Killeen Independent School District

Check out those Shoemaker Grey Wolves. Maurice Starr, Brandon Brown Jr., Michael Bickham and Lamont Reed just clocked a school-record 1:23.59 in the 4x200-meter relay to claim the silver medal Saturday night in Class 6A UIL State Track and Field Championships!!! The previous school record was 1:24.20, dating to 2013. “Shoe Speed,” indeed. #WeAreKISD

Community Matters: 🎶 Shoutout to the Killeen High School Roo Drumline for bringing the beat and the energy to the grand opening of a local business! 🥁🔥 We love seeing our students out in the community, finding exciting and unique opportunities to showcase their incredible talents. Keep making us proud, Roos! 💛🖤

Killeen ISD Fine Arts Students earn Top Honors at State Visual Art Contest – Killeen ISD art students showcased their outstanding artistic talents at the 2025 State Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) this past weekend. Twenty-eight artworks created by 27 KISD students were adjudicated among the state’s best after advancing through regional and area competitions. Leading the way was Finn Brantley from Chaparral High School who earned a Gold Seal Award – the highest honor at the event. Only 7% of all student artworks across the state receive this distinction. In addition to Brantley’s success, 17 artworks earned the All-State Artist title, awarded to students whose work stood out among thousands of entries across Texas. Congratulations to the following students: · Jae Dy, Shoemaker High School- Two artworks earned All-State honors · Detric Lago, Shoemaker High School · Rowan Crispin, Ellison High School · Alyssa Rice, Ellison High School · Krista Garcia, Ellison High School · Courtney Reece, Ellison High School · Hannah Shin, Harker Heights High School · Lailah Torres-Mendoza, Harker Heights High School · Ava Labadorf, Harker Heights High School · Juliana Flores, Killeen High School · Sasha Lewis, Killeen High School · Raymundo Orozsco, Killeen High School · Alina Rodriguez, Killeen High School · Nile Moreno, Early College High School · Ariana Nobuo, Early College High School “Our visual arts students are among the best in the state. We are honored that so many of our students who qualify for the state contest, earn the highest designations possible year over year," Morganne Davies, director of Fine Arts, said. " It is a testament to the creativity, technical skill and artistry of our students and teachers. We celebrate the accomplishments of these talented artists and look forward to them leaving their mark for years to come."

🎓 Celebrating Success in the KISD Teach Program! Please join us in congratulating three outstanding teacher apprentices who have officially earned their bachelor’s degrees from Indiana Wesleyan University! 👏📚 ✨ Sophia Almaraz – Iduma Elementary (1st Grade) ✨ McKenzie Genovese – Hay Branch Elementary (1st Grade) ✨ Abigail Gracia-Cruz – Peebles Elementary (Kindergarten) These graduates represent the heart of our mission—to grow our own future teachers right here in Killeen ISD. We are so proud of their accomplishments and the incredible impact they’re already making. Next up for these apprentices: completing their alternative certification program and taking the teacher certification exam! 🎉🍎

Ellison High School on Friday, May 2, announced Alisha Jones as the next Lady Eagles girls basketball head coach. Jones, a 2010 EHS graduate, replaces Sherry McKinnon, who is set to retire after 18 seasons and 417 wins with the Lady Eagles. After playing for Coach McKinnon, Jones went on to play college ball at Minot State University then served as a graduate assistant coach. She returned to EHS to coach and teach in 2022. Congrats, Coach Jones.

Ellison High School Wind Ensemble Performs at State Festival : This past weekend the Ellison High School Wind Ensemble made history by being the first Killeen ISD band to be invited and perform at the UIL State Wind Ensemble held at the University of Texas at Austin’s Bates Recital Hall. The UIL State Wind Ensemble Festival highlights musical artistry over competition. Ensembles are invited based on superior ratings at their UIL Region concert evaluation, and instead of ratings or rankings, they receive detailed feedback from a panel of expert evaluators from top universities. Following their performance, Ellison students participated in a clinic with Dr. Jason Zastoupil, Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee, who offered insight and guidance on refining their musical expression. Students also had the opportunity to attend additional ensemble performances throughout the day, making this a meaningful experience both musically and educationally. Two students, Natalyia Goodman and Jewel Reese, earned the UIL Outstanding Performer State Designation—a high distinction awarded to individuals or sections within performing ensembles who demonstrate exemplary musicianship. The Ellison band program is led by directors Erik Reynolds, Daniel Young and Larry Ballard.

The final day of the baseball regular season is Friday. All five KISD teams are in action. #WeAreKISD

The Killeen Independent School District is proud to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 with a series of commencement ceremonies scheduled for May at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton. More than 2,600 students are expected to graduate. Graduation ceremonies for the district’s six high schools are as follows: Wednesday, May 21 7 p.m. — Early College High School Friday, May 23 9 a.m. — Killeen High School 2 p.m. — Harker Heights High School Saturday, May 24 9 a.m. — C.E. Ellison High School 2 p.m. — Chaparral High School 7 p.m. — Robert M. Shoemaker High School All attendees must present a ticket for entry. Tickets will be distributed to graduating seniors by their respective schools, based on venue seating capacity. A clear bag policy will be enforced. Backpacks, large purses, and tote bags will not be permitted inside the venue. For those unable to attend in person, all ceremonies will be livestreamed at www.killeenisd.org/livetv. For more details and updates, visit www.killeenisd.org/graduation.