“We are Lion Country. We are empowering and inspiring excellence and our mission is to provide exemplary education,” Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack said recently during a program for the Livingston Lions Club. “I want to be the best in East Texas and eventually the best in Texas.”
Presently in his 16th year in education, Pack started his career as a chemistry teacher. His wife Amy is a junior high counselor and they have two children, Scarlett and Solomon, who are in the fifth and fourth grade.
Pack recognized the school board and expressed his appreciation for all that they do.
Reviewing the district’s demographics, Pack said there are 4,016 students and 571 employees. As for student ethnic distribution, 55.38% are white, 30.83% are Hispanic, 7.92% are African American, 4.86% are two or more races, .65% are Asian and .35% are American Indian. Districtwide, 63.47% of the student population is considered economically disadvantaged, 11.60% are considered emergent bilingual and 35.48% are considered at-risk.
In terms of “supporting the whole child,” Pack said the district has 2,549 learners who are economically disadvantaged, 169 learners who are gifted and talented, 794 learners who receive special education support and services and 466 learners who are emergent bilingual.
Pack shared LISD’s enrollment history for 2015 through 2026 which reflect a significant dip during COVID, but have increased since, remaining around 4,000 to 4,100. There are eight schools in the district. These include a pre-kindergarten/kindergarten campus, three elementary schools, a junior high school, a high school, the academy for dropout recovery, and the DAEP (disciplinary alternative education program).
Looking at the history of the district, Pack said there were three graduates in Livingston’s first graduating class in 1908 and there were 250 graduates in 2025.
As for academics, Pack said the last three years’ results of the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings were withheld due to a lawsuit, but the lawsuit was resolved and the 2023 and 2024 ratings were released in April of this year and the 2025 ratings were released in August.
Although the only data below high school is the STAAR test, there are additional marks at the high school level, he said, including CCMR (college, career and military readiness and graduation rates.
Pack explored the five components the district uses to address comprehensive needs for success in evolving times. These include: reimagining the classroom through fostering engagement and becoming student-centered; academic achievement and instructional support through curriculum alignment, data-drive instruction and student interventions; technology and innovation through future-ready skills, creative problem-solving and technology-enhanced collaboration; gifted and talented enrichment through pull-out programs for grades K-5, honors and AP classes for grades 6-12, hands-on learning and tech integration; and college and career readiness through career pathways, dual credit opportunities and workforce partnerships.
“We’re focusing on all learners,” he said.
Pack said LISD’s CTE (career and technical education) program offers a range of work-based learning opportunities designed to equip students with the skills and experience needed for high-wage, high-demand careers. There are 12 different career clusters: health science; human services; education and training; information technology; business, marketing and finance; agriculture, food and natural resources; manufacturing; law and public service; engineering; hospitality and tourism; architecture and construction; and arts, audio visual technology and communications.
Within these 12 career clusters are 15 programs of study with 78 course offerings and 26 industry-based certifications. “We’re looking at expanding those each year as well,” he said.
Pack said that in addition to academics, athletics, fine arts, school safety, mental wellness, character education and staff recruitment and retention, the district is also working on culture and climate leadership development.
“Students are our priority, but we need to make sure we’re supporting our teachers and principals,” Pack said.
“Our finances at LISD are strong … thanks to board management from past years,” he said, adding, however, that the district does have some aging facilities, aging mechanical issues and growth.
Pack compared the district’s tax rate to two buckets – maintenance and operations, which is for day-to-day operations and expenses, and interest and sinking, which is the principal and interest payments on debt.
“Over the last 10 years, the school district has been a good steward of tax dollars and revenue has exceeded expenditures,” Pack said, referring to the district’s $44 million fund balance, of which approximately $2 million has been used for expenses related to construction of the new stadium.
Regarding the stadium, Pack said the home side concession stand is finished, the walls are going up now, the elevator shaft will go up in October and the grandstands will go up in February.
