PUBLIC NOTICE: Targeted Improvement Plans Public Hearing
Killeen ISD will hold a public hearing to present and discuss the Targeted Improvement Plans for Killeen Elementary School and Liberty Hill Middle School.
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: 200 North WS Young Drive, Killeen, TX 76543
The public is invited to attend.
This announcement serves as the district's official public notice of the hearing.

Throughout the month, we were proud to highlight students and staff members, share personal reflections, feature videos from across the district and celebrate campus events that honored the rich cultures and backgrounds within our KISD community.
Our district is made stronger by the many people, perspectives and traditions that come together in our schools each day. At Killeen ISD, we embrace those differences and remain committed to creating schools and spaces where students feel they belong and where people feel welcomed, valued and safe being themselves.
Thank you for celebrating with us and for helping shine a light on the stories that make up Hispanic Heritage Month across KISD.
#WeAreKISD

As we share our final Hispanic Heritage Month spotlight, we’re celebrating KISD Career Center/ Killeen High School student Sophia Solis Guevara and the way her heritage continues to shape both her perspective and her goals for the future.
For Sophia, Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing the beauty found in different cultures, traditions and experiences.
“Hispanic heritage to me means showing the different cultures and the beauty of our differences. We can come together, celebrate one another and be proud of being Hispanic.”
Sophia also sees her heritage as part of the motivation behind her future goals. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine and one day become a cardiologist, a path she says would be especially meaningful for her family.
“I would be the first in a couple of decades on my mom’s side of the family to go into the medical field, and becoming a cardiologist would be a pretty big deal in my family.”
Sophia’s story is a fitting way to close this series: proud of where she comes from, inspired by her family and looking ahead to the impact she hopes to make.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve been honored to share the voices, traditions and experiences of students and staff across Killeen ISD. Each story has been different, but together they reflect the pride, resilience, ambition and sense of belonging that strengthen our district.
#WeAreKISD

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins to wind down, we’re continuing to celebrate the students and staff whose stories, cultures and experiences make Killeen ISD stronger.
For Early College High School teacher Zulma Lenis, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of her Colombian roots, her family, her language and the traditions that have shaped both the woman and educator she is today. 🇨🇴
Zulma’s journey began in Colombia, where the love and sacrifices of her parents and siblings helped make her college education possible. Her life later took her to Germany and other parts of the world as part of a military family, experiences that deepened her appreciation for different cultures while strengthening her connection to her own.
Today, as a Spanish teacher, Zulma brings that perspective into her classroom.
“Spanish is not simply a subject I teach; it is the language of my childhood, my family’s stories, my memories, my traditions, and my identity.”
She wants students to see language as more than vocabulary and grammar. For Zulma, learning Spanish is an opportunity to discover new perspectives, build relationships and better understand the world around them.
As co-sponsor of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, she also helps create opportunities for students to experience culture through music, dance, traditions and shared celebrations.
“My life has taken me around the world, but my heart still beats to the rhythms of Colombia, and my greatest joy is sharing the beauty of our language and culture with the next generation.”
At Killeen ISD, we’re proud of educators like Zulma who help students see culture and language as strengths and who create opportunities for students to connect, belong and learn from one another.
#WeAreKISD

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins to wind down, we’re still celebrating the incredible students and staff whose stories, cultures and experiences make Killeen ISD stronger.
For Chaparral High School student Victoria Bautista, being Hispanic means taking pride in her Mexican American roots and the Spanish language she grew up speaking.
Victoria sees being bilingual as both a strength and an opportunity, one she believes will continue opening doors for her in the future. Just as importantly, she uses that strength to help others.
“Speaking Spanish as my first language helped me greatly. I try to help other students who don’t understand English at our school so they don’t have to feel left out.”
That is the kind of student leadership we are proud to see across Killeen ISD. Students like Victoria help create spaces where their peers feel welcomed, supported and like they belong.
We are proud to foster school communities where students are encouraged to use their experiences, language and strengths to lift others up and make a positive difference.
“I’m a proud Mexican American and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As we continue these final Hispanic Heritage Month spotlights, we’re proud to celebrate students like Victoria who lead by helping others feel seen, included and valued.
#WeAreKISD 💛

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins to come to a close, we’re continuing to celebrate the stories and experiences that have shaped members of our KISD family.
For Maxdale Elementary dyslexia teacher Brandy Olivares, Hispanic heritage begins with one word: HOME.
Brandy remembers getting off the school bus and running past her own house to her grandparents’ home, where fresh flour tortillas and a pot of beans often waited. Her grandmother spoke only Spanish to her, intentionally preserving a language that would help Brandy stay connected to family in Mexico and grow up feeling as though she had two homes.
Her mother carried that tradition forward through Ballet Folklórico, traditional foods and the everyday experiences that made their culture something to live, not simply remember.
“It reminded me that heritage is more than where our families came from. It is language, traditions, faith, food, memories, family and the things we carry with us, and then choose to pass on.”
Education is woven into that story, too. From watching her grandmother attend ESL classes at night to following the example of the educators in her own family, Brandy says those experiences continue to shape the teacher she is today.
At Maxdale, she brings those lessons into her work by encouraging family involvement, inclusion, self-advocacy and perseverance, helping students build confidence even when learning feels difficult.
“Never underestimate what can happen when someone believes in you.”
As we share these final Hispanic Heritage Month spotlights, we celebrate the traditions, sacrifices and stories that continue from one generation to the next across Killeen ISD.
#WeAreKISD 💛











As Hispanic Heritage Month begins to come to a close, we’re continuing to celebrate the stories, traditions and experiences that shape the people of Killeen ISD.
For Killeen Elementary Special Education Diagnostician Guadalupe Brabo, that story begins with a simple lesson from her family: there is always room for someone at the table.
Growing up, Guadalupe remembers gathering over mole, beans, rice and tortillas, sharing fruit from the family’s trees with neighbors and learning that even small acts of kindness can strengthen a community.
“My Hispanic heritage has taught me that everyone deserves a place at the table, and I try to carry that lesson with me in both my personal life and my work every day.”
Those values continue to guide her work supporting students with special needs and their families. Guadalupe especially values helping emergent bilingual families understand special education services and their rights in their native language, helping build trust and stronger partnerships between home and school.
As we continue these final Hispanic Heritage Month spotlights, we’re proud to celebrate the people who bring their culture, experiences and values into our schools every day.
#WeAreKISD











Come see firsthand the many Career and Technical Education opportunities available in Killeen ISD. Students can explore career pathways, visit CTE classrooms, see STEM demonstrations and learn how the courses they choose now can help prepare them for what comes next.
📅 Thursday, Oct. 22
⏰ 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Killeen ISD Career Center, 1320 Stagecoach Road
Whether your student is interested in health science, STEM, automotive, culinary arts, welding or another career field, this is a great opportunity to dream it, explore it and start planning for it!
⭐ Open to all Killeen ISD students
📚 Course planning for middle and high school
💡 Future Ready information sessions at 5:45 and 6:20 p.m.
Dream it. Explore it. Achieve it.

For Clifton Park Elementary teacher Katya Martinez, being Hispanic and Puerto Rican means staying true to who she is while honoring the sacrifices of those who came before her. 🇵🇷
As a special education inclusion teacher, Katya says her heritage shapes the way she shows up for students every day.
“Being Hispanic and Puerto Rican means sharing my language, culture and rich traditions wherever I go, and most of all making sure my students not only feel included, but also represented.”
For Katya, Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder that culture and identity belong in the classroom and that every student deserves to see themselves valued in the spaces where they learn and grow.
📸 KISD students and staff, there's still time to share your story! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD








For Early College High School educator Maricruz Cardenas, Hispanic Heritage Month is deeply personal. It is a celebration of family, sacrifice and the generations whose choices helped create the opportunities she has today.
Maricruz often thinks about her father, who grew up on a ranch in Mexico and came to the United States at just 12 years old. His story of resilience has shaped not only her life, but also the educator she has become.
“I became a Spanish teacher because I love our language, but for me, teaching Spanish has become about so much more than vocabulary and grammar. Behind our language are stories of sacrifice, family, resilience, faith, celebration, loss, hope, and generations of people trying to create something better for those who come after them.”
That perspective is at the heart of what she hopes students carry with them:
“Your Spanish is an asset. Your culture is an asset. Your family’s story is an asset.”
Maricruz says she wants students to know they do not have to leave their culture behind to become who they are meant to be. For her, Hispanic Heritage Month is about honoring those who came before us, being proud of who we are today and opening doors for those who will come after us.
📸 KISD students and staff, we want to share your story, too! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD

For Killeen High School student Ana G. Munoz, Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognition, pride and celebrating the beauty of Hispanic culture.
Ana says her Mexican heritage has shaped the way she thinks about her future and the kind of impact she hopes to make.
“Being Hispanic, especially Mexican, has shaped my perspective on a career path by encouraging me to become a positive representation of my culture and help my community.”
For Ana, Hispanic Heritage Month is also a reminder of the importance of seeing Hispanic contributions recognized and celebrated.
📸 KISD students and staff, we want to share your story, too! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD

2nd grade students at Reeces Creek Elementary traded the usual morning routine for a chance to lead, encourage and make someone else feel seen.
With signs reading “Be Kind,” “You Can Do It” and “Be Nice,” these Guys With Ties greeted classmates at the door and helped set the tone for the entire campus.
This is what building confident students and supportive schools can look like: giving kids opportunities to lead, serve and lift each other up. #weAREKISD














For Rancier Middle School Parent Liaison Maria Calderon-Lanzot, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of culture, family and the opportunity to make a difference.
Maria says her heritage is a source of pride and joy, but also something that connects her to a larger community.
“To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration, a source of joy, and an opportunity to grow, make a difference and, whenever possible, leave a lasting mark.”
In her role as a parent liaison, Maria helps build connections between families and schools, and she says being recognized and valued matters far beyond any one person.
“Thank you, KISD, because when you recognize me, you recognize us all.”
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to celebrate the people, stories and experiences that make up #WeAreKISD.
📸 KISD students and staff, we want to share your story, too! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD

For Hay Branch Elementary teacher Veronica Flete, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the Panamanian culture, traditions and roots that have shaped who she is. 🇵🇦
Veronica is proud of her Panamanian heritage and the blend of influences within her own family history, including her Spanish and Chinese roots.
That sense of pride also shapes the classroom she works to create for her students.
“I want my students to understand that their culture, language, traditions, and background are strengths to be celebrated. No matter where they come from or what their heritage looks like, I want every child to feel proud of who they are and know that their story matters.”
For Veronica, celebrating heritage is also about building understanding. By encouraging students to learn about and share their own cultures, she hopes to create a classroom where every child feels seen, respected and valued.
📸 KISD students and staff, we want to share your story, too! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD

🎨✨#celebratingsuccess: Congratulations to four incredible KISD artists whose work was selected for the 2026 txEDCON Exhibition, presented by the Texas Art Education Association!
Kamara Cruse, Killeen High School
Nayeli Waggoner, Harker Heights High School
Emilia Jimenez Marrero, C.E. Ellison High School
Myrnaliz Resto Cintron, Chaparral High School
📸 See the full photo album: www.killeenisd.org/photos
📰 Read the full story: https://www.killeenisd.org/article/3167576
#weAREKISD 💛





For Robert M. Shoemaker High School student Sarah Hernandez, whose family is Salvadoran, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the hard work, sacrifice and resilience that have shaped her future. 🇸🇻
Growing up, Sarah saw firsthand how much her parents worked and sacrificed to create opportunities for her. Their example inspired her to push herself and choose a path centered on service.
“Now, as I get ready to go into the U.S. Air Force, I’m proud to carry their legacy with me and prove that all their hard work was worth it.”
Currently participating in JROTC, Sarah says her family’s perseverance continues to motivate her as she prepares for the next chapter.
📸 KISD students and staff, we want to share your story, too! Tell us what Hispanic heritage means to you and how it has shaped your perspective, goals or career path.
Submit your photo and reflection here:
https://forms.gle/oUqM9eZDFRYRG3Zt8
#HispanicHeritageMonth #WeAreKISD

