Killeen Independent School District

Big dots and small dots on shirts, pants, dresses and shoes as well as stickers on clothes and faces were part of the celebration of International Dot Day at Meadows Elementary School on Fort Hood. See our story and photos here https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2421579

The sounds of drums large and small overlapped with crashing cymbals, twinkling chimes, xylophones and gongs at the inaugural Drums in the Heartland percussion invitational Saturday at Joseph L. Searles Stadium. See our story, photos and video https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2419755

Lots of great representation and conversations came out of last night’s District Optimization Town Hall at Harker Heights High School — thank you to everyone who joined us!
📸 Check out the full photo album from last night here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCtxH8
📅 We have one more town hall:
Thursday, Sept. 11 | 6 PM | Ellison High School
💻 Can’t make it in person? Share your input through the online survey open NOW until October 3rd: www.killeenisd.org/optimization-survey

Skipcha Elementary School honored grandparents on Monday by putting them to work reading to pre-kindergarten through second-graders in celebration of Grandparents Day, which was Sunday. https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2403253

Killeen ISD high school football players, band drum lines and cheerleaders brought the hype Saturday to the annual Touchdown in Downtown event that included a welcome from KISD's interim superintendent. See our photos and video here. https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2401532

Happy Grandparents Day!

Today we honor the wisdom, love, and guidance of grandparents who help shape our students’ lives. Whether near or far, your influence lasts a lifetime—and your support makes our schools stronger.

Thank you for the hugs, encouragement, and life lessons! #WeAreKISD

The Back to School Bash at adjacent Union Grove Middle School and Mountain View Elementary School attracted a huge crowd Thursday to an expanded version of an event that has grown into an annual neighborhood tradition.
https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2398604

#KISDNEWS Killeen ISD has named longtime educator Kathleen Burke as Executive Director for Academic Initiatives. She begins the position on Sept. 16.

In this role, Burke will support elementary and secondary campuses in the design, implementation and evaluation of multi-tiered systems of support, House Bill 1416 requirements, Opportunity Culture and various academic supports provided to students in the district. The position also leads aligned instruction, targeted interventions, campus coaching and professional learning.

"Ms. Burke is a mission-focused leader with extensive experience building early college success," said Dr. Jo Lynette Crayton, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. "Her track record with innovative programming, campus coaching, and student success will strengthen teaching and learning across Killeen ISD."

With Burke moving to the district role, Killeen ISD has named Dr. Alime Sadikova interim principal of Early College High School. Sadikova, who is currently the dean of instruction at the ECHS, previously worked for Manor ISD where she served as principal of that district’s Early College High School from 2018-2025. During that time, the school earned a Distinguished rating from TEA in 2024 and 2025 and graduated the highest number of students with associate degrees during the last four years.

“I am excited to work with the ECHS Lion family and continue traditions of academic excellence and positive school culture,” Sadikova said. “It’s my passion to help our scholars be successful in college classes and ensure that our staff is empowered to support our kids.”

Read more at www.killeenisd.org/news

It's Substitute Appreciation Week! 🎉

Substitutes make a difference every day! 🌟 We’re grateful for the caring professionals who ensure learning never skips a beat. Happy Substitute Appreciation Week! #WeAreKISD

This year’s 47th annual Killeen ISD Spirit Spectacular band showoff is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and shoutouts are $5. Both are available at the following: https://spiritspectacular47.simpletix.com/

The first-ever “Drums in the Heartland” percussion contest is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Joseph L. Searles Stadium in Killeen. The Harker Heights Red Brigade Band is hosting the big event and Chaparral, Ellison and Shoemaker are set to compete among 11 drum lines in this exciting inaugural event. Get your tickets at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/drums-in-the-heartland

Killeen is hosting 11 other teams this weekend for the Queen of the Court tournament. The Lady Roos had a packed schedule Thursday and will be in action three times Friday (3:10 p.m., 5:20 p.m., and 8:50 p.m.) before bracket play Saturday. #WeAreKISD
More photos: https://tinyurl.com/yy7smjfj

With the help of Chaparral High School student activities coordinator Cantresa Scineaux, Bobcats football head coach Tyrell McCrea was surprised Wednesday with a commemorative piece of memorabilia that recognized his participation and completion of the United States Marine Corps’ Educators Workshop.
McCrea, who was selected out of a large pool of Texas high school educators, traveled to San Diego in late May and went through a week of trainings, facility tours and townhalls, experiencing everything Marines.
“Seeing it through their eyes –– we did everything they do. It was the full experience,” McCrea said. “Their mindset, it can change a culture, and I brought back a lot of what I learned.”
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Gordon Briggs, a recruiter based in Killeen, presented McCrea with the framed keepsake that included photos from McCrea’s time at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
#WeAreKISD

It's homecoming week at Ellison High School and some faculty got into the spirit with a door decorating contest. See our photos of the creative results from the "Ball on the Bayou" theme and this Friday cheer the Eagles to victory! https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720328637081

Tennis, anyone?
Shoemaker, Harker Heights and Killeen were in action Tuesday afternoon, serving up the forehands and backhands, all while displaying excellent sportsmanship. #WeAreKISD
More photos: https://tinyurl.com/3xtaryky

KISD invites community organizations and local businesses to partner with us through the Adopt-A-Campus Program. Your support is crucial in helping us achieve our top priority: Student Success. To begin the process, please submit the Adoption Form . You can contact the District and Community Relations Office at 254-336-1707 for more information.

Killeen ISD Early College High School students showed their school pride and renewed their color wars tradition Friday with a fiercely competitive series of games between the grade levels. See our story and photos of the fun. https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2371808

As invited guests Wednesday afternoon, Killeen ISD’s athletic coordinators/football head coaches had the opportunity to participate in important community engagement and discussion at the Rotary Club of Killeen’s bimonthly meeting.

More photos: https://tinyurl.com/mr2zcxwh

Chaparral’s Tyrell McCrea, Ellison’s Danny Servance, Harker Heights’ Mark Humble, Killeen High’s Josh Sadler and Shoemaker’s Toby Foreman each took a moment to brag on and celebrate not only their football teams but also their school’s athletic programs as a whole, sharing the shining moments of success from last school year and the exciting prospects ahead in 2025-2026.

After each coach thanked the members for their hospitality and support, they answered a few wide-ranging questions from Rotarians, such as what the coaches felt were their biggest challenges as athletic coordinators to how many seniors and returning starters each football team had?

KISD executive director for athletics Matt Carroll also spoke to the group, highlighting the hard work that all KISD coaches dedicate to their craft.
#WeAreKISD