Mrs. Alice W. Douse

Lauded as a pillar of the community, Mrs. Douse truly had those broad shoulders upon which others could stand. She was an authentic example of servant leadership and spent a lifetime helping others to maximize their potential. She devoted countless hours to her city, community, church, family, and her passion for education. 

Her illustrious career in education spanned more than three decades and was marked by a series of firsts. Her employment with the Killeen Independent School District began in 1964, as a sixth-grade teacher at Marlboro Middle School. Upon the school's closing, Mrs. Douse integrated the staff at Pershing Park Elementary School, where she would later become the first African American to serve as Assistant Principal. She then served as the district's first Elementary School Science Consultant. This role gave Mrs. Douse the opportunity to impact an even larger number of educators and students. Mrs. Douse went on to become the first African American woman appointed to a principalship in Killeen ISD. After serving in that role at Haynes Elementary School for nine years, Mrs. Douse opened Hay Branch Elementary School and served 10 years as its principal.

The greatest honor is often praise from one's peers, and while serving the Killeen Independent School District, her passion for education resulted in accolades and recognition from within the educational community. Mrs. Douse was named Administrator of the Year by both the Killeen ISD Classroom Teachers Association and the Texas Classroom Teachers Association. Her strength was helping teachers become the best they could be, so that the students could become the best they could be. Mrs. Douse simply had a heart to serve others. As a result, she received numerous awards outside of education during her lifetime. She was recognized by her church, community, professional organization, the City of Killeen, and Fort Hood III Corps. Mrs. Douse was a woman of strength, courage and great humility. She retired from Killeen ISD in 1996, having given 33 years of service. Her influence remains today in the lives of the teachers, staff, and students with whom she worked.