A bittersweet year for Linden-Kildare

Looking back at the previous year can be bittersweet time with highs and lows. That can be especially true this year for Linden-Kildare after having to go through some pretty tough losses. The Sun has asked Linden-Kildare Superintendent Keri Winters to look back at 2019 and look forward to 2020.

When looking back at 2019, when asked to summarize the year, Winters started by memorializing the losses the district has had to endure last year. “The district had a tough year in 2019. In March we lost our beloved teacher, Jackie Barton to a battle with cancer. Barton had been with the district for the last seven of his 29 years of teaching. He was loved by all and will forever be missed. We also tragically lost junior Caleb Taylor in May and Adryanna and Shantey Hawkins in December.”

“I believe one of our biggest accomplishments in 2019 is the way our students and staff banded together to support one another and the families of these people that meant so much to our school district. The outpouring of love to one another and from other school districts in the area carried us through some really difficult times.”

For Winters when gazing back on some accomplishments that she is proud of, she first pointed out how well the school and community came together through those tough times.

Among some of the other accomplishments included:

Academics – all three campuses finished 2nd in UIL competitions

Athletics – seven sports made playoff appearances with state-level appearances in Track, Tennis, and Baseball. Baseball was the State Runner-Up for 2019.

Programs – State qualifiers in Debate, DECA, Archery, Science Fair, and Robotics

Dual Credit – had 44 students complete 162 dual credit courses on campus through Texarkana College. This totaled 506 college credit hours!

Looking forward to 2020 when asked if there was a theme for the year, Winters responded by saying that the “theme for the schools has always been ‘Better Together,’” This includes:

• Linden and Kildare are Better Together

• Students and Staff are Better Together

• School and community are Better Together

• Teachers and Parents are Better Together

• Members of the School Board are Better Together.

As for the goals for 2020 Winters looks forward to:

• Improvement to our district and campus ratings in regards to the state accountability system (article coming soon)

• Planning and determining facility improvements and renovations

• Keeping school involved in community.

When asked how the local community and school community could get involved Winters highlighted three things people can do to get more connected she responded by saying:

Frequenting our website or Facebook page and attending school events

Read and share the school news in the Cass County Sun and while you are posting your favorite school memories on social media, also send your information to the local newspaper for a historical archive for others to enjoy.

Partnering and working with teachers and administration to make our district more successful

Winters was then asked about personal goals or new year’s resolutions for this coming year? She responded thoughtfully by saying that, “2019 was a hard year for me personally too.”

“Not only the losses we suffered from the school, but my younger sister lost her battle with cancer as well in March. In addition, I had five knee surgeries including three total knee replacements.”

Looking ahead, “My personal goals are to seek out the light in everything that I do and to stay positive even when times are hard.”

Finally, Winters was asked what she loved about her job, to which she quickly said “The people – our staff, our students, the community. LK has plenty of pride and traditions that make this place a great one. I have worked in several districts in my career and this is my favorite of all of them.”

“I enjoy watching our students perform and going to campuses to see teachers and staff working hard!”