Real Estate Photographer in Liberty Hill, TX

Hey Texas photographers, grab your tripods because it's time to chase the Milky Way.

This summer, Liberty Hill made history by becoming Texas’s newest and the first in Williamson County. That means quality outdoor lighting, dark-sky-friendly policies, community-installed lighting retrofits, and grassroots advocacy all come together to protect the nightscape. It’s a proud win for Liberty Hill and a testament to what citizen action can achieve (libertyhilltx.gov).

Founded in the mid-1800s and nestled 33 miles northwest of Austin, Liberty Hill blends Hill Country charm with stunning night skies. Thanks to the Liberty Hill Save Our Stars team and a forward-thinking Outdoor Lighting Ordinance enacted in 2020, the city inventoried over 1,100 fixtures and is retrofitting municipal and Pedernales Electric Coop streetlights, all aiming for completion by August 2027 (libertyhilltx.gov).

As Donna Leonard, the founder of the volunteer group, declared:

“In Texas, the stars at night are supposed to be big and bright.”
Now Liberty Hill is ensuring that tradition lives on for generations to come.

The city’s Dark Sky Committee is already planning regional star party collaborations, lighting workshops, and educational events to keep the momentum going.

As of July 2025, there are 23 certified Dark Sky Places in Texas, listed by DarkSky International via DarkSky Texas (darkskytexas.org):

These destinations are perfect for astrophotographers:

From the silent hills of Big Bend to small towns like Liberty Hill, the dark-sky movement is about more than stargazing. It’s about environmental stewardship, community identity, energy savings, and preserving a natural legacy. The International Dark Sky Places program now spans over 230 locations worldwide, starting with Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2001.

With Liberty Hill’s new Dark Sky Community status, Texas now has 23 certified Dark Sky Places, including four gold-tier parks. Whether you're capturing star trails or shooting the Milky Way over Hill Country, these preserved night skies are your ultimate creative muse. Let’s keep them shining bright for generations to come.

Liberty Hill ISD maintained consistent ratings across the last two school years, according to the Texas Education Agency’s latest accountability ratings.

The two-minute impact

On Aug. 15, the TEA released data for its A-F accountability ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The 2024 ratings were delayed for one year after 33 districts sued the TEA last August—down from over 100 in 2023. The 2025 ratings are being released on time, per state law.

Liberty Hill ISD maintained B ratings for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 ratings, consistent with the rating the district earned for the 2022-23 school year. The ratings evaluate schools based on three main criteria:

Nearly every school in the district earned a B for overall performance for both school years. The two highest-performing campuses were Bar W Elementary, which earned a 93 for 2024-25, and Rancho Sienna Elementary, which earned a 90.

Diving deeper

The TEA's rating system has been held up in litigation over the last several years. The 2023-24 scores had been blocked after 33 school districts sued the TEA, claiming that the agency unfairly raised the bar for schools to earn a high rating and didn't provide ample notice for districts to prepare. A Texas judge ruled on July 3 that the TEA could release the ratings.

During an Aug. 14 press conference, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath defended the A-F system, saying it is "immensely fair" and "an accurate reflection of how well we have supported our students." He noted that 361 high-poverty campuses statewide received an A in 2025, up from 288 in 2024.

Districts and campuses that need to create turnaround plans in the face of state intervention will have "much of this year, this fall, and then early after the Christmas break to finalize their turnaround plans," Morath said. The most extreme type of state intervention comes after five consecutive years of "academically unacceptable" ratings of D or F. But turnaround plans can come quicker—Austin ISD submitted turnaround plans after two years of failing ratings, as previously reported.

Morath said "systemic" issues like what's happening in AISD are "a problem that doesn't just happen on its own."

Hannah Norton and Chloe Young contributed to this story.

Steve is the editor of the Cedar Park-Far Northwest Austin and Leander-Liberty Hill editions of Community Impact. Steve earned his journalism degree from Western Washington University, and moved to Austin in 2022. In his free time, Steve is an actor, writer, and podcast host, and lives in Austin with his fiancé and their three pets.

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With class back in session, Texas schools continue to encounter challenges trying to recruit teachers. Here's how Liberty Hill ISD is handling the situation.

LIBERTY HILL, Texas — With the school year now in full swing at Liberty Hill ISD, about 120 new teachers are filling district halls. This year, the district is hosting its new teacher academy, where teachers can get familiar with technology and special programs.

"I would say in 1997 is when I first decided that I wanted to be a teacher," Liberty Hill ISD teacher Michelle Calabresi said.

Calabresi worked as a paraprofessional for five years at Liberty Hill ISD before becoming a teacher. She earned her degree in 2024 and helps students in the special education department who struggle in the classroom.

"Whether it's through using a picture, using sign language, or just using their own voice to say, 'Hey, I'm not OK, and I need a little extra help, or I need some time.' That's what I'm hoping to be able to do to help these kids," Calabresi said.

Interim Superintendent Travis Motal welcomes the new and fresh energy, especially as some Texas teachers quit their jobs.

"Every year, it seems to get a little harder and that there are less and less people going into the teaching profession," Motal said.

While Motal feels positive about the recruiting done in Liberty Hill ISD, August Plock – an 11th grade teacher at Pflugerville High School – said his big concern for Texas schools is hiring certified teachers with experience.

"Most of your teachers are coming into the profession are nontraditional teachers. So, either they're changing careers or they've gone through an alternative certification program," Plock said.

Plock worries about what will happen when a good portion of state teachers – including himself – retire.

"Are we preparing in the next five years to replace one third of the teachers in the state of Texas? And I would say no, we are not prepared for this and it's going to create confusion, more chaos," Plock said.

As Plock hopes to see more teachers enter and stay in the profession, Calabresi agrees that it's still a calling worth pursuing.

"I have a big heart, and I have a heart for it. And I'm all about loving the kids and giving them their voice and helping them be successful no matter what they do," Calabresi said.

The district returned to the classroom on Aug. 12, starting the new school year with a hybrid four-day schedule.

LIBERTY HILL — When going on a shark fishing expedition comes in at No. 2 on the most compelling things in David Seaborn’s life the last three months, you know he’s had an interesting summer.

In late May, Seaborn was named the head football coach at Liberty Hill following a three-week whirlwind after Kent Walker surprisingly resigned to take over as athletic director and head coach at Blanco. Instead of preparing for another season as a Panthers assistant head coach and running the defense, Seaborn found himself as a head coach for the first time with barely more than three months before the season opener.

“I wasn’t out looking for a head coaching job last offseason, so I was kind of blindsided a bit (going through the process in May),” Seaborn said. “But it’s always been a goal for me, and it was in the good Lord’s timing when it happened.”

Always on track to coach

Coaching is in Seaborn’s blood.

Literally.

The son of the former Travis and LBJ coach by the same name, Seaborn went to every game his dad was on the sidelines for growing up. When he entered high school, Seaborn played for his father for two years with the Rebels, then followed him to LBJ when his dad took over the Jaguars prior to his junior year in 1998.

So, when he finished college, which included a stint playing at Texas Southern, there was no doubt the career path he would take. He spent time on the coaching staffs at Travis, Vista Ridge and Jarrell before joining Liberty Hill prior to the 2020 season.

Now, at 43, he’s leading his own program and coaching his own son, DJ — a running back and defensive back for the Panthers — and he’s the beneficiary of having had a lifelong role model in the same position.

“Having a dad as a coach affects me as a coach in a positive way,” David Seaborn said. “Part of the things that he instilled in us on a daily basis is just making sure you treat people right and that you’re living your life the correct way. … I’m now in a position where I can instill that in people I’m in charge of from the coaching staff to the players.”

One thing David Seaborn hasn’t had the benefit of, though, is time.

Most new coaches take over their programs in January or early February and have a full offseason and spring football to make the transition a smooth one. It was nearly June when Seaborn became Liberty Hill’s head coach. Since then, he's leaned on the head coaches he’s worked with for guidance. Aside from his father, he picked the brains of Vandegrift’s Drew Sanders, Vista Ridge’s Chad Scott and Travis’ Joe Frank Martinez.

“The first few weeks, I wanted to make sure things were being done right,” he said. “And when you haven’t been in a position a whole lot, you’re constantly asking yourself, ‘Are these things being done?’ or ‘Am I doing enough?’”

Liberty Hill isn’t rebuilding

Seaborn isn’t reinventing the wheel at Liberty Hill — the No. 5 team in the American-Statesman's annual countdown of the top 10 preseason teams in Central Texas — and he doesn’t need to. He’s taking over a program that has had one losing season since 2003 and only failed to reach double-digit wins four times in the same span. The program’s signature Slot-T offense isn’t going anywhere, and with seven starters back on offense, it should be as effective as ever.

“We have a tradition here of being super successful in the Slot-T,” he said. “Some of these kids have been running it since they were in little league football. And for a team to play us in a game week and try to replicate that in two or three days — that’s not something that can be done.”

The players, for their part, are glad David Seaborn is the one the Liberty Hill administration tabbed to lead the program.

Senior center Jett Harrison noted the team had a close relationship with Walker and the players were a little “shocked” when he left, especially considering the timing. But with Seaborn taking over, any fears of major structural changes in the program or adjusting to a new face and personality quickly subsided.

“We already had a chemistry with him, and he’s one of the coaches the players have loved the most these past couple of years,” said Harrison, who enters his second year of starting. “(Hiring him) was important to make this process smooth and keep our team rolling on the right track.”

Seaborn is putting his own stamp on the program, though. He brought in defensive coordinator Rick Molina from Manor and has added a few coaches he’s known from his past to the staff. And as someone who could pass for being a decade younger, he provides an enthusiasm the players feed off of.

“I think this program has more energy than it’s ever had,” Harrison said. “The players are all super-hyped for the year, and I think (Seaborn) has done nothing but exemplify that and make it better.”

Winning isn’t the only thing …

Seaborn makes it clear that winning is important to him. (Anything less likely wouldn’t be tolerated at Liberty Hill.) But it’s not everything, and it’s certainly not his top priority.

Taking the lessons from his father nearly three decades ago from the Travis and LBJ campuses, Seaborn is focused on making an impact on his players.

“One day football is going to end,” he said. “I think how I’m going to measure success by, is what these guys are doing in five or 10 years. You can win the state championship, but if you’re not molding kids into being great fathers and great husbands and stuff like that, then what have you really done?”

Football won’t end for Seaborn for a while. In fact, his career seems to be just revving up. But when it does end, he knows what he’ll be doing.

“If I could go shark fishing every weekend, I’d do that,” he said with a laugh. “That’s my happy place.”

With Texas high school football around the corner, the American-Statesman is ranking the top 10 teams near Austin.

In 2024, one area team was crowned a state champion. Could that number go up this season? The road to AT&T Stadium for the UIL title games starts later this month.

The poll is derived from rankings by three local preps reporters and an editor.

Our No. 10 team this season is Round Rock and No. 9 are the Dripping Springs Tigers. At No. 8 is Weiss, followed by No. 7 Georgetown, with Bastrop coming in at No. 6.

Liberty Hill is the No. 5 team in our poll after getting a new coach in the offseason.

Here's more on the Panthers:

No. 5 Liberty Hill

Three things about the Panthers, who went 9-3 last year and lost to Brenham 30-27 in the area round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs:

Familiar new head coach

The Austin-area football landscape received some unexpected, eyebrow-raising news in early May when Kent Walker stepped down as Liberty Hill’s coach to assume the athletic director/head football coach role at Blanco. Liberty Hill quickly promoted assistant head coach David Seaborn to lead the Panthers, giving the 42-year-old LBJ graduate his first head coaching job. The continuity should benefit Liberty Hill, and with Seaborn having spent five years on staff, he knows the inner workings of the program. Don’t expect any kind of rebuilding or down year from the Panthers. Seven wins is the floor for this squad.

Slot-T not going anywhere

Seaborn, who was in charge of the defense last season, will continue to run the Slot-T offense the Panthers have become known for over the last 15 years. And with seven starters back on offense, Liberty Hill seems primed to produce its usual multiple 1,000-yard rushers. Quarterback Jack Pitchford and running backs Bryce Muchaw (1,250 yards, 13 TDs), Dylan Belinga and DJ Seaborn all have at least a year of varsity experience, while the offensive line returns Jett Harrison, Webb McWilliams and Daniel Simpson. The Panthers averaged 460 yards rushing last fall, and there’s no reason to think they won’t surpass that number this season.

Everyone knows about defensive tackle Alister Vallejo, the senior who's committed to Michigan and has nine Power Four offers, but the rest of the defensive line is more than just a supporting cast. Isaiah Cravens and Ethan McMillan will thrive with Vallejo taking up double teams. And with Hunter Sims and Logan Neal excelling in camp, the unit as a whole is “one of the best defensive lines the program has had in a while,” Seaborn said.

Key game: Nov. 7 vs. Bastrop

For the second straight year, this game should be for the District 11-5A Division II title. After a tough opener against Class 6A Cibolo Steele, the Panthers will be the favorite in every game. If they can get past a tough Pflugerville squad in mid-October, they’ll likely be 6-0 in district play entering this contest and have a chance at revenge following last year’s 35-31 loss.

While the defensive line will get the attention, the linebacker corps is almost as good. Kaden Cockburn, Spencer Ballew and Grey Hargrove lead a deep group that should be able to run free thanks to the potentially dominant front three. … DJ Seaborn and Sebastian Evans pace an experienced secondary. … Keep an eye on Cravens. Coach Seaborn spoke very highly of him, and — along with DJ Seaborn and Pitchford — he’s the rare player who will play both ways for the Panthers as he’ll be a tight end on offense. … If the Panthers defeat the Knights in Week 1, that’s a sign they could make a playoff run into December. … Rick Molina is the new defensive coordinator after joining the staff from Manor.