Emphasizing the power of building meaningful relationships in the classroom and among colleagues, Killeen ISD’s newest teachers received a celebratory, community-wide welcome Monday.
At the district’s annual New Teacher Induction at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center, school district leaders, the school board president and a pair of teachers of the year brought the motivation with a new school year two weeks away.
During an active, inspiring gathering, seasoned leaders urged the nearly 300 new teachers to lean into a gold-medal year.
Acting Superintendent Terri Osborne described the culture of KISD as “people first” and declared that “we are on a mission.”
“I’ve seen time and time again the passion, perseverance and grit that defines our staff and our teachers,” she said. “We are on a mission based on our people-first culture and our desire to create more golden moments for every student every day.”
Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Scott Hequembourg thanked teachers for taking on a job that many won’t. “No matter what brought you here, it’s important and I thank you for showing up.”
“We’re all one team and my team is here to support you,” he said.
Board President Brett Williams welcomed the district’s new teacher “class of 2025.”
“Every moment is a big moment,” he said, urging teachers to take advantage of their powerful golden opportunities to impact students. “Embrace the challenge of having a truly meaningful impact on a child.”
Williams urged teachers to listen closely to their own students and their peers and leaders. Teachers have the privilege, he said, to be a hero to their students, to believe in them, and to change their lives forever.
Elementary Teacher of the Year Caitlin Dunnells attended school in KISD from her elementary years through high school graduation and is entering her sixth year as a teacher.
The first-grade instructor described her profession as guiding the future generation and stressed the importance of building long-lasting relationships with students.
“I would like to encourage you as we start the new year to build real, deep, and authentic relationships with each of your students. You should strive to foster an environment where trust and respect creates open communication and growth within your classroom,” she said.
She urged her peers to learn their students’ interests outside the classroom and to attend their events outside school. “Building real relationships is the true key to success in growing as an educator,” she said.
“Once they’re your student, they’re always you’re student.”
Secondary Teacher of the Year Karen Pierce, in her 24th year in education, teaches science at Nolan Middle School.
While the teaching profession changes almost as quickly as student slang, Pierce said what doesn’t change is teachers’ persistence, hope and the joy of seeing a student “get it.”
“Teachers continue to show up everyday rain or shine with a fresh hope for what the day will bring,” she said. “We show up. We listen. We excite. We inspire. We love and we do it all with a passion that is exhausting but always exhilarating.”
In the midst of the thrilling victories, teaching, she said, brings tough moments, too.
In those difficult times, Pierce said, “Lift each other up, give support, an ear to listen, a hand to hold because together, together we make the job easier, the school brighter, and the world a better place.”
Chad Glenn is a new fifth grade teacher at Cavazos Elementary. He worked as an inclusion aide three years and trained as a KISD teacher apprentice.
“The fact that they trust me to teach and think I’m ready is a big blessing,” he said. “It’s exciting. My wife is a teacher, so I know a lot of different sides, including the joy it brings when you hear the success stories.”
After about two weeks of professional development, KISD teachers and other staff members will welcome about 43,000 students at 53 schools for the first day of school Aug. 13.
New Teacher Induction photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720327912199