The family of longtime Killeen ISD bus driver William âBillâ Jones spoke to the Herald about their concerns with the districtâs transportation department, Jonesâ speedy firing, and the lack of communication theyâve had with the district since Jonesâ death.
Jones, 75, was found dead at Cedar Gap Park in Harker Heights last fall from a gunshot wound to the chest less than 24 hours after he was fired from KISD following an accident involving a child and a Ford F-150 on the first day of in-person school. Read more about the accident here: https://bit.ly/3dtdHmR.
The Herald asked current school board members and board candidates for their reaction to the Jones familyâs transportation concerns. Four people are running for two seats on the Killeen Independent School District board of trustees in the upcoming May 1 election. Riakos âRockâ Adams is running against Cullen Mills for retiring board member Minerva Trujilloâs Place 6 seat. Lan Ca
The Killeen Independent School District board of trustees approved an increase to Teacher of the Year prize payments at the regular school board meeting Tuesday evening.
For the past decade, KISD has participated in the Texas State Teacher of the Year program which awards Teacher of the Year honorees with a monetary gift annually.
This year, the district is retroactively awarding prizes to the 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year.
âWe want to celebrate our teachersâ success,â KISD Superintendent John Craft said.
Tuesday, the KISD school board unanimously voted 6-0 to more than double the Teacher of the Year winnersâ checks from $2,000 to $5,000. Board member Shelley Wells was absent Tuesday and unable to vote.
The McLennan County District Attorneyâs Office has declined to prosecute a misdemeanor family assault charge involving the chief public information officer for the Killeen Independent School District.
Taina Maya, 33, KISD chief of communications and marketing, was arrested by Waco police Oct. 14, 2020, after a verbal argument with her husband allegedly had turned physical. She told the Herald previously that she and her husband called the police in order to keep the argument from escalating.
On Feb. 3, the DAâs office did not accept the case because âsuccessful prosecution (was) unlikely,â according to a report obtained by the Herald from McLennan County.
Saegert Elementary Assistant Principal Becky Whitelow will become the newest principal of Brookhaven Elementary this fall.
âHer natural ability to lead is easily recognized by all who come in contact with her,â the district said of Whitelow in a press release.
Whitelow, a military combat veteran, began her KISD career as a first-grade teacher at Sugar Loaf Elementary. Whitelow will replace outgoing principal Iris Felder who was recently promoted to KISD executive director of elementary schools.
Cedar Valley Elementary Assistant Principal Jessica Napolez will become the schoolâs newest principal for the 2021-2022 school year.
Napolez began her KISD career teaching at Iduma and Hay Branch elementary schools.
Hundreds resign, retire amid extremely challenging year for educators
and last updated 2021-03-16 08:10:34-04
KILLEEN, TX â Thousands of teachers have resigned or retired over the last year, but what s more, is the number of educators who ve died across our nation from COVID-19.
As many districts continue looking at mitigating viruses in the years to come, the Killeen Educators Association highlights the challenges faculty still face. Yes the kids might be okay, but they re not going to empty schools they re not going to empty classrooms, they re going to people who could very much well die from this virus, said Jennifer Lee, an educator with KISD.