Degan Elementary School is now the proud home of the Vernell Gregg Sensory Room (lovingly dubbed “Mrs. Gregg’s Cool Down Town) in honor of one of Lewisville ISD’s most trailblazing icons.
“It means everything to me and our [Degan Elementary] community to have the opportunity to honor the life, legacy, and contributions of Mrs. Gregg,” expressed principal LaShundra Wilson. “When I think about Degan and LISD, Mrs. Gregg immediately comes to mind. The pride and dedication that she exemplifies-even after her retirement is to be admired.”
Already an experienced teacher when she arrived at Degan in 1981, Gregg immediately made her impact felt in the district. She established LISD’s first elementary-level student council, was instrumental in departmentalizing elementary staff to benefit both teachers and student learning and implemented reading programs that assisted students across the district. While at DeLay Middle School, she also created what would become the district’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event that will celebrate its 32nd iteration during the 2024-25 school year.
Gregg retired from teaching in 1997, but has remained involved in the district as a volunteer, advocate, and elected official. In 2006, she was elected to the LISD School Board of Trustees, where she served two terms and was president from 2011-12.
To honor this legacy of education and service, Wilson and the Degan community felt it fitting to commemorate a permanent space to Gregg.
“Dedicating this space to Mrs. Gregg was something that came from conversations with community members about how they could support our school in the wake of cuts to public education,” said Wilson. “Mrs. Gregg ensured that when people were looking for schools and causes to support, that Degan was always mentioned.”
While evaluating the specific needs of Degan students with teachers and staff, it was clear that a sensory room, consisting of various spaces and activities designed to assist students in emotional and physical self-regulation, was at the top of the list.
“So many children post-Covid, enter schools lacking the appropriate coping skills to handle frustration, challenging situations, and the stimuli that can happen day to day in a classroom,” explained Wilson. “We also have an increasing number of students with sensory processing disorders, emotional disturbances, and autism. As a public education institution committed to doing everything for our students, we wanted to create a space in addition to the spaces in our classrooms for students to cool down, get regulated, and work through the challenges they face in a non-threatening space -- a space created just for them.”
Lewisville ISD Superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp, LISD School Board Secretary Sheila Taylor and Board Member Michelle Alkhatib, district leaders and the Degan community joined Gregg and her family for the official reveal and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Mrs. Gregg’s Cool Down Town. Attendees and students had the opportunity to explore the space and its offerings while reflecting on 50 years of Degan history.
“Students need a space like this,” said Gregg. “This is something that kids needed back in 1981, but we finally have the opportunity to offer it to them and to get them back on the right track.
“I’m here to serve and when I find a need I go for it. To see and to have people appreciate the work that I’ve done over the years – this was the beginning in 1981 and I’ve had so many good years [with Lewisville ISD]. The students that have come through here have been so successful over the years, and I still hear from some of them from time to time.”
Wilson proudly considers the Degan sensory room as another chapter in Vernell Gregg’s LISD Legacy, one that epitomizes service to students and their evolving needs above all else.
“If this room can serve as a tribute to the impact that Mrs. Gregg has made on the thousands of students whom she has taught over the years, while supporting the needs of students who she may never meet, then this tribute is the least of what we can do to honor her legacy.”
Click here to see more photos from the dedication event.
Degan Elementary is a Lewisville, Texas elementary school serving Pre-K through 5th grade with future-ready learning experiences in the Lewisville Independent School District. Degan feeds into the Lewisville High School attendance zone. Follow Degan on Facebook and Twitter to see more student experiences throughout the school year. Join the Lewisville ISD family by enrolling today, or visit Best Schools in Texas to learn more.
