Grapeland ISD Superintendent Speaks at Local Event
O’Sullivan: ‘When the school thrives, the town thrives’
By Cheril Vernon
Messenger Copy Editor
GRAPELAND — The connection between a school and the community it serves cannot easily be separated, Grapeland ISD Superintendent Dr. Kelly O’Sullivan told those attending the annual membership meeting of First Christian Memorial, Inc. on Monday, Sept. 21.
O’Sullivan, who was in her 29th school day as superintendent when she spoke, used the evening to introduce herself to community members and share her vision for a relationship in which Grapeland ISD and the community support one another.
“When the school thrives, the town thrives,” O’Sullivan said. “When the town thrives, the school thrives.”
The meeting, held at the historic First Christian Memorial, Inc. building on Market Street, began with a welcome from the historic preservation organization’s Board President Dr. Jeffrey Owens, followed by congregational singing.
O’Sullivan thanked Owens for inviting her, explaining that since arriving in Grapeland, she has made an effort to meet people individually and through community groups and organizations.
“When you come to a new community, you wonder, how am I going to get to know everybody?” she said. “There’s only one of me, and there’s so many of everybody else.”
She said she tries to make herself available for one-on-one conversations, small groups, meetings and organizations as she becomes acquainted with the community.
O’Sullivan recalled her first meeting with the Grapeland ISD Board of Trustees, describing an interview that felt more like a conversation about both the challenges facing students and the strengths of the community. She said she was struck by board members’ pride in Grapeland and their own connections to the district.
She also recognized the responsibility that comes with leading a school system whose history is intertwined with generations of local families.
“They’re trusting me not just with their littles, but with their history,” O’Sullivan said. “And that’s huge.”
A 25-year educator, O’Sullivan said her experience has included work with students at different grade levels and in areas ranging from special education and English language learners to advanced academics and behavior. Visiting Grapeland ISD campuses, she said, remains her “happy place.”
Preparing students for what comes next
A major part of the district’s responsibility to the community, O’Sullivan said, is preparing students for life after high school.
“We’re building a workforce-ready population,” she said.
Students should leave Grapeland High School career ready, college ready or both, she said. She pointed to career and technical education opportunities that can provide credentials in areas such as welding, phlebotomy and business, along with a dual-credit program and college coursework opportunities.
Career preparation also gives students opportunities to discover subjects that motivate them.
“They will show up for that ag class,” O’Sullivan said. “They’ll show up in that culinary class.”
She said those programs teach more than technical skills. Students also learn what it means to show up for a job, arrive on time and be part of something larger than themselves. She said she hopes to expand career exploration opportunities for junior high students so they can begin discovering their interests earlier.
O’Sullivan also highlighted Grapeland’s early childhood program, saying the district’s educational investment begins with its youngest students.
Three-year-olds in the district are already working on skills such as writing their names and alphabet, along with math and reading readiness, she said.
“It’s not required to have three-year-old pre-K,” O’Sullivan said. “But Grapeland said, that’s important. Our kids deserve it.”
She also pointed to Grapeland High School’s “A” rating as a source of pride, noting that accountability at the high school level includes factors beyond state testing, including graduation and college, career and military readiness.
“For our high school to go from a C to an A is huge,” she said.
Building citizens as well as students
Academic and career preparation are only part of the district’s mission, O’Sullivan said.
“We’re building character and leaders,” she said.
At the elementary campus, morning meetings reinforce expectations for how students behave and treat one another. The campus also has a student kindness committee, while older students have opportunities for leadership and service through organizations including Student Council, National Honor Society and FFA.
O’Sullivan said the district’s two full-time counselors also work with students on character lessons.
Students participate in food drives, service projects and other volunteer opportunities, she said, helping them understand that being part of a community carries responsibilities.
“We’re not tourists, we’re residents, we’re citizens,” O’Sullivan said. “And there’s a difference when you’re just a tourist passing through versus when I’m a citizen and I have a commitment to this community.”
That relationship works in both directions.
O’Sullivan encouraged residents to become involved with students, whether through volunteering, mentoring, becoming a reading buddy, attending school events or simply thanking a teacher.
“You can change the trajectory of a student’s life by a once-a-month lunch, a check-in, a reading buddy,” she said.
She also encouraged residents to help tell Grapeland’s story.
“What I’ve learned in my 25 years of education, if you don’t tell your story, somebody else will,” O’Sullivan said.
Preserving what a community values
The setting for O’Sullivan’s remarks provided its own example of community involvement.
First Christian Memorial, Inc. maintains the former First Christian Church building as a non-profit community and event center. The building was constructed in 1895 at a different location not too far away. The structure was the handiwork of early day settlers Charlie Walling and J.N. Story. In 1915, the church membership voted to move the church building to another location near downtown Grapeland. History tells that when the attempted move began, they realized it would be impossible to move the 20-year-old structure to the proposed lot without destroying it. It was standing near the present site when efforts to move it were halted. So church members purchased those lots instead.
The congregation disbanded in 1990, and for the past 36 years the building has been maintained by a nonprofit board. The historic building can be rented for weddings, family reunions, club meetings and other events, with rental income helping support its operation.
During the meeting, Treasurer Kim Smith discussed the financial challenges that come with preserving and operating an aging historic structure.
Basic expenses to keep the building open run approximately $15,000 annually, including utilities, insurance and routine maintenance. Board members said volunteers have also played an important role in maintaining the property.
Those everyday costs are only part of the challenge.
The building needs roof repairs after leaks caused damage upstairs, and board members discussed other future needs, including flooring and structural issues. Smith said some grant programs reimburse preservation expenses rather than providing money upfront, creating a challenge for a small nonprofit that does not have enough cash on hand to pay for major projects first and wait for reimbursement.
Board members said they are looking for potential grants, foundations and other sources of assistance for historic properties. They also hope to introduce more people to the building and encourage greater community participation in its programs.
Near the conclusion of the evening, O’Sullivan connected the preservation of the historic building with the responsibility a community has toward its children.
“What we value, we preserve and protect,” she said. “And so that’s what we offer to our kids.”
For First Christian Memorial, Inc., keeping that history preserved and its doors open will require continued community support. Memberships are $25 for individuals, and donations may be mailed to First Christian Memorial Inc., P.O. Box 876, Grapeland, TX 75844. More information about the organization is available at www.firstchristianmemorial.org.
