(Source: KISD)

Dr. Jim Hawkins, Killeen ISD’s System Superintendent, announced today that he will retire effective December 19, 2008. After 36 years in education and four years as the leader of the largest school district in Central Texas, Dr. Hawkins and his wife, Nancy, have decided that they will move closer to their sons and their families. The Hawkins will relocate to Georgia at the beginning of the new year. Dr. Hawkins has accepted a position as Superintendent in a Georgia public school system beginning in 2009. An announcement will be released soon regarding that position.

Upon Dr. Hawkins’ return to KISD after serving as Superintendent of DeSoto ISD, he focused on the vision of changing public schools to meet the demands and requirements that today’s students face as they leave school and enter colleges, universities, the military, or work. His message has consistently centered on the work provided to students daily in the classroom. One of the initial efforts that Dr. Hawkins led was to formalize the core beliefs that had been in place for many years in Killeen ISD and to clearly define the vision for the district. Dr. Hawkins has been steadfast in his belief that a clear directional system enables better decision-making.

Killeen ISD has always been a leader in professional development. Dr. Hawkins has continued that emphasis by fostering the use of learning communities at the campus and district level for job-embedded professional learning. Since his tenure, a dedicated building, the Jackson Professional Learning Center, has been renovated to house all professional learning opportunities.

Based on Dr. Hawkins’ belief that “each student is unique and can achieve more and at higher levels,” Dr. Hawkins has challenged campus and district leadership to enhance offerings to students. Under his leadership, early college opportunities for students have been greatly expanded with Central Texas College (CTC) and Temple College’s BioScience Institute. An additional initiative to customize learning for students, the Academic Alternative and Career Academy, is in the planning stages. It will be a center for juniors and seniors to study advanced courses in many career pathways. Hearing the “student voice” in decision-making has led Dr. Hawkins to establish the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, so that he can hear from students how decisions impact them.

Under his guidance, staff and students have worked to increase student performance as measured on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). Scores have increased in all areas between 2004 and the most recently released scores in 2008. In reading/language arts, achievement scores have increased from 79% to 91% passing; writing has increased from 83% to 93% passing; mathematics has increased from 61% to 77% passing; social studies from 82% to 90% passing; and science from 55% to 72% passing.

During four years in Killeen ISD, the district has grown from an enrollment of 33,500 in 2004 to a projected enrollment of 39,500 for the 2008-09 school year. The district has opened two new middle schools, Union Grove and Audie Murphy, and five new elementary schools, Oveta Culp Hobby, Timber Ridge, Skipcha, Saegert, and Meadows. Two new schools, an elementary school in Nolanville and a middle school in the southwest area of the district, are currently under construction for opening in 2010.

Additionally, Dr. Hawkins has ensured that the district is in excellent financial condition. The adopted budget for 2008-2009 established a 26% undesignated fund balance of $80M. The budget also has over $100M in capital projects fund balance to be used for the construction of new facilities and additions and renovations of existing buildings.