Community Connection

May 2023

Waco ISD is proud to recognize the Class of 2023 Valedictorians and Salutatorians.

James Benjamin Vieira Ryan Burnias and Kayla Yae-Sul Cho have earned the top spots out of 402 WHS students graduating this year. Burnias was named Valedictorian, and Cho achieved the distinction as Salutatorian.

At UHS, Vania Gonzalez was named Valedictorian, and Tirza Ralls was named Salutatorian. Gonzalez and Ralls are at the top of a graduating class of 335 students. Click here to learn more about their achievements.

Waco High Student Receives Air Force Appointment

Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) recently visited Waco High to announce James Benjamin Vieira Ryan Burnias’ appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. James earned the Class of 2023 Valedictorian position for Waco High. He has also been recognized as an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors and been awarded the National Hispanic Recognition Award by the College Board.

Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game

The Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game, held recently, was a wonderful expression of how we Empower and Value All. The students enjoyed this opportunity to come together for some good old fashioned fun. Special thanks to Rhiannon Settles and the many volunteers who made this amazing game possible!

Click here to view additional photos.

8th Grade Superintendent Scholars

Congratulations to the students who were honored at the 8th grade Superintendent Scholars Ceremony! Students were selected based on the results of the CRA-8 test taken in the fall of 2022. Great job students!

Click here to view additional photos.

Waco Education Foundation Grants Record Amount

The Waco Education Foundation's SurPRIZE Patrol surprised 46 teachers with the exciting news that their 31 grant applications were approved for funding for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, the Foundation awarded a record $154,995 bringing the total amount of grants funded over the past decade and a half to more than $2.15 million!

Click here to learn more about the 2023-2024 grants.

2023-2024 Innovative Grants Photo Album

SurPRIZE Patrol - Day 1

SurPRIZE Patrol - Day 2

Congratulations to the Waco ISD 2022-2023 Principal of the Year, University High School Principal Alonzo McAdoo. Positive, caring, present, supportive, and great leader are all words used to describe Principal McAdoo. If you see him around, please tell him how much he is loved and appreciated!

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Virginia DuPuy First Year Teacher Award recipients, Ashley Beekman-King, Mountainview Elementary School, and Kylie Muegge at University High School!

The Virginia DuPuy First Year Teacher Award was established by Waco ISD 12 years ago, and is given to an elementary and secondary teacher who are selected from one of the district's many "rising stars" in the teaching profession. The award is named after a former teacher, a former mayor, and one of Waco's strongest and most well-known education advocates, Mrs. Virginia DuPuy.

In recognition of mental health awareness, our students were able to 'look within' to create self-portraits, paint rocks with positive messages, learn about positive affirmations, and realize that they have a system of support available to them when they need it. Click here to view 25 News' coverage of Waco ISD's Character Strong program that focuses on student mental health.

You know football season is coming when Waco High and University High host their Spring games. Each team participated in their respective showcases last week. There is no doubt the players, coaches, and fans are ready for those Fall Friday night lights!

Click here to view additional photos.

Teacher Appreciation Week celebrations were the perfect time to show WISD's teachers how much they are thanked, loved and appreciated. It is true, not all heroes wear capes!

Dear Waco ISD Community,

This school year has come and gone in the blink of an eye. We have seen many achievements and changes, but one thing that has remained the same is the constant support that our community has shown for our students and staff.

I would like to welcome our newest board member, District 5 Trustee Jim Patton. His life experience as an educator will serve him well as a member of our team.

On behalf of the board, thank you! To say that we appreciate you would be an understatement. Your partnership means the world to us and our students and staff benefit greatly from the time, energy, and love that you have shown Waco ISD.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Korteweg

Did you miss the May 18th Board of Trustees meeting? Get an update by watching the meeting recap video. 

Click here for the full board meeting

from May 18, 2023.

The next Regular meeting will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the WISD Conference Center, 115 S. 5th Street, Waco, Texas.

Each month, Waco ISD recognizes a community partner making a difference for students with the Award for Outstanding Community Partners. This recognition celebrates the theme for the 2022-2023 school year "Lead from the Heart" and acknowledges the impact our community partners make in the lives of our students and staff.

In May, Education Service Center Region 12 was selected to receive the award for their generous contributions to Waco ISD.



Please follow this link to learn more.

Dear Waco ISD Community,

I am writing this in the last hour of the last day of the school year. As I look back over the last year, I am elated at how much we have accomplished. We broke ground on three new campuses, implemented social emotional learning, continued to focus on the development of literacy programs on our campuses, and so much more!

Important work will continue to happen this summer with professional development, important safety training, construction, and facility cleaning and enhancements all across the district. It's an exciting time to be a part of Waco ISD.

Sincerely, 

Susan Kincannon, Ed.D.

Online registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open through July 14! Please visit wacoisd.org/register to register your new and returning Waco ISD students.

If you have any questions, please email: registration@wacoisd.org.

Parents! Don't miss out on WISD's Camp Readalot!

Click here for more details.

Community Resources