Â鶹¹ÙÍø

Board Renames Shannon High 

On Thursday, Jan. 26, Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s board of trustees unanimously approved the naming of three facilities impacted by the 2022 Bond. 

Shannon High School will be renamed Bob E. Griggs High School, effective with the campus’s move to the new location on Denton Highway. The school mascot will remain the shamrock. Dr.?Bob E. Griggs served as Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s superintendent of schools from 1993–2002. 

The special education wing at the new Denton Highway property was named Linda Kunkel Specialized Learning Center. Linda started her career at Birdville ISD in 1981 as a special education resource teacher. She continued in that role from 1981–88. After earning her master’s degree and educational diagnostician certification, Linda became an educational diagnostician in Â鶹¹ÙÍø and graciously served students and families in that role from 1988–99. During that period, she became the first diagnostician employed at Shannon High School. 

Bob E. Griggs, Ed. D.

1993-2002

Superintendent of Schools

Birdville ISD

Dr. Bob E. Griggs served as Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s superintendent 1993-2002. During his tenure, the community has passed two bond programs, $74.7 million in 1993 and $83.35 million in 1996. These programs allowed Â鶹¹ÙÍø to build its third high school (Birdville High), and a fine arts/athletics complex (FAAC), upgrade technology, renovate and expand existing campuses, and purchase land for future growth.

Under Grigg’s leadership, student test scores were above state and national averages; district programs were recognized at the state and national levels; student participation and success at the regional, state and national levels increased; two elementary academies were established; an extracurricular honor code was established; “Limited Open Enrollment” was initiated; the Pre-Advanced Placement Program was extended to the middle school campus; and the school-within-a-school program for high school freshmen was established.

During his tenure, the Texas Education Agency began its ratings of school districts and Â鶹¹ÙÍø was rated “recognized” for three consecutive years. In 2001, 17 of the district’s 31 campuses were rated exemplary, with 10 being rated recognized.

Before Dr. Griggs came to the district, no Â鶹¹ÙÍø campus had earned the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award. As of the end of the 2000–01 school year, two of the district’s elementary schools had received the coveted title. Two additional campuses were named Texas Blue Ribbon Schools.

“It has been my desire since assuming the Â鶹¹ÙÍø superintendency to leave a legacy of student excellence. I am very proud that the Â鶹¹ÙÍø staff believes that all children can learn regardless of their heritage,” Griggs said.

After retiring from Birdville ISD, Dr. Griggs went on to serve two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, and established an executive search firm and has led numerous superintendent searches for school districts across the state.  

Dr. Griggs continues to support Birdville ISD teachers today through the Susan Griggs Exceptional Teaching Award. This award, named after his wife Susan, is presented to the District’s elementary and secondary teachers of the year. Susan committed her life and career to the education of children as a prekindergarten, kindergarten, first- and third-grade teacher. She also was a dedicated and supportive wife of the superintendent, which brought her a different set of opportunities outside her classroom responsibilities.

Linda Kunkel

1981-99

Educational Diagnostician

Birdville ISD

Linda J. Kunkel and her husband, Elmer, moved their family to Haltom City in 1969. As a stay-at-home mom, she was able to be a constant and trusted volunteer at Browning Heights Elementary (now David E. Smith Elementary) and then at North Oaks Junior High (now North Oaks Middle School) throughout the 1970s, both during class time as well as through PTA. Linda also worked as a substitute teacher at schools such as Haltom Junior High (now Haltom Middle School) and, feeling that she wanted to become a full-time classroom teacher, went to Tarrant County College and then Texas Woman’s University, earning a bachelor’s degree and gaining her teacher’s certification in December 1981, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, completing this portion of her education in just over two years.

After that, she started her career at Birdville ISD as she was employed in 1981 as a special education resource teacher. Linda felt her calling in life was to serve students within special education. She continued in that role from 1981–88. During this time, Linda continued her higher education while continuing serving in the role of wife and mother. After earning her master’s degree and educational diagnostician certification, Linda became an educational diagnostician in Â鶹¹ÙÍø and graciously served students and families in that role from 1988–99. During that period, she became the first diagnostician employed at Shannon High School.

Linda retired in 1999 and was proud of the legacy she established within her family and within public education.