Senior leaders in Killeen ISD take significant time over the course of the year to listen to a group of high school students spread throughout the district.
Meeting for the final time this school year, Superintendent John Craft thanked the 57 members of the Superintendent Advisory Council.
The council, made up of juniors and seniors from six KISD high schools, ate lunch together and provided one more bit of perspective during the culminating gathering at the Jackson Professional Learning Center.
Craft and other senior-level leaders met with the high school groups from each high school three times at their schools during the course of the year.
“We appreciate your feedback,” Craft said to the group of students. “We need to receive your feedback.”
After eating lunch, each student introduced themselves and told Craft and the other leaders in the room what they most enjoyed about school.
Most of the students named a specific activity – a sport or band, choir or theater, Junior ROTC and various specific academic courses. A few students said they enjoyed spending part of their day in a college environment.
The group also played an interactive game that mixed humorous and some sincere thoughts on their feelings coming to the end of the school year and also their opinions on plans for the future.Students offered up suggestions on activities to add to the offered programs, brainstormed thoughts on a mascot for the district’s newest middle school and what they would do as superintendent.
“I think it’s great we can share our voice,” said Killeen High School senior Joshua Medeiros. “It’s a good way to give students some control.”
He said one question he remembers Craft asking during the year was what students thought about making up days lost to bad weather through spring break.
“It makes me feel important,” said Ellison senior Tyler Zehr. “I think the higher-up leaders in KISD care what we think. (Craft) really cares.”
This year’s Superintendent Advisory Council includes
Harker Heights HS
Ashlyn Cooper, Carrah Robinson, Mckinley Engstrom, Kim Samuel, Seth Jackowski, Grace Koh and Jadelynn Hushaw
Ellison HS
Cameron Caple, Olivia Wintz, Tyler Zehr, Lilliana Madrigal, Lilyanna Gonzalez, Donte Luzunaris, Olivia Fischer and Benjamin Dominguez
Career Center
Paige Bridenstine, Chloe Gilland, Peyton Harris, Caleb Johnson, Jacob Medeiros, Jashua Medeiros, Isabella Palmisano, Reagan Quinn, Damian Sapien and Caleb Shepard
Early College HS
Emily Piercy, Benny Gonzales, Amare Dykes, Madison Nichols, Nina Stinehour, Jayson Garcia, Yahir-Elias Torres Castro, Katie Leon, Faith Meadors and Shaylin Romero Jimenez
Shoemaker HS
Catherine Cataneda, Iyana Moses, Joanelis Rijos, Angelina Strong, Yahirnitza Torres Cruz, Andrew Critz, Tuan Nguyen, Ja’sonique Roberts, Anabella Strong, Taylor Taflinger, Toby Price and Elizmar Zayas Rodriguez
Killeen HS
Brianne Bailey, Franki Alano, Anthony Okeke, Yanelis Rodriguez Arroyo, Joshua McMiller II, Aleska Guico, Samir Chebaro, Jack Mellon, Katelyn Mouton and Trinity Spencer
