.  Just a few years later, I received my masters degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.  I have been married to my husband, Jeff, for 10 years!

Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

How do I choose just one?!?!  I have been so fortunate in my educational journey to have many teachers who have positively impacted my life.  Mike Walker, my ninth-grade math teacher and track and field coach, was probably my all-time favorite.  I struggled in math until I entered his classroom.  His class became a turning point for me and all because of the priority he put on building relationships with his students.  He got to know me for me, he believed in me, and he was willing to go the extra mile to ensure I was successful.  The impact he made on my life was unbelievable, and I credit him for me being where I am today.

What was your favorite class in school, and why?

My favorite class was Denise Haynes’ pre-biology class.  She worked so hard to make sure she was not just sitting in the front of the class delivering information.  She gave us every opportunity to complete labs to help us learn more effectively.  My favorite lab was when we dissected a cat, which we named “Homer.”  Ms. Haynes’ love for biology was infectious!

Are you a parent?

The only kids I have are the ones that walk into our school every day.  I claim them as my own because I love them as though they were.  While I do not have any human children, I have two fur babies: Daisy and Bo.

How many years were you a teacher before you became an administrator?  How did they prepare you for your new role?

I was a teacher for 10 years before becoming an administrator.  I taught English-language arts (ELA) for two years at Williams Elementary in Pasadena ISD and ELA and math for eight years at DWE.  I was an assistant principal at Carpenter Elementary for a year and Bonnette Junior High for the last three years.  During the last 14 years, I have had the opportunity to work with tons of students and teachers.  Those interactions and experiences have helped me navigate almost every situation that I have found myself in. 

You’re now an administrator. As a student, did you ever end up in the principal/assistant principal’s office?  If so, why?  Describe what happened.

I was a pretty good student in school.  It helped greatly that my mother, Suzie, worked at several schools that I attended.  Teachers would ask me, “Angie, do I need to call your mom?”  That was all it took to get me refocused and ready to learn.

What do you do when you’re not at work?

When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time in the sun, shopping, watching reality television, listening to live music and spending time with my family and friends. 

What do you most look forward to as you begin your first year at your new campus?

I have some deep roots at DWE.  I look forward to going back “home.”  I love the community that the school sits in!  The families are so supportive of the campus and teachers.  I can’t wait to continue making a positive impact!  GO COOGS!

The District’s Early Childhood Center helps pre-kindergarten students learn to play and play to learn! Watch the video to learn more about the opportunities available at the ECC and how to register your child for the 2018-19 school year.

Today, Deer Park ISD remembers Deer Park High School graduate and retired School Board member Frank "Bubba" McLean, who passed away Tuesday.

Only a handful of people could be considered a Deer Park legend, but Bubba was surely on the list. He grew up in Deer Park and graduated in 1956. He was a member of the 1954 and 1955 Deer Park High School 1A State Football Championship teams. As an individual, he was an all-state football player, and he was also on the basketball, track, and baseball teams.  He was chosen by his peers as Class Favorite and Most Handsome.

In 2005, he shared some of his memories in celebration of the District's 75th anniversary.  “The teachers were great, fantastic teachers," he said.  We were such a small school. They had elementary, junior high and high school all crammed together in one school. All of the teachers were really wonderful.  Deer Park was a safe place. Didn’t really have a crime problem then. The community was a big family."

Both of his parents worked for the District.  "My mother ran the cafeteria for over 20 years," he explained. "Back then, the school wasn’t in charge of the cafeteria, so if we made money, we made money.  If we didn’t, it was our loss. Lunch back then only cost 25 cents for a big serving of meat, two pieces of bread, and a milk. Much more than you could eat. My dad was a transportation supervisor. He drove the bus for over 25 years, and in all that time, he never had one accident. My parents really loved the school and those kids. My mother actually designed the china for the school cafeteria.”

McLean served on the Board from August 1984 - May 2000. In 2002, McLean told the Deer Park Broadcaster why he ran for School Board.  "I felt the need to give back to the school district after they gave me so much," he said. "I had always talked about running for School Board. Finally, my wife told me to either run or stop talking about it. I was fortunate enough to win and served for 17 years. The feeling to be able to give something back after all the District has given me has been great."

"Serving with Bubba was never dull," current Board President Ken Donnell said.  "You could count on him to say and do the unexpected! But whatever else one might say about Bubba McLean, one thing was certain: he was passionate about DPISD!  We will miss him!"

In April 2000, the athletic stadium at what is now DPHS-North Campus was named in honor of McLean and his leadership on and off the playing field. He was inducted into the Felton F. Waggoner Hall of Honor, which recognizes outstanding DPHS graduates, in 1998.