Forbes released a yearly list of the “America’s best in state employers” this fall, and Lewisville ISD was named No. 1 in the Dallas Fort Worth area and the sixth highest out of all listed employers in the state. Results for this list were based on employees’ personal working experience, surveys and referrals from companies in similar industries. 

“We’re the only school district in the entire DFW area to make the top 20,” chief human resource officer of LISD Sheila Smith said. “I don’t think that happens by accident. That is very intentional and speaks highly of our district as a whole.” 

Smith is in charge of all hiring processes, personnel concerns and issues relating to employees wellbeing for the district. Due to her position, she oversees staffing and the working conditions district-wide. 

“We are very competitive with our salaries, but it’s not the No. 1 driver [for good employees],” Smith said. “The No. 1 driver is if they feel a part of a team, if they feel connected to a group of people. I believe we do an excellent job of that at Lewisville.” 

Principal Amy Boughton, who has been in LISD for 16 years, has had a desire for a role in administration since she became a teacher. With the opportunities given to her, Boughton said she has been able to learn a lot about leadership and management. 

“I think you do the best job when you’re in a place you love,” Boughton said. “For me, I always wanted to be the principal of Hebron. When you love something [so much], you take all these decisions into careful consideration. Who are we hiring? What speakers are we bringing in? Every decision to me is important.” 

Boughton carries out responsibilities that involve leading the faculty and ensuring that the school runs smoothly on a daily basis. When it comes to her experience working in LISD, she said she feels like she is supported. 

“Even though LISD schools are big and our district is big, I feel like people are accessible and approachable,” Boughton said. “They’re there to celebrate your successes and talk you through the difficult stuff. It creates a family atmosphere, even with 69 different schools.” 

However, most of the staff considered by Forbes isn’t made up of administration, but teachers. AP U.S. History teacher Trey Hooper has been working in LISD for seven years, all of them at Hebron. 

“LISD is a really good district,” Hooper said. “There are a lot of challenges in managing a school, a lot of different factors like resources and students to consider, but LISD still does a pretty good job.” 

LISD was founded in 1902, but has come a long way from rural cowboy farmers. There is visible progress in academic rankings, athletic and artistic skills, population size and the diversity of the staff and student body. 

“To get [this far], you have to value people and their willingness to work as a team,” Smith said. “I think LISD does a great job of that.”