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Killeen ISD Celebrates 2024 Retiring Employees

As another school year closes out, a group of longtime, committed Killeen ISD employees are closing out a career.
Using the imagery of athletes receiving a medal, Superintendent Jo Ann Fey invited 53 new KISD retirees to embrace their “podium experience.”
Combined, the honored employees are retiring with 1,331 years of education experience.
Like a runner – long distance, of course – stepping onto the medal stand, Fey urged retirees to recall where they have been and also where they are going.
“I hope and pray for you that the thing you remember is the challenge, the purpose, the relationships, the struggles, what you do matters and will continue to matter to those kids as they go through our system and into the world.”
Sticking with the metaphor to close out the district’s annual retiree banquet Wednesday, she reminded them that you retire into something of value and importance.
A wide array of teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators lined up on one side of the Killeen Civic and Conference Center ballroom and stepped individually to the center to receive a plaque.
Each received congratulations from board members and from Fey.
“You never retire to nothing,” said Fey. “You retire to something else. Retire to something that gives you joy.”
In her own education career, the superintendent said she has not seen a school district retiree who did not miss something about their time serving students.
“It’s never meetings, paperwork, taking attendance, challenging parents, it’s always about the kids,” she said. “Here’s to you and all your new beginnings.”
Honored retirees include the following:
Kimberly Babb Pershing Park Elementary assistant principal 22 years
Maria Bertelin Haynes Elementary crossing guard three years
James Bilberry Carney Elementary social and emotional specialist 41 years
Sondra Campbell Haynes Elementary campus instructional specialist 36 years
Dina D’Amore Reeces Creek Elementary librarian 33 years
Christy Douglass Killeen High teacher 28 years
Paul Duerre Facilities Services environmental specialist 36 years
Janice Dulaney Union Grove Middle School teacher 34 years
Edward English Harker Heights High School teacher six years
Kelly Fife Nolan Middle School teacher 24 years
Julie Fife Nolan Middle School teacher 27 years
Marcey Gaitan Fowler Elementary teacher 26 years
Toni Gilyard Timber Ridge Elementary teacher 20 years
Antje Gohdes Fowler Elementary teacher 23 years
Douglas Harler Harker Heights High teacher 20 years
Stephen Harris Live Oak Ridge teacher 23 years
Anita Hernandez Killeen Elementary teacher 20 years
Janie Hinkson Haynes Elementary teacher 22 years
Joyce Hodson Education Foundation director 30 years
Laura Holz Clear Creek Elementary librarian 29 years
Steve Johnson Reeces Creek Elementary teacher nine years
Sylvia Jones Killeen Elementary special education aide 32 years
Tami Kraft Ellison High teacher 32 years
Sylvia Lantis Clifton Park Elementary secretary 29 years
Ceola Larry Community Relations secretary nine years
Benita Love Clifton Park Elementary teacher 15 years
Connie Low Smith Middle School teacher 34 years
Lisa McGhee Union Grove Middle School teacher 29 years
Donna Milton Facilities Services secretary 29 years
Angela Morales Nolan Middle School teacher 25 years
Clara Patino Mountain View Elementary teacher 26 years
Barbara Perez Douse Elementary aide 25 years
Pamela Pierce Ellison High secretary 19 years
Jacqueline Pilkey Director of Special Education 32 years
Amanda Polson Timber Ridge Elementary teacher 13 years
Melinda Pounds-Bain Saegert Elementary teacher 14 years
Tina Quinn Chaparral High teacher 29 years
Carol Sewell Nolanville Elementary counselor 39 years
Paula Simpson Clifton Park Elementary nurse 22 years
Wayne Spears Early College High School teacher 17 years
Lillian Spencer Union Grove Middle School teacher 34 years
Richard Chamberlain Liberty Hill Middle School teacher 22 years
Maria Hernandez-Sanchez Shoemaker High teacher 18 years
Cassandra King Reeces Creek Elementary teacher 20 years
Sarah Salter Early College High School teacher 25 years
Patricia Sutton Gateway High School teacher 20 years
Ame Campbell Smith Middle School teacher 14 years
Tracey Delgado Human Resources technician 27 years
Angelo Cotto, Jr. Clear Creek Elementary aide 22 years
Carolyn McCutchen Clear Creek Elementary teacher 33 years
Patricia Johnson Maude Wood Elementary nutrition manager 31 years
Labecca Thompson Mountain View Elementary principal 38 years
Diana Vance Career Center receptionist 45 years