Killeen Schools

 The Killeen Independent School District is providing a recruiting stipend to those interested in joining its team. The recruitment stipend is being offered with the objective of minimizing vacancies throughout the district. Currently, around 274 classroom teaching vacancies are available in the school district. The school district will provide Recruitment Stipend as a one-time payment to new staff members employed on or after September 1, 2021 through May 27, 2022. Full-time qualified teachers will receive $1,000, while part-time professional staff would receive $500. New full-time hourly employees will get $500, while part-time hourly employees would receive $250. The starting pay-out of teachers (first year) is $52,000 and can go up to around $77,200 with the Teacher Incentive Allotment Program. Medicare taxes and Federal Income tax are covered by Killeen ISD on the stipend checks to increase the amount of total pay so that employees get the full amount as stated. Retirees who h...

 With Killeen Independent School District’s new Refer A Teacher Stipend program, active KISD employees will receive additional money for every successful teacher they refer. In this case, the person referring a teacher gets to receive half of the referral stipend as soon as the new teacher starts working and the other half on his/her completion of one year at the school district. There is no limit to the amount that can be earned by an active employee. For the first referral, a person earns $500, for the second $1,500, the third $3,000, fourth $4,500 and for the fifth one $6,000. After the second referral, the amount of stipend increases by $1,500. A person can also earn $1,000 extra if they refer a bilingual classroom teacher.  Why Work At Killeen ISD?  Killeen Independent School District has 31 elementary schools, 11 middle school and 4 high schools. It has 3 special campuses, an Early College High School and a state-of-the-art Career Center. Killeen Independent School ...

There are different types of financial aid that students of Killeen Independent School District can take advantage of. Financial aid may be granted on the basis of one’s financial needs or academic performance.  What is federal student aid? This is the funds that the federal government grants for assistance with college and graduate school related expenses.  The Process: The process starts with contacting the financial aid office at the institution you are interested in applying for and completing a financial aid application form. It is important to submit your application form before the deadline in order to stand a good chance of getting the package. Eligibility Requirements: The basic eligibility requirements for financial aid are: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen Show financial need Enrollment in an eligible degree/certificate program Half-time enrollment requirement for most programs Satisfactory academic progress Forms of Financial Aid: FAFSA: Completing the FAF...

Teaching is an enriching and rewarding career that offers tremendous opportunities for personal and professional growth. The process of becoming a certified teacher involves a number of steps to complete.  Let us take a look at the process of becoming a certified teacher in Texas: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is a must for becoming a teacher. The accrediting agency should be recognized by THECB (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) Complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program: An Approved Educator Preparation Program must be completed by a prospective candidate. For those without a degree, a university program should be completed. Contact a Post Baccalaureate program or an Alternative Certification program if you have a degree. Check out the list of approved programs at https://tea-texas.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8fdeed6e29b741ba8bac151ac023186d as only these programs make an individual elig...

Killeen ISD provides opportunities for students to engage with fine arts through dance, theatre, music, and visual arts. Through fine arts education, students can have unique experiences that may help them explore different realities, ideas, and relationships.  Fine arts can also help students in academic achievements, communication, higher order thinking, and collaboration. Involvement in fine arts is also believed to improve attendance and graduation rates. Killeen ISD’s emphasis on various forms of art starts at the elementary level through sequential music instruction by music specialists. Middle and high school students are encouraged to participate in various award-winning band, dance, orchestra, choir and theatre programs. Students can choose to participate in any combination of art programs, athletics, and advanced academics. Middle school students in Killeen ISD are introduced to various mediums and techniques in introduction to Visual Arts. Middle school art can help stud...

 2020-21 has presented a set of unique challenges to almost every industry, including schools. Sanitization has been a word we have heard since the pandemic began, and a major part of it involves keeping the surroundings and everything we touch and use clean.  In schools, the credit for maintaining cleanliness and safe, hygienic conditions for teachers and students goes to the school custodians. They work round the clock to ensure that all the classrooms, restrooms, laboratories, libraries, cafeterias, etc. are squeaky clean and sanitized at all times.  At Killeen Independent School District, The Custodian Appreciation Day was held in the month of October, 2021 to appreciate the never ending commitment of custodians towards maintaining cleanliness and order as schools attempt to adapt to new safety measures. It is because of these silent heroes that schools have been able to operate once again during the pandemic. Custodians make an important contribution towards the succ...

 Being a great teacher is about more than helping students reach their academic goals.  Killeen Independent School District believes that the best way to support its students is by first supporting its teachers. For a teacher to thrive, it is important to work in an environment that facilitates professional growth and prioritizes efficiency. Killeen Independent School District provides its teachers with the right resources to provide quality education to children and reach their professional goals. Killeen Independent School District has over 52 campuses, 44,000+ students and 6,100+ staff members across Killeen, Fort Hood, Nolanville, and Harker Heights. KISD takes pride in its 94.5 percent attendance rate and a 21 percent increase in graduates. The school district has 52 adopt-a-school programs and a superior financial rating. Teacher grants worth $ 228,188 and Students scholarships worth $ 285,361 have been awarded by Killeen ISD.  Killeen Independent School District pr...

 In an attempt to gather and share data about the number of COVID-19 cases, Killeen Independent School District has introduced a COVID-19 Dashboard on its website – https://www.killeenisd.org/dashboard . The COVID-19 Dashboard shows the number of confirmed cases among students and employees, and is updated regularly to reflect voluntarily submitted COVID-19 tests. A list of COVID-19 campus contacts is also provided, displaying the name of the campus, nurse in-charge, and contact numbers for all campuses. Through the dashboard, KISD monitors a ten-day total of new COVID-19 cases. Parents are required to report lab-confirmed COVID-19 test results to the campus nurse. Data is refreshed daily at 5:00 AM, and the total number of positive cases is divided by the total number of students and employees on a given campus to determine a campus threshold level. If this percentage is more than 5 percent, an investigation may be conducted to determine the likelihood of a communal spread and dec...

Killeen Independent School District (Killeen ISD) is committed to providing students with excellent educational opportunities. As schools reopen and the fun begins, Killeen ISD is offering a Free Full Day Program for kindergarten students goal of preparing kindergartener’s for future academic success. The program is conducted under the guidance and supervision of trained paraprofessionals and certified teachers. Listed below are some highlights of the Free Full Day Program: What it includes: The full day program consists of a research-based curriculum, before and after-school care programs with Armed Services YMCA (for campuses off-post) or Child Youth Services (for campuses on-post). The purpose of the program is to provide kindergarten students a head start into a life of fun, learning and personality development.  Benefits of the Program: The program provides early literacy experiences that prime the minds of kindergarten students and prepare them for the road ahead. Qualified...

The Advanced Academics opportunities provided by Killeen ISD are aimed at identifying and providing gifted and talented students with differentiated instruction for Mathematics, English, Social Studies, and Science. The objective of Advanced Academics program is to help students attain academic success by participating in various unique programs.  Advanced Academics include the following: Advanced Placement: Advanced Placement (AP) courses prepare students for college while providing them an opportunity to earn college credit. Students are also encouraged to do college-level coursework, which may help them in qualifying for scholarships. High school students can consult their counselors for information about the AP courses offered in their school. College Credit/Dual Credit: Killeen ISD has partnered with Temple College and Central Texas College to provide students with a variety of dual credit opportunities. Students are given the opportunity to take college level courses in hig...

 Career and Technical Education (CTE) refers to the practice of combining academics, technical skills, and real-world workplace training. Killeen Independent School District (KISD) offers CTE programs for all 16 National Career clusters. The KISD CTE education program complements traditional education and helps students develop practical skills. Benefits of CTE include  Real World Correlation: CTE provides a link between what students study and the real world. Students may be inspired to work harder and achieve excellent grades as CTE provides them with hands-on experience in real-word scenarios where they have to apply what they learned in school. Life Skills: CTE programs can help students develop life skills such as better communication, time-management, critical thinking, and problem solving. These skills can give students an edge in the work force and their personal life. Economic Benefits: Per the U.S. Manufacturing Institute, more than 3 million job openings will go ...

STEM refers to a curriculum that imparts education via an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM works by integrating the four disciplines instead of teaching them separately. It helps students learn how to indulge in computational thinking while solving problems. Listed below are some interesting facts about KISD 4 STEM: Application: Students interested in applying for STEM can do so at any of the KISD campuses. The applications are to be filled out and returned to a counsellor in the school’s guidance center. Links for high school and middle school applications are available on KISD’s website.  Middle School STEM: The middle school STEM curriculum is focused on helping students envision and plan for their future academic and career goals. The technology enriched program assists students in developing analytical, inventive and critical thinking skills.  High School STEM: The high school STEM curriculum aims to gene...

Career counseling involves helping students gain direction by advising them on various career options. Counselors help students identify their strengths and make career-related decisions. They assist students in setting realistic goals by helping them to map their interests with the right career path.  The following are some benefits which highlight the importance of career counseling: Career Direction: Career counselors help students choose suitable subjects, clubs, extracurricular activities, and certifications to complement their skills and talent. The counseling can not only help students in identifying topics of interest but may also guide them in understanding career opportunities and options available in their field of choice. Strengths & Weaknesses: Counselors play an important role in helping students learn and understand their strengths and weaknesses. They work with students and help them to choose a suitable career path that matches their strengths. They also guid...

Summer break is the perfect time for students to unwind and focus on hobbies. This time can also be used to reflect on past performance and plan for academic or career goals.  The following activities can help in making the most from summer break: Reflect On The Previous School Year: Self-analysis is the key to self-improvement. Ask yourself questions such as ‘What did I do well in past semester?’, ‘Which subjects did I lack in?’, ‘What should I do differently in the coming semester?’, etc. These questions help students in finding out their strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement for self improvement. Set Goals For The Coming School Year: Set process goals instead of performance goals for the upcoming school year. A process goal focuses on what you need to do to achieve your goal. For example, a performance goal might be to achieve better grades in mathematics, while a process goal would be to do five extra math questions every day. Watch Educational Videos: There are num...

 School counselors have multiple roles to play. While they primarily focus on the academic success and mental & psychological health of students, their duties are customized according to the level of students they work with. Some of the basic roles of a school counselor are: Academic Guidance: The primary role of a student counselor is to offer academic guidance to students. A student counselor helps students understand their needs and any difficulties they may be facing. The counselor can also help students learn to work with learning disabilities.   Career Guidance: School counselors guide students to understand opportunities for their future career. They help students understand their interests and advise them on subsequent career options. They also help students choose the courses and other programs that aligns best with their interests.  Manage Student Issues: Students sometimes go through personal and school issues. This includes learning blocks, bullying, pr...

 Early College High School is a unique experience offered by KISD. Starting in August 2015, it is the collaboration between Killeen Independent School District and Central Texas College. The concept allows students to have a hands-on experience to be ready for college in addition to earning a high school diploma and an associate degree. Here are some of the benefits of Early College High School: Earn College Credits: By attending Early College High School, students can earn an associate degree with real college credits up to 60 hours. This helps high school students earn some early credits for college by the time they complete their high school diploma. Get Ready for College: Early College High School implements specially formulated strategies and activities that focus on creating a college culture. These activities can help students develop the required skills and gain relevant knowledge necessary for succeeding in the college. Get Familiar with College: While attending Early C...

Preparing for college is an important task for many students. Following a few simple tips can help students prepare for college seamlessly. Here are some tips for students who are setting their sight towards college: Start Early: Procrastination is unwise when preparing for college. The key is to start as early as high-school junior year. Going to college is an important personal, professional and financial decision. So, starting early can allow you more time to plan and build a strong profile for your desired college.  Planning: Start with making a list of things you need to do when preparing for college. Some of the things that need to be done are researching colleges, course subjects, and eligibility requirements. After making a list, review it to ensure you haven’t skipped any important step. Break the list into manageable categories and prioritize each according to time restraint. Choose Courses: Before choosing your subjects, think about your career goal. Contact career pr...

The KISD Career Center is led by professional mentors who help students prepare for college and workforce. The fully equipped KISD Career Center caters to the needs of students from high schools located in the school district.  How The Career Center Can Help The Career Center aims to empower students with knowledge. It focuses on preparing students as they move towards post-secondary education and diverse career opportunities. The imparted skills can help students become productive members of society. The Career Center offers the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program which helps students learn and polish industry-related skills by implementing technology-based learning. Teachers facilitate professional development by helping students to be confident and prepared for post-secondary education. The Career Center collaborates with local businesses and higher-education institutes to provide real-life training and relevant experiences to students. This can provide the skills tha...

Clubs and extracurricular activities in schools are great outlets for students to express themselves, find their interests, and develop skills. The skills that students develop can help boost academic success and personal growth.  There are many clubs and extracurricular activities offered to Killeen Independent School District Students. These vary from STEM, athletics, art, music, and more.  Benefits of school clubs:   Academic Performance: Participation in activities outside of regular school requirements can result in better academic performance. Skills are developed beyond the typical skills that one learns during school hours. Such skills assist in performing better academically by helping students learn time management and discipline. Improved Confidence: School club activities offer a great platform for students to learn and grow. When students are able to acquire new skills and see themselves improving on it, they exhibit better confidence and self-esteem. Skill...

Art activities can be a great way for students to improve their creative skills. These activities can also have a positive impact on the overall development of kids. For students, participating in art-related activities can result in improved academic performance at school.   How do art-related activities help in improving academics? Art Enhances Creativity: Art plays a vital role in enhancing creativity among students. Art-related activities enhance students’ ability to conceptualize and visualize different creative elements. These can improve their expression of ideas and help them to familiarize with different tools used during the activity, while boosting their creativity.  Improved Student Engagement: Art activities may require students to be deeply involved in a project while trying new concepts and interpreting them in their own way. Some projects may need students to work as a team which can improve their communication skills. These personal experiences and skil...

Music is a fun activity that may aid in student development. Getting involved in school’s music programs can have a positive impact on every aspect of a student’s life. Music involvement can improve a student’s self-discipline, dexterity, coordination, self-esteem, thinking skills, listening skills, creative abilities, and personal expression.  Music can have positive role in the following: Developing Language & Reasoning: Music involvement can help to develop the left side of brain which is associated with language & reasoning. Also, learning and rehearsing songs at a young age may help in imprinting information on young minds. They can also learn new words and pronunciation which can improve their command over language. Improving Memory: To properly perform an act of music, students constantly need to use their memory. Memorization is required by both musicians performing with sheet music and vocalists. This may help in training the mind of students to improve their mem...

A school environment refers to relationships between the school community that are determined by structural, personal, and functional factors of the institute. School environments are an important factor that can play an essential role in ensuring student’s success. An efficient school environment provides relevant content, clear learning goals and feedback, opportunities to build social skills and strategies to help students succeed. Another reason why a school environment is important is that school can be like a second home to students as they spend a major part of their day at school. Here are a few ways that the school environment might impact students:  Social Skills: A positive school environment provides varied opportunities for students to interact with their peers and teachers. This can allow them to build friendly and professional relationships in the school. They may learn diverse social skills such as communication, active listening, empathy, etc. These skills can pr...

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM education addresses the concern that these subjects are often taught individually, when they are actually intertwined and correlated. A STEM based curriculum uses real life situations to help students understand how educational concepts relate to life. It encourages students to experiment and learn from their own experiences to reach positive outcomes.  When considering STEM education, a major question that arises is “What is the importance of STEM education?” To answer that question, we have compiled a few benefits of STEM education: Fosters Ingenuity & Creativity: Ingenuity is defined as the quality of being original and inventive. Ingenuity and creativity, when paired with STEM education, can lead to development of new ideas and innovation. Popular example of ingenuity & creativity being coupled with STEM is the development of Artificial Intelligence.  Develop Resilience: STEM education...

 Extracurricular activities organized by school clubs often act as a bridge between real life situations and academic skills. Such activities can allow students to develop diverse academic skills such as time management, creativity, problem-solving, communication, focus, etc. These skills may help in transitioning learning efforts into academic success. But, how can school clubs help in cultivating academic skills? Here are some points that explain the role of school clubs in skill development: Memory Retention: When students participate in activities such as dance, drama, music, vocals, etc., they are required to memorize their part or routine. This continuous effort of retaining information can act as an exercise for student’s brain and promotes memory retention among students. Memory retention is an important academic skill as students are required to retain the knowledge gained during learning sessions. Discipline: School club activities require students to be disciplined. As...