ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Dress codes are nothing new to school districts. The policies have been around for years, such as not wearing ripped jeans or facial piercings. As the years go by, the rules change or are updated to fit modern times.

Wylie Independent School District father Chance Ferguson and his high school senior son Caden recently went to the district board meeting to address some concerns surrounding the dress code. After Caden was told to shave his facial hair, he refused because he has seen other students at Wylie High School who are able to bend the dress code rules. Ferguson told board members he doesn’t see why facial hair is a distraction in the classroom.

“I just don’t understand what is disruptive about his appearance,” said Ferguson.

The Wylie student handbook clearly states no facial hair is permitted on male students or they will face disciplinary action, but Caden said he feels discriminated against because he has seen other students bend the dress code rules and express themselves as they wish.

“There are several students at Wylie high school with red hair, green hair, yellow hair, all sorts of colors and no one gets in trouble for it,” shared Caden.

The Wylie senior said he understands facial hair is against the dress code but wants to be able to express himself as God intended him to be and look like.

“But what I’m asking is for them to be able to change the rules and not discriminate between two groups of people who want to express themselves,” Caden expressed.

Ferguson said although there is no rule against it in the handbook, he wonders why other boys can wear makeup to class or use certain clothing to present themselves but doesn’t understand why his son can’t do the same with facial hair.

“If you’re going to allow a male student to not look like a male student, why are you not allowing male students to look like a male student? So basically, we have students that can alter their appearance by adding something… They’re wanting my son to alter his appearance by taking away something God designed in his DNA to be,” Ferguson added.

He also added that his son doesn’t plan on shaving anytime soon.

“He’s not going to shave, I mean we believe in this adamantly enough, he is not going to shave,” said Chance.

Wylie ISD shared this statement with KTAB/KRBC in response to the facial hair policy:

“The Wylie ISD dress code is reviewed and established annually before the upcoming school year. Administrators and WISD School Board Members hear the concerns about our facial hair policy and will review and discuss this policy as well as all of our student handbook policies this summer.”

In addition, Wylie ISD does not have student handbook policies regarding makeup or painted nails.

The Fergusons said they aren’t asking for the district to punish all students breaking the dress code, but to address their concerns about the facial hair policy sooner rather than later. Ferguson said although his son graduates this year, this policy is something that impacts current and incoming students to Wylie High School. Ferguson said the rule needs to change to abide by this current day and age.

The Wylie East girls soccer team is gaining national attention with one of the best starts in the state.

Ranked No. 6 in all of Texas 6A soccer, the Lady Raiders are 12-0 early in the regular season, but they’re dominating opponents in a way never seen before. Their current record is one of the best starts in school history, compared to 2016 when they went 14 matches unbeaten with two draws and 2021, when the Lady Raiders opened the season 17 matches unbeaten with one draw.

Head coach Kody Christensen has seen plenty of success during his time in charge of the Wylie East soccer program but felt early on this year could be special.

“We started thinking this could be a pretty special year early on, but I don’t think anyone quite expected something like this,” Christensen said. “We’re finding ways to put the ball in the back of the net with multiple players and we thought we’d have a pretty special offense.”

The offense has scored 71 goals in 12 games this season, with everyone chipping in for offensive production. There might have been questions about replacing starting striker Ramani Neal heading into the season, but the Lady Raiders have answered in a big way with everyone chipping in for goals.

“We’ve had a lot of great strikers and when you have that you try to facilitate getting them the ball in space,” Christensen said. “We’re now utilizing the spaces in the field that allow us to attack our opponents strategically. When you have players that are confident and can fulfill the gameplan it makes the game free-flowing and easy.”

Wylie East suffered a close 1-0 loss in the playoffs last season to Frisco Wakeland in the first round. From there, the Lady Wolverines went on to win the state championship with not many teams coming as close as Wylie East did to beating them.

Knowing his team was that close, coach Christensen and his staff noticed some differences between his team and Wakeland’s he could adapt. He wanted to build a positionless soccer team in the offseason, where any single player could succeed at any position on the field.

“We wanted to train a little bit differently this season and so far, it’s working,” Christensen said. “We noticed some things against Frisco Wakeland in the playoffs last season and felt like that could’ve been us. We wanted to take what we saw and evolve our team into training every player the same technically and teach them the movement off the ball to help everyone succeed at any position on the field.”

The team is off to a blistering start on offense, averaging 5.9 goals per game, but it can only truly be matched by Wylie East’s defense to start the season, which has held opponents to zero goals in 12 games.

Between a deep, experienced and confident backline of defenders and senior goalkeeper Breanna Wooten, Wylie East has been a fortress this season, allowing very little pressure or goalscoring opportunities. Wooten has 54 shutouts as the goalkeeper for the Lady Raiders, as she’s set to break the school record with her performances this season.

“The ability to trust our goalkeeper is, in my opinion, one of the best in the state, it helps our defense play with confidence,” Christensen said. “There’s a lot of trust back there and that is most important for a good defense to succeed.”

Wylie East continues its season on the road Friday against Lakeview Centennial before hosting Rowlett next Tuesday, Feb. 14. As the team approaches the halfway point in district play, conversations about how far this team can go this season have started to pop up. Coach Christensen and his team are embracing that challenge.

“When you add our depth and talent, the fact that any one player can have an awesome day for us, it’s sort of the recipe for success,” Christensen said. “I’m not saying it’s going to be a state championship year, but I’m not saying it’s not going to be either. This year feels like we’re clicking on all cylinders at the right time of the calendar year.”

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Two local full-time moms with a passion for women’s headwear are making their presence known in Wylie despite being a young business.

A little over one month old — celebrating the mark Sunday, Feb. 5 — the Turquoise Feather Hat Company already has a busy schedule, being booked for private and business events through April, according to its co-owners Jacqueline Grayczyk and Pam Kovar. Just ahead of its one-month anniversary, the company held a special event at Landon Winery in downtown Wylie Friday, Feb. 3.

Both women said they have a passion for attending hat trade shows and honky tonks in the area, but noticed a market opening in Wylie.

Entirely female owned and operated, these two entrepreneurial women decided that they wanted to sell hats that bring flair while being unique to an outfit or individual. Initially, the fedora-style hats are exclusively made for women, although that may change in the future, said Kovar.

“It can go with any season: fall, spring, summer or winter, but they’re all unique to the lady that creates it,” Kovar said. “We’ll help them with ideas and what might look good together, but everyone is one of a kind so there is not one single Turquoise Feather hat that’s going to look like another. They can go with any outfit or a specific outfit.”

Grayczyk said the company recently designed a set of hats for a bride and bridesmaids that were custom-made to their outfits.

The creative process also involves getting together with friends to make hats that will eventually be sold in the community. They also wanted to be trend setters in the community after noticing private hat bars’ popularity in other Texas towns.

“We like to get together with our friends and hang out as girlfriends,” Kovar said. “We saw that there were some other boutiques several hours away from here that were starting to get with the hat bar thing, so we wanted to bring it here to Wylie because nothing like that existed around here.”

Additionally, both Grayczyk and Kovar said it is important to them to be involved in the community and give back.

“Being transplants not from Texas, community is super important, and if you don’t put yourself out there and get involved in the community, you won’t meet anybody,” Kovar said. “We want to be out there helping the community; eventually I would love for our business to grow and give back.”

The company has priced its hats for what is affordable for the Wylie community, said Grayczyk.

On its website, hats can be purchased for between $125 and $135 with a hat box available for $15. Aptly, the hats also include feathers that protrude at varying lengths.

Grayczyk also said the company hopes to partner with the food pantry at The Cross Church, Hope for the Cities, and host an event where 10% of the proceeds are donated. The company has also contributed hat packages to the Wylie Fire-Rescue Banquet Saturday, Feb. 11, and the Wylie ISD Education Foundation Boots N’ Barbecue Gala March 18.

Kovar, herself starting her second business, said she has been amazed at the reception the Turquoise Feather Hat Company has received from the community. Grayczyk shared the sentiment, thanking the local support.

“I will say Herman Marshall gave us an amazing platform that we may not have necessarily had, but Wylie has a great appreciation for honoring the local Wylie businesses,” Grayczyk said. “Coming in here [Landon Winery], this was a connection based off of Facebook and the local Wylie groups we’ve been plugged into. We both love Wylie and are invested in Wylie…and we are Wylie residents.”

For more information about the Turquoise Feather Hat Company, visit tfhatco.com.

BRYAN – Wylie’s Braden Regala and K.J. Long joined Abilene High’s Kenneth Johnson on the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A all-state football team, which was announced Thursday.

All three were honorable mention picks.

Regala, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior, made the team as a receiver, while Long, a 5-9, 165-pound senior, was tabbed at quarterback.

Wylie won its first district title as a Class 5A program this past season, going 5-0 in District 2-5A Division II. The Bulldogs went 10-4 overall, falling to Arygle 35-28 in the region finals.

Johnson, 6-1, 185-pound senior, was Abilene’s lone pick on defense at linebacker.

The Eagles, playing in the UIL’s second-largest class for the first time in program history, after always being in the largest, finished fourth in District 2-5A Division I and bowed out in the third round to Burleson Centennial 24-14. AHS was 6-7 overall.

Dallas South Oak Cliff senior defensive lineman Billy Walton, who helped the Bears to the Class 5A Division II state championship, is the defensive player of the year.

Walton, who signed with Texas, had 105 tackles, including 34 for losses that included 20 sacks for the 13-3 Bears.

Midlothian senior quarterback Kaden Brown and Montgomery Lake Creek sophomore running back Tyvonn Byars shared the offensive player of the year honors. Brown, who signed with South Dakota State, passed for 3,291 yards with 40 touchdowns and four interceptions and rushed for 639 yards for the 11-2 Jaguars who won their first Class 5A district title.

Byars rushed for 2,346 yards with 37 touchdowns in leading the 12-1 Lions to their first 5A district title.

SOC’s Clifton Todd was the coach of the year, winning his second straight state title.

TSWA Class 5A all-state team

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Guards – Max Anderson, Frisco Reedy, 6-4.5, 303, Jr.; Colton Thomasson, Smithson Valley, 6-8, 325, Sr.

Tackles – Brione Ramsey-Brooks, South Oak Cliff, 6-5, 380, Sr.; (tie) Andre Cojoe, Mansfield Timberview, 6-6, 325, Sr.; Trevor Goosby, Melissa, 6-7, 300, Sr.

Center – (tie) Cody Clough, A&M Consolidated, Sr.; Brodan Elliott, Georgetown, 6-2, 280, Sr.

Wide receivers – Jalen Pope, Aledo, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Jalen Hale, Longview, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Lonnie Adkism, Corpus Christi Miller, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Tight end – Tripp Riordan, Frisco Wakeland, 6-5, 230, Sr.

Quarterback – Kaden Brown, Midlothian Heritage, 6-1, 180, Sr.

Running backs – Tyvonn Byars, Montgomery Lake Creek, 5-10, 205, So.; James Peoples, San Antonio Veterans Memorial, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Aydan Martinez-Brown, College Station, 5-10, 165, So.

Fullback – Ben Carter, Liberty Hill, 5-8, 175, Jr.

All-purpose – (tie) Mekhi Sandolph, Waco University, 5-6, 160, Sr.; Tyrell Trevino, Mercedes, 5-11, 160, Sr.

Place-kicker – Dylan Riggins, Midlothian Heritage, 6-2, 160, Sr.

DEFENSE

Linemen – Billy Walton, South Oak Cliff, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Nigel Smith, Melissa, 6-5, 270, Jr.; Keith Smith, South Oak Cliff, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Riley Van Poppel, Argyle, 6-5, 275, Sr.

Linebackers – Brandon Jones, South Oak Cliff, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Samuel Omosigho, Crandall, 6-1, 208, Sr.; Gavin Woods, Smithson Valley, 6-3, 225, Sr.; Grant Mirabal, Argyle, 6-1, 230, Sr.

Secondary – Malik Muhammad, South Oak Cliff, 6-0, 175, Sr.; David Spruiells, South Oak Cliff, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Gerald Lacy, Lancaster, 5-11, 185, Jr.; (tie) Lonnie Adkism, Corpus Christi Miller, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Luke Johnson, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 5-9, 170, Jr.

Punter – Alejandro Gomez, Roma, 6-0, 215, Sr.

Utility – Jaylon Braxton, Frisco Lone Star, 6-1, 170, Jr.

Kick returner – Rett Andersen, Alamo Heights, 5-11, 180, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Guards – Briley Barron, Texas High, 6-5, 305, Sr.; Kolt DelaTorre, Denton Ryan, 6-2, 295, Sr.

Tackles – Isaac Sohn, Aledo, 6-4, 285, Sr.; Wes Tucker, Argyle, 6-5, 275, Sr.

Center – Jackson Harrison, Liberty Hill, 6-1, 285, Sr.

Wide receivers – Drayden Dickmann, Georgetown, 5-11, 169, Sr.; Karson Maynard, Melissa, 6-4, 200, Jr.; Bryant Wesco, Midlothian, 6-2, 170, Jr.

Tight end – Bryce Gilchrist, Frisco Heritage, 6-3, 235, Sr.

Quarterback – Elijah Durrette, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 5-10, 160, Sr.

Running backs – Taylor Tatum, Longview, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Sedrick Alexander, Austin LBJ, 5-9, 195, Sr.; Chase Bingmon, Terrell, 5-9, 170, Jr.

Fullback – Isaac Lozano, Roma, 5-7, 140, Jr.

All-purpose – Michael Terry, Alamo Heights, 6-3, 195, So.

Place-kicker – Cub Patton, Lubbock-Cooper, 6-0, 160, So.

DEFENSE

Linemen – Zachary Chapman, Fort Bend Marshall, 6-5, 250, Sr.; Dealyn Evans, Longview Pine Tree 6-6, 270, Jr.; Billy Smith, Longview, 6-1, 235, Jr.; Brendan Bett, Killeen Ellison, 6-5, 285, Sr.

Linebackers – Ta’Darion Boone, Longview, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Davhon Keys, Aledo, 5-11, 205, Jr.; Harrison Robinson, College Station, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Tommy Colligan, Alamo Heights, 6-3, 245, Sr.

Secondary – Javeon Wilcox, Lake Belton, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Tony Hamilton, College Station, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Willie Nelson, Longview, 5-9, 175, Jr.; David De Hoyos, Smithson Valley, 6-1, 205, Sr.

Punter – Noah Moaga, Belton, 5-8, 160, Sr.

Utility – Micah Simpson, Greenville, 5-9, 150, Sr.

Kick returner – Caleb Goodie, PA Memorial, 6-2, 180, Sr.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Guards – Logan Marshall, Brenham, 6-0, 270, Sr.; Mason Timmermann, New Braunfels Canyon, 6-4, 255, Sr.

Tackles – Devin Cage, Corpus Christi Miller, 6-1, 285, So.; Dante Garcia, PSJA North, 6-2, 280, Jr.

Center – (tie) Zach Erickson, Belton, 6-3, 305, Sr.; Jason Crowder, Argyle, 6-2, 280, Sr.

Wide receivers – Micah Hudson, Lake Belton, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Xayvion Noland, New Braunfels Canyon, 5-6, 155, Sr.; Ja’Koby Banks, Fort Bend Marshall, 5-10, 180, Sr.

Tight end – Ashton Garza, Hallsville, 6-3, 230, Sr.

Quarterback – Deuce Adams, New Braunfels Canyon, 6-1, 170, Jr.

Running backs – Davion Godley, Fulshear, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Noah Long, Liberty Hill, 5-10, 185, Jr.; LJ Martin, Canutillo, 6-2, 200, Sr.

Fullback – Jason Montes, PSJA North, 5-9, 195, Jr.

All-purpose – (tie) Jordyn Bailey, Denton Ryan, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Chris Bruce, Hays High, 6-3, 190, Sr.

Place-kicker – (tie) Clayton Amaya, Smithson Valley, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Mo Foketi, A&M Consolidated, 6-0, 175, Sr.

DEFENSE

Linemen – Jailyn Gibbs, Wichita Falls Rider, 6-1, 208, jr; Korbin Johnson, College Station, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Avion Carter, Amarillo Tascosa, 6-6, 245, Sr.; Ansel Din-Mbuh, Aledo, 6-3, 285, Sr.

Linebackers – Braylan Shelby, Friendswood, 6-5, 235 Sr.; Homar Barrera, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Latreveon McCutchin, Austin LBJ, 6-2, 205, Sr.; Steven Garza, PSJA North, 5-9, 175, So.

Secondary – Jaden Allen, Aledo, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Chapman Lewis, Burleson Centennial, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Jordan Sanford, Mansfield Timberview, 6-0, 180, Sr.; (tie) A.J. Tisdell, College Station, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Gilbert Trillo, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 5-10, 170, Jr.

Punter – Trey Batson, Argyle, 6-0, 190, Sr.

Utility – Naje Drakes, Waco University, 5-9, 180, Sr.

Kick returner – (tie) Sam Lee, Montgomery Lake Creek, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Jaylon Braxton, Frisco Lone Star, 6-1, 170, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

(Abilene Only)

OFFENSE

Wide receivers – Braden Regala, Abilene Wylie, 5-9, 160, Jr.

Quarterbacks – K.J. Long, Abilene Wylie, 5-9, 165, Sr.

DEFENSE

Linebackers – Kenneth Johnson, Abilene, 6-1, 185, Sr.

The leaders of some of the best school districts in Texas actually don't like the tests their students are acing.

Frisco, Plano, and Wylie ISD are just some of the districts asking the state to come up with a better way of labeling schools on how they're performing.

"I'm not a number, I'm not a score," said Julian Williams, senior at Plano West Senior High School.

It's no secret that most students or educators dislike the STAAR test.

"It doesn't reflect the work in our classrooms and the soft skills, creativity leadership and problem-solving. It doesn't consider family engagement," said Lauren Kessel, a 7th-grade teacher at Wylie ISD.

Teachers, students, and superintendents met before our cameras asking you to ask your lawmakers to come up with a better way of evaluating schools.

"When you see students stressed physically sick to their stomachs, I don't think anyone ever intended accountability to put that kind of stress on our children and our educators as well," said Theresa Williams, Superintendent, Plano ISD.

The Texas Education Agency said the department has heard the complaints and has worked to make STAAR better. This year, there's less multiple choice, and more writing and charting out answers. Texas teachers will also grade the tests. It's all based on requests from inside the classroom.

"Texas educators are at the heart of the STAAR even before this redesign and their feedback is crucial to us to have appropriate items on the test," said Lily Laux, Deputy Commissioner, of School Programs, Texas Education Agency.

These educators say the STAAR should be just one part of a complex grade and not put so much pressure on teachers.

"We're not afraid to test kids when it's used for the right reasons, we're just asking the legislature to take a look at this because it is one of the reasons, this accountability system is one of the reasons teachers are leaving the profession," said Mike Waldrip, Superintendent, Frisco ISD, a district that aces the STAAR every year.

They want a system more like what the credit bureaus use. Just like how much you owe and if you pay your bills on time matter to your credit score, they think test scores should be one part, and grades another, then leadership skills and growth to measure a school's accountability.

Williams said colleges use more than his class rank and GPA to admit him, Texas should use more tools to grade how schools perform.