Advanced Academics leaders and educators proudly represented Killeen ISD this week as special guests during a panel discussion hosted by the College Board at Baylor University.
Director for Advanced Academics Jennifer Roden said this was the first time KISD had been selected to participate, providing an opportunity to share with a high-profile audience the efforts across the district to grow AP opportunities for students and the positive impact those courses are having on student success before and after graduation.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work our district and campuses are doing to expand access to advanced academics and strengthen outcomes for students,” said Roden, who was joined Thursday by advanced academics specialist Rachel Bailey and four specially selected KISD educators.
College Board is a nonprofit organization that provides tests, academic programs, and resources to help students prepare for college and careers, and annually welcomes about 40 higher education enrollment leaders from across the state to discuss trends, student readiness, and the transition from high school to college.
The four AP educators representing Killeen ISD were Mari Cardenas (AP Spanish Language/AP Spanish Literature, Early College High School), Alexis Jensen (AP Calculus/AP Precalculus, Ellison High School), Sami Leavitt (AP European History/AP U.S. History, Harker Heights High School), and Lucas Leavitt (AP Environmental Science/AP Chemistry, Harker Heights High School).
“These teachers were selected in recognition of their strong AP results,” Roden explained, adding that there are 72 AP teachers across KISD. “These four had an AP mean score above the district average, with most also exceeding the statewide mean, making them excellent representatives of the instructional practices and student outcomes we’re beginning to see across KISD’s AP program.”
During the 2025-2026 school year, Killeen ISD offered 27 AP courses, with enrollment increasing by 340 students to reach a total of 1,829, and 931 students earned a qualifying score for college credit –– an increase of more than 160 from the previous school year, Roden said.
Also, 153 students earned national recognition through the College Board’s BigFuture program, a 51 percent increase from the 2024-2025 year.
“Across the district, every high school experienced growth, every campus reached its highest AP Scholar Award total in three years, and 85 additional students earned AP Scholar Awards compared to the previous year,” Roden said.
KISD offers AP courses in subjects such as arts, English, history, social sciences, math, computer science, world languages and cultures, and AP capstone –– a two-year program focused on critical thinking, collaboration, research and presentation skills.