Months of planning and anticipation culminated Wednesday when Killeen ISD welcomed thousands of students back to school. About 6,800 KISD employees leaned into the task of bringing 44,000 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade to 53 schools spread from Nolanville to Harker Heights to Killeen and across Fort Cavazos in the state’s 24th-largest school district. Dr.
Jimmie Don Aycock Middle School in southeast Killeen made history, opening for its first first day of school. Just before opening the doors, Principal Savannah Jimenez told her huddled-up staff members the day was all about keeping everyone safe and beginning to get to know their students. With printed schedules, locks for lockers and new IDs, the middle school students made their way, with guidance, through the hallways to their first-period classes.
Once inside, they began learning “the JDA Way,” school leaders’ expectations for students to respectfully follow policies and seek out the help they need to thrive academically and socially. After two weeks of professional development and other planning and preparation, teachers agreed it was a blessing to see students in the freshly constructed school building. “Starting a new school year at such an amazing campus with an even more amazing administration team, it’s so uplifting,” said teacher Lance Dugger.
“We have one common goal to make this the absolute best school we can build together.” In his seventh year of teaching, Dugger said there is nothing quite like the first day of a new school year. “I’d like to say the first day gets easier,” he said, “but with us opening a new school, everything is new and we’re all helping each other out.
” “The first thing I told my kids this morning is that we are so excited to have kids in the building so we can show off everything we’ve been working on.” Sixth-grader Elijah Rowe was one of those students happy to be back in school. “It’s a little nerve racking, but all of us have new journeys we are taking.
It’s fun. I’m looking forward to seeing my other teachers and hope I have a great day.” Rowe said he likes having more classes at the middle school level, is especially excited for math and said he had no problem getting up early for the first day of school.
“It feels absolutely amazing to see the hard work over the summer come to fruition,” said Jimenez. “To see kids walking through the doors with smiling faces and excitement was heartwarming.” The first week, she said, will focus on building strong relationships and learning the culture of the new school.
“We have put the right people in the right spots at the right time to do what’s best for kids,” the principal said, “and to have this perspective and see the beauty that teachers created is phenomenal.” The elementary schools were just as busy when doors opened to KISD’s youngest students. Outside Hay Branch Elementary School, a foursome of Men in Black volunteers greeted arrivals with a smile and encouraging words.
Inside, the happy Hawks staff, all dressed in yellow T-shirts, welcomed the pre-K through fifth-graders and guided them inside. Principal Carolyn Dugger explained the significance of the shirts, which featured a soaring hawk and the words “To the top we’ll go.” “We are climbing to the top this year,” Dugger said.
“We will rise above.” The longtime KISD educator compared the first day of school to a family reunion. “Some of the children, their parents were students of mine.
It’s such a thrill to see the parents who have grown up and done well, and now they are trusting me with their babies at school,” she said. Ron Walden, one of the Men in Black volunteers, could relate. Hetraveled from Kempner to lend a hand because his daughter attended Hay Branch and now teaches at the school while his grandchild is starting pre-kindergarten this year.
“We are so excited. It’s just wonderful,” Dugger said. The atmosphere was just as lively at nearby Brookhaven Elementary School, where fourth-year principal Becky Whitelow said that the start of the 2024-2025 school year got off to a relatively smooth start.
“It was pretty exciting. We had a good turnout for meet the teacher so most of our kiddos and parents knew who their teacher was and where their classroom was,” said Whitelow, whose staff donned matching maroon shirts. “The teachers have been really excited in prepping their rooms and working on the curriculum so they can get right to work when the bell rings.
” While teachers took turns as tour guides through the hallways, Tamson McMillin’s kindergarten class started the lessons full swing. Using gadgets such as goggles, a magnifying glass and more, young students received a quick course in sharing, counting and exploring while they gathered around her. Students and teachers also began getting to know one another.
Brittany Young’s fifth-graders used the “Name Game” as part of her instruction, a method found in the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program, while Roy Carr’s third grade students shared their favorite subject, food and color..
