Three Lakes Middle School - Learning today, Leading tomorrow

Ready to see 🐊’s in this cozy RLA class!It’s almost time…🤩

Our teachers had so much fun learning about new ways to engage our students! Get ready gators! It’s going to be a great year! 🐊

TLMS 🐊’s you showed up big tonight! It was so great to have students and families back in the building to kick off a great school year. Thank you! 💜💛

If you need help finding a room or have a question about TLMS, our 🐊 Ambassadors are here to assist. Look for these leaders on campus all wearing black ambassador polos. 💜💛

TailGATOR is tomorrow, August 9th from 5-7 pm. PTA is feeding hotdogs for dinner until they run out. You can purchase your dress code approved 🐊 gear, pick up your schedule and meet your teachers. We are so excited to see you all! 💛💜

Our teachers are back and excited for the new year! We can’t wait to see everyone at our TailGATOR tomorrow! 🐊💜

🐊's, please help me welcome Tammy Pickens to our team. She is our Reading Resource teacher at TLMS. Where are you from: I am from East Texas. I grew up in Canton. From there I went on to graduate with my Bachelors from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Life then lead me to Mabank, Tx to teach. Later family reasons called me to Tyler to be near my parents. Family: I have two girls; they are currently attending school in Shreveport, Louisiana. My two dogs, Baxter and Belle, are my companions at home when girls are not home with me. Hobbies: I enjoy anything that is outdoors. Hiking, exploring the trails, walking, and just enjoying nature. Reading, working puzzles and most importantly music! Experience in Education: I started my career teaching In Mabank, Texas. I taught ELAR and Resource for 5th-8th grade, as well as Life Skills. This year will be my 11 year teaching and I am excited to jump in. Favorite middle school memory: My favorite memory would have to be all the band practices. I remember so many times that my group of friends would mess up and be disappointed over the music, but we were able to overcome so much through believing in each other and working through it as a team. We accomplished so much as a team! I am excited to be a 🐊!

Good morning! Help us welcome to the swamp, Farris Carwile! She is our ELAR Inclusion Teacher at Three Lakes and will be supporting our 🐊's around campus. Where are you from? I am from Louisiana but I've been in East Texas for 10 years. Family? I have an 8 year old daughter. Hobbies? I enjoy hanging out with family & friends. I love doing anything outdoors. Experience in education? I've taught every grade from preschool- 3rd grade. I can't wait to start my 7th year of teaching at Three Lakes Middle School. My favorite middle school memories come from playing basketball, running track, & being in student council. The school dances were fun too! Being from Louisiana, I feel that I was born to be in the swamp. I'm so excited for the upcoming school year. Let's go!

We are ready to spoil our teachers on Monday! 🐊 Thank you Brookshire’s for donating the awesome bags to hold their swag.

Our cheerleaders have had a great time at cheer camp this week. They can’t wait to cheer for the 🐊’s this year! Thank you Flyer Athletics, Coach Maxson and Coach Blalock for helping our squad. 💜💚💛

Hey Gators! We are thrilled to have Mrs. Dawn Dobbs join our team as our Dyslexia teacher! Mrs. Dobbs has been serving in this capacity at Hogg Middle School previously. We are so excited to have her join TLMS! Where are you from? I have been in Tyler since 1984, but I was raised in Mineola, so I'm a small-town girl at heart. Family? I have three children and one grandson who is Grandawny's incredlittle delight! Hobbies? My current pastime is wedding-planning. Our daughter is getting married in November, so there is much, much to be accomplished this summer! Otherwise, I enjoy reading, studying the Bible, and traveling. Experience in education: I have been in education since 1991, and all but five of those years were at Hogg Middle School. Favorite middle school memory? My favorite memory of middle school was the time I brought 61 baby chicks to room 201 at Hogg and let each of my students choose one and put it in a shoebox (yes, I was still a new teacher). We organized the shoeboxes by class periods and stacked them against the wall. However, one particular chick got rambunctious and caused his entire shoebox tower to fall over, which caused a domino effect. I had chicks and 7th graders running all over the room. And that's just part of that story! I still run into former students who talk about those chicks.

TLMS, please help us welcome 8th grade math teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Bunch! We got to spend day one with our new staff today and we can't wait for you to meet the great group joining our TLMS family. It is going to be an awesome year! Where are you from? I grew up in Jacksonville, but I have been in Northwest Houston area for the past 30 years after finishing Sam Houston State. Family? This is what brings me back to the area. I am married with adult children ranging 18 - 25, with the youngest heading off to Blinn. This was the time to head back to be near the rest of the family and join my two siblings teaching in Tyler. Hobbies? Outside of school - My husband and I love to spend time fishing together. Crafting of all types, from crochet, sewing, embroidery, applique, to anything with the silhouette. My newest one that I really enjoy is quilting- I have so much still to learn about this new one. I also love to take time getting in a little wind therapy (riding motorcycle). I will be exploring the area once we totally get settled for nice roads or destinations to ride to. Experience in education? I started my career in Spring Branch ISD teaching 7th grade math & teen leadership for five years, before transferring to Cypress Fairbanks ISD where I have spent the last 18 years teaching 6th - 8th grade math. This is where I found my passion in working with 8th graders that struggle with math for the past 11 years. It is not just about the math but confidence and courage to take risk in a positive environment, this is an important piece that must be in place. I am excited to be moving back and starting TLMS. Middle School is when athletics started and we had to do all sports. I discovered then basketball was absolute my favorite followed by golf in high school.

Welcome to the swamp, Mr. Keagon Longtin! He will be teaching 7th grade Texas History and helping coach our girls sports this year. Where are you from? - I was born in Aransas Pass, Texas, but spent the majority of my life in Okinawa, Japan due to my father being in the Navy. After this, I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where I attended North Carolina State University. After Graduating in May of 2021, I moved with my family to Texas. Family? - I have no family of my own, but I do have my parents, sister, and grandparents all in the Tyler area. Besides that, I have an angry 13 year old pug, and a 4 year old wild pug/beagle mix. Hobbies? - My favorite hobbies are traveling and taking pictures. I have always loved seeing new and gorgeous sites, and thankfully east Texas has lots of those. Experience in education? - This will be my first year teaching, but I have a Bachelors of History from North Carolina State, and will be finishing my Masters of Education in May. Favorite middle school memory? - My favorite middle school memories consist of the field trips I was able to take throughout Japan. I was able to appreciate and learn so much about Japanese history.

Help us welcome, Miss Kenzie Collins to the swamp! She will be teaching 6th ELAR. Where are you from? I grew up in Dallas, Texas and moved to Tyler in 2013 to attend UT Tyler. I ended up loving Tyler so much that I decided to call it my home after graduation! Family? I have two fur babies, Harley & Henry. Harley is a Red Heeler and Henry is a Golden Retriever puppy! Hobbies? I love reading, going on long walks with my pups, and listening to live music! Experience in education? This will be my first year teaching. I come from a family of educators and I can't wait to follow in their footsteps. Favorite middle school memory? Eighth grade year our class got to travel to Washington, DC which was awesome! I had one of my favorite teachers in middle school, she made such an impact on me. I hope to do the same for my students. I am so excited to be apart of the swamp and start this new adventure!

Please help us welcome to the swamp, 7th RLA teacher, Mrs. Dawn Bond! Where are you from: Originally from Wichita Falls, Texas Family: Married to Johnny Bond for 27 years Two adult children - Dalton Bond - Staff Sergeant, stationed in White Plains, New York and Rebekah Bond - lives in Bastrop, Texas (college student) Hobbies - I love to hike and be out in nature. I read all of the time! I write short stories, 1 novel (completed), and poetry when inspiration strikes me. Experience in education - I have taught in some capacity most of my adult life. Most of my experience has been in preschool, 11th and 12th grade ELA , AP English IV, and college courses - ENG1301, British Literature (the Romantics), and Creative Writing.

Help us welcome 6th grade math teacher and co cheer sponsor, Miss Blalock, to TLMS! Where are you from? I am originally from Pittsburg, Texas where I attended Pittsburg High School. After graduation I moved to Tyler for college and have been here ever since. Family? I have a 4-year-old goldendoodle named Blake and a 14-year-old yorkie named Buddy🐶. Hobbies? I enjoy spending time with my friends and family on my days off. Over the past year, I have been spending my time off coaching at a competitive cheer gym in town. I coach competitive cheer and recreational tumbling classes.🤸‍♀️ I enjoy doing anything that keeps me active and busy! Experience in education? This will be my very first year to teach, and I am so excited to do it at TLS! Favorite middle school memory? My favorite middle school memory was making cheerleading and getting to make special bonds with people on my team and other classmates. I am so excited to start!

Welcome to the swamp, our new Spanish teacher, Mrs. Christie Hayes. We are so excited she and one of her daughters are joining our Three Lakes team! Where are you from? I'm originally from the Beaumont area. I attended college at East Texas Baptist University and then moved to Tyler, where I've lived for 22 years now. Family? My husband Justin and I have been married for almost 22 years and we have 6 kiddos. Their ages are 18, 15, 14, 13, 12, and 3 and they keep us on our toes! We also have a dog, 3 fish, and a bearded dragon. Experience in education? I received my Bachelor of Education in English and Spanish from ETBU. Over the years I have taught Spanish and ESL, tutored English and Spanish, did some substitute teaching, and am looking forward to being back in the classroom. Spanish 1 is my favorite thing to teach! Anything else you want to share... I love Tyler ISD and can't wait to get to know the students and staff at Three Lakes.

Welcome to the swamp Tyler ISD alumni and University of Texas graduate, Clifton Henry, to Three Lakes Middle School. Mr. Henry will be in our math department this year. It is always great to see our Tyler ISD students return to the community and our schools! Where are you from? I was born and raised in Tyler. Hobbies? My hobbies are jogging, volunteering, tutoring, and listening to music. Experience: I taught high school math last year at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler. My favorite middle school memory was being voted ‘Most Likely To Succeed.’

Welcome to the swamp, Lindsay Dreyer! She will be teaching 7th grade math at TLMS! Where are you from? I'm from a small farm 🌽 town in Nebraska (outside of Lincoln). I moved to Texas when I graduated high school in 2010. I've lived in the Tyler area for last 12 years. Nebraska Huskers are still my favorite team! 🏈 Family? My Fiancé Doug and I are getting married in September 💍 (soon to be Tipton)! We have a one year old son named Lincoln Douglas. He is very happy and sweet boy, that loves everyone he meets. He will be in the stands with me at football games and other events, cheering on the Gators 🐊 ! We have two dogs Guinness our white Boxer and Cleo (Cleopatra) our Catahoula 🐾 . Hobbies? I like hanging out with friends and family. I try to be outside as much as possible even when its super-hot out ☀️. In the past year, I've fallen in love with going to the gym and working out. Experience in education? I've been a teacher now for 7 years and I've taught math 6 of those. I like teaching middle schoolers because I feel like I'm able to teach them academics and also talk to them about life lessons/choices. Favorite middle school memory? I went to a small Catholic middle school, I loved hanging out with my friends. We would go to football games, school dance, and have sleep overs. Anything else you want to share? I am SO excited to be part of the Swamp 🐊

Welcome to the swamp, our school nurse, Kourtney Mendoza. She and her son, Maddox, will be joining us at Three Lakes this year. Where are you from? I grew up in Shelbyville, TX and moved to Tyler in 2004. Family? I've been married to my high school sweetheart, Angel for 12 years. We have 2 sweet kiddos: Maddox - age 11 (who will be a 6th grader at Three Lakes) and Adria - age 7. Hobbies? Family time is my favorite! We love to travel, spend time outdoors, and play with our boxer, Bru. Favorite middle school memory? Hanging out with friends and going on 8th grade trip to Galveston, TX. Experience in education? I have worked in the medical field for years but finally graduated as a nurse in 2018. After working in surgery for a few years, I had the opportunity to work for Tyler ISD as a float nurse 2021-2022. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much from this experience. I am very excited about being the school nurse for Three Lakes this coming school year!