COPPERAS COVE – In a significant move, the Copperas Cove Independent School District (CCISD) Board of Trustees has appointed Carolyn Jackson as the new principal of House Creek Elementary School, the district’s first National Blue Ribbon School. This decision was made unanimously by the trustees.

Jackson, who has over 20 years of experience in public education, began her teaching career in Copperas Cove in 1998. Apart from a two-year stint in Dekalb County, Indiana, she has dedicated her career to the district. In 2011, she transitioned to an interventionist role and later became an instructional coach. Her leadership as assistant principal at House Creek was pivotal in the school achieving the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School designation from the U.S. Department of Education in 2023.

Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns expressed his confidence in Jackson’s ability to excel in her new role. “Mrs. Jackson has been successful in various roles both in and out of the classroom. Her return to a campus she knows so well will undoubtedly benefit the students, staff, and families of House Creek,” he said.

Since January 2023, Jackson has served as CCISD’s Director of Assessment and Accountability, where she trained campus personnel on standardized testing procedures and oversaw the district’s Title I compliance. She also improved the intake system for determining student eligibility in the McKinney-Vento program.

Jackson shared her enthusiasm for her new position, stating, “I am both honored and excited to step into the role of Principal at House Creek Elementary School. I look forward to working closely with the incredible staff, students, and community to foster an environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and inspired to achieve their best.”

Jackson will officially assume her new role on January 6th, following the district’s Christmas Break.

In addition to Jackson’s appointment, the board approved an expanded partnership with TeachWorthy, an alternative certification training provider for the R.I.S.E. Program. This program allows qualified paraprofessionals in the district to complete their degrees and earn teacher certification at no cost, supporting their transition into teaching roles.

“The success of our R.I.S.E. Program is undeniable,” said Dr. Burns. “Some of our most innovative and high-performing teachers in Copperas Cove have completed or are finishing the R.I.S.E Program. We are grateful the board recognizes the value of this program in ensuring our students always have excellent educators.”

The board also welcomed newly-elected members Sherry Hoffpauir and Tim Traeger, who were sworn into Place 1 and Place 2, respectively. Additionally, the board elected Joan Manning as President, John Gallen as Vice President, and Mike Wilburn as Secretary for the upcoming year.

The next regular workshop of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for January 13th, followed by the regular meeting the next evening. Both meetings will be held in the Board Room at the District Service & Training Center, located at 408 S. Main St. Agendas will be posted 72 hours prior to each meeting and can be viewed online at CCISD.com/SchoolBoard.