This week, we proudly celebrate Assistant Principals Week and the amazing leaders who help make our campuses strong, supportive, and successful each and every day.
At J.K. Hileman Elementary, Lesley Dotson brings a caring heart and steady leadership that helps create a nurturing environment where our littlest Bulldogs can grow and thrive.
At Morris Upchurch Middle School, Lee Surratt is a source of support and encouragement, holding our Bulldogs to a higher standard and guiding them with dedication and integrity.
At Queen City High School, Jaime Clark recently came on board and is helping shape a positive culture where our Bulldogs are challenged, supported, and inspired to succeed.
Assistant principals wear many hats—mentor, problem-solver, encourager, leader—and they do it all with grace and heart. Their impact is felt in the hallways, classrooms, and lives of everyone they serve.
We are incredibly grateful for these three outstanding leaders and the difference they make across our district.
Happy Assistant Principals Week!

Dressed to impress and absolutely understanding the assignment, our Bulldogs showed up and showed OUT. From the first song to the final dance, the floor stayed packed as they brought the moves, sang every lyric with confidence, and soaked up every single moment.
There were smiles lighting up the room, laughter filling the ballroom, and memories being made in real time. It was a night full of confidence, celebration, and pure joy — exactly what Night to Shine is all about.
Our Bulldogs didn’t just attend… they SHINED.
District Convention grants FFA students from all schools in our district the opportunity to come together in a professional setting to build relationships with fellow FFA members. QCHS students attended the District FFA Convention this week, where they engaged in leadership activities, networked with peers, and represented Queen City with pride.
These experiences help prepare our students for future success by strengthening leadership skills, confidence, and collaboration. We are proud of our Bulldogs for their professionalism and involvement in FFA!

Students earned individual honors across multiple events, showcasing their hard work and academic talent.
Science
6th Grade
Allan Callison – 4th Place
Lily Sutton – 5th Place
Kameron Nash – 6th Place
Max Eskew – 7th Place
7th Grade
Willow McKinney – 2nd Place
Alice Wise – 3rd Place
Ayden McPherson – 6th Place
Elli Elliott – 7th Place
8th Grade
Donovan Eskew – 1st Place
William Sutton – 2nd Place
Alex Treadway – 10th Place
General Math
6th Grade
Max Eskew – 2nd Place
McKenzie Prestidge – 5th Place
Sawyer Miller (5th grade) – 6th Place
Colton Cook – 7th Place
7th Grade
Carter Vess – 5th Place
Ayden McPherson – 9th Place
Kutter Howard – 10th Place
Number Sense
6th Grade
Max Eskew – 1st Place
Sawyer Miller – 5th Place
Brady Gennings – 10th Place
7th Grade
Carter Vess – 6th Place
Calculator
6th Grade
Brooks Major – 5th Place
John Ragsdale – 6th Place
Harrison Brown – 10th Place
7th Grade
Charli Rich – 2nd Place
Congratulations to all of our MUMS competitors on an outstanding showing and a job well done!

The following students earned medals in their respective events:
Number Sense (9th Grade)
TJ Rose – 2nd Place
Russell Robbins – 3rd Place
Stratton Wilson – 6th Place
Number Sense (10th Grade)
Jayden Nevins – 6th Place
Number Sense (11th Grade)
Abigail Leverett – Medalist
Mathematics (9th Grade)
TJ Rose – 4th Place
Science (9th Grade)
TJ Rose – 3rd Place
Congratulations to all of our competitors on a successful start to the season!


Students from J.K. Hileman Elementary were on hand to help make the evening special, presenting board members with books to be donated to the elementary library in their honor. First grader Zeke delighted everyone by reading Dragons Love Tacos, bringing smiles and laughter to the room.
Middle school students from MUMS shared oatmeal cream pies from The Sweet Spot along with gift cards for a future treat, while Queen City High School presented each trustee with an iron logo crafted by the Ag Department and a Texas Roadhouse gift card. Thoughtful thank-you cards, drawings, handwritten notes, and other tokens of appreciation filled the table, serving as a heartfelt reminder of the impact these leaders have on our students and staff.
One thing was abundantly clear throughout the evening: the QCISD Board of Trustees is truly loved and deeply appreciated.
This week, the squad will travel to Fort Worth to compete at the UIL State SPIRIT Championships, taking the mat at 8:40 a.m. on Thursday, January 14th. Every count, every motion, and every moment represents months of dedication and the heart of a team that refused to quit.
If you’re able, come out and cheer them on in person! If you can’t make the trip, you can still support them by watching live on the NFHS Network:
👉 https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/uil/spirit
Queen City is incredibly proud of these athletes and the perseverance they’ve shown all season long. No matter the obstacles, they kept believing, kept working, and kept rising.
Let’s send them off with Bulldog pride and all the positive energy we’ve got! 💪📣🖤
Go QCHS!

QCISD Superintendent Dr. Casey Nichols opened the evening by greeting the packed house and highlighting Coach Reaves’ extensive accomplishments and leadership journey before introducing him to the crowd.
As Coach Reaves stepped to the microphone, the buzzing fell silent, and the audience leaned in as he shared his beliefs, coaching philosophies, and a firm commitment to a growth mindset in every aspect of life. Drawing on his time serving in the U.S. Navy, Coach Reaves delivered a powerful message, declaring he was ready to “hoist the anchor, set the ship right, and storm every beach life lays in front of him,” while inviting the entire Bulldog community to join him on that journey.
The night marked more than an introduction—it signaled the beginning of a bold, united path forward for Queen City Independent School District. 🐾🔥
Coach Reaves brings a powerful blend of championship experience, servant leadership, and a heart for kids to Queen City. A proud family man, Coach Reaves has coached both of his sons from youth ball through high school, including an appearance at the 2018 4A D2 State Championship game with his youngest, Bladen. His wife, Keely, has been coaching alongside him in Jefferson, and their family proudly represents every path to success—college athletics, the U.S. Marine Corps (oldest son, Jake), and trade education.
Coach Reaves believes his role is to help every coach and every student-athlete grow—spiritually, personally, academically, and athletically. Goal setting and character development will be prominent fixtures in practice schedules, as well as the strength and conditioning program as he leads Bulldog Athletics into a new era.
QCISD Superintendent, Dr. Casey Nichols, had this to say about the newest Bulldog, “I am ecstatic that Coach Kevin Reaves has joined the QCISD family as the Executive Director of Athletics! His career has been defined by championship success and elite culture-building. Coach Reaves has an amazing ability to unite programs, and develop student-athletes who consistently compete at the highest levels in Texas high school athletics. The hire of Coach Reaves signals an exciting new era for the Queen City Independent School District.”
Get ready, Queen City… GROWTH is the standard. The future is bright, and the Bulldogs are just getting started.




While she won’t be easily replaced, all of us at Queen City ISD are excited for her next adventure and wish her all the happiness in the world.
We love you, Mrs. Fant! 🖤🧡🐾
Fans who brought a new stuffed animal enjoyed free admission, and as soon as Queen City scored their first basket in the varsity girls game, the tradition everyone waits for began. Hundreds of stuffed animals rained down onto the court as both teams paused and the Bulldog and Longhorn cheerleaders hurried to gather the toys.
All stuffed animals collected during Santa Slam are donated to Toys for Tots and will help make Christmas a little brighter for children right here in Cass County. A special shoutout goes to Megan Adcock—Bulldog mom to Kynleigh and Emy Adcock—who helps organize the Cass County Toys for Tots Drive and plays a big role in making nights like this possible.
This year also included a special first: U.S. Marines were on hand to speak briefly to the crowd about the heart behind the Toys for Tots mission.
It’s always a heartwarming night, but something about seeing two competitive teams—and their fans—come together to give back to their community makes Santa Slam truly unforgettable.
















