Our Namesake, Our Legacy

  • Pat Carney Welcome to Pat Carney Elementary School, a place where education, growth, and kindness thrive—a living tribute to our beloved namesake, Patricia "Pat" Brann Kemp Carney.

    Our school's identity is rooted in the rich legacy of Pat Carney, a dedicated educator who poured over 27 years of passion into shaping the minds of Killeen ISD students. As a teacher at Peebles and East Ward Elementary Schools, she laid the foundation for academic excellence. Her journey continued with promotions to Assistant Principal and then Principal of East Ward Elementary, showcasing her unwavering commitment to educational leadership.

    Pat Carney's impact extended beyond the classroom when she assumed the role of Elementary Curriculum Director for the district. Her vision aimed to strengthen the delivery of instruction for all students, leaving an indelible mark on the educational landscape of Killeen.

    Our school, nestled on Azura Dr., is more than just a physical structure—it's a living memorial to the enduring spirit of great educators such as Pat Carney. The decision by the Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees to name this new campus after her is a profound acknowledgment of her contributions to education and the community.

    This dedication is particularly poignant for Pat Carney's daughter, Nikki McDaniel, who shared the emotional weight of this week and expressed the significance of her mother's world revolving around the district. Through the naming of Pat Carney Elementary School, we ensure that generations to come will recognize the special lady who left an everlasting legacy of passion and kindness.

    As we embark on this educational journey together, let us draw inspiration from the life of Pat Carney. The new campus, a result of the 2018 bond, not only symbolizes progress but also serves as a beacon of hope, relieving overcrowding at Fowler Elementary.

    May Pat Carney's name be a source of inspiration for our students, parents, and the entire Pat Carney Elementary School community. Welcome to a place where education is not just a curriculum—it's a legacy.

Vision

  • Our vision is to develop, well-rounded, confident & responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their full potential. We will do this by providing a welcoming, safe & supportive learning environment in which all achievements are celebrated.

Mission

  • Our mission is to work together to build a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment focused on maximizing each child’s sense of well-being and acquisition of skills for life-long learning.

Staff Scholarship

    Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

    • August 2021 -- The day before the start of a new school year, Killeen ISD joined community leaders to dedicate a new school that honors the legacy of a local educator and serves a fast-growing neighborhood in a growing school district.

      Tracy Carney, daughter-in-law of the late Pat Carney said family members cried with joy Sunday as they drove into the parking lot of the new school for the first time.

      “She loved kids. She loved educators. This was her calling,” said Carney.

      Pat Carney Elementary School Principal Paige Gawryszewski thanked her family and a hard-working group of staff members for helping to prepare the building for the start of school.

      “It’s a new beginning,” she said to the audience of educators, students and family members. “We are eager to get to work and to open our hearts to families.”

      Teachers and other school staff members will carry on the legacy of an educator who committed 27 years to teaching in KISD, rising to elementary principal and curriculum director.

      Superintendent John Craft praised the principal of the new school, hired about four months ago, who pulled together a staff and turned the building into a warm, welcoming place for children.

      He recognized school district administrators past and present, as well as architects and contractors. The school, part of a $426 million 2018 bond election, was completed for $34 million, which was $7.6 million under budget.

      The school in west Killeen would be a quality learning institution for generations to come and also, he said, would become a family.

      “Tomorrow, these hallways will be filled with laughter and joy and perhaps some chaos,” said Board Vice President Susan Jones. It would also, she said be marked by friendship, learning, eager students and dedicated staff members.

      The grown children of the late Pat Carney, Rick Carney, Renea Carney and Nikki McDaniel joined a large group of family members at the dedication ceremony.

      Pat Carney was a teacher at Peebles and East Ward elementary school, assistant principal and principal at East Ward Elementary School and KISD elementary curriculum director.

      Rick Carney thanked family members and numerous supporters, as well as the KISD Board of Trustees for bringing to fruition the school named for his mother. He described his mother as a kind, compassionate, passionate educator. 

      Killeen ISD dedicated the new Killeen Elementary School and Pershing Park Elementary School a week ago and the new Clifton Park Elementary School following the morning ceremony at Pat Carney Elementary School.