Congratulations to our own Veronica Bayne from Killeen High School! Ms. Bayne was selected to the Governor's Texas Classroom Commission to advocate for students and help the state shape public education and strengthen student achievement.
Ms. Bayne shares, "After 15 years in the classroom, I know that the decisions we make about public education have a real impact on teachers and students every day. Serving on the Texas Classroom Commission is an opportunity to bring that classroom perspective to the table, advocate for our students and educators, and help shape a stronger future for public education in Texas."
Congratulations to Harker Heights High School’s Jaeyoung Cho, who recently played his way into an elite group of Texas musicians and earned Outstanding Performer following his performance during the University Interscholastic League Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest in May.
Outstanding Performer is the contest’s highest individual honor and awarded to a small percentage of students who participate.
“It feels amazing to be recognized,” Cho said. “Honestly, I would have never expected to receive this award, since not a lot of people do. So when I saw the ‘OP’ label next to my name on the results website, I was almost frozen in shock.”
At state event, musicians are tasked with performing advanced repertoire mostly from memory, and are evaluated based on statewide standards. Cho, an incoming junior and a member of the Harker Heights orchestra program under the direction of Joshua Kroft and Michael Resetar, performed the fourth movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
Read more: www.killeenisd.org/news
congratulations to Harker Heights High School student Jaylynn Bennett, who was selected to participate in NASA's STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) summer internship through The University of Texas Center for Space Research.
The nationally competitive program drew more than 3,000 applicants this year, with only 118 students selected from across the country. Jaylynn earned a place on the Aerospace Engineering: Texas Atmospheric and Space Research Team, where she will spend two weeks working alongside NASA scientists, engineers, university researchers and industry professionals.
Throughout the experience, she'll conduct authentic scientific research, explore cutting-edge laboratory and field investigations, tour research facilities, and use real NASA data and technology to help solve complex challenges in Earth and space science.
We are incredibly proud of Jaylynn for representing Killeen ISD on the national stage and can't wait to see where this opportunity takes her!
Learn more about Jaylynn's inspiring journey in 25 News KXXV feature story:
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/bell-county/harker-heights/harker-heights-senior-becomes-kisd-first-to-intern-with-nasa?fbclid=IwY2xjawS7QZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCSDg4dEc2Z3E4SWplckhYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnntaZquruookhnbMrHHOm72HxedLvZdojimAZrwXithPl_5WtDh5jK_o7Xv_aem_NhEFSKWVWRfeAbRWkjczYQ
Photo courtesy of KXXV
Congratulations to Killeen ISD Police Officer Cary Spate, who received the esteemed 2026 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor!
Officer Spate was presented with the prestigious state recognition Friday, June 26, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin by The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
The honor highlighted Officer Spate’s heroic efforts at the Killeen Mall on Dec. 21, 2024, when she, without hesitation, rushed into a dangerous situation and took action, rendering aid to injured bystanders after a suspect rammed a truck through the entrance to JCPenney’s as holiday shoppers ran for their lives.
Thank you, Officer Spate!
Read more at www.killeenisd.org/news.
The Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASPP) has named Dr. Jannelle Muhammad the 2026 Texas Middle School Principal of the Year. The statewide recognition honors her hands-on leadership style and commitment to students.
Muhammad was unanimously selected by the TASSP Principal Image Committee, who cited her steady leadership, bold decision making and clear impact on student achievement and school culture. The award follows her recognition earlier this year as the Region 12 Outstanding Principal of the Year.
“This recognition is an incredible honor, but the true award is witnessing out students grow in confidence, character, and achievement,” Muhammad said. “Our success at Rancier is the result of dedicated teachers, staff, families, and students who believe deeply in what is possible. We are stronger together.”
Halli Richards teaches math and science to fifth-graders at Skipcha Elementary School. She has also taught at Douse Elementary and in Andrews ISD and Vail, Arizona, where she coached golf while teaching sixth grade. She was assistant principal at Meadows Elementary two years.
A dance and English teacher known for creative lessons that bring literature to life and a growing care closet to benefit students across her campus is Killeen ISD’s secondary teacher of the year.
Big congratulations to Liberty Hill Middle School counselor Cynthia Bailey, named the 2025 Rhosine Fleming Texas Middle School Counselor of the Year by the Texas School Counselor Association!
From building stronger student supports to stepping up when it mattered most, she’s truly the steady heartbeat of her campus.💛 #WeAreKISD #KISDPROUD
See why she’s being celebrated across Texas: www.killeenisd.org/article/2633535
Timber Ridge Elementary School teacher Corey Cooks is being recognized by the General Benjamin Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9191 with the Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award for his outstanding commitment to civic responsibility and patriotism in the classroom.
Search openings and submit an application today!
The Board adopted a property tax rate of $0.8778 per $100 valuation for the District for the tax year 2025, to be assessed and collected by the duly specified assessor and collector as follows:
$0.6682 for the purpose of maintenance and operation, and
$0.2096 for the purpose of payment of principal and interest on debts.
Such taxes are to be assessed and collected by the tax officials designated by the District.
