Dear Round Rock ISD Community,
I love the hope and promise that comes with the first day of school, but it’s in the spring semester that we truly see the majority of the results of our students’ and staff’s hard work emerge. There’s so much to be proud of, and our team wholeheartedly embraces the belief that It Starts With Us.
Three of our talented students have been recognized by the Texas Art Education Association for their exceptional artistic creativity and skill. Sophie W. from Deep Wood Elementary, fourth grade, and Harper C. from Grisham Middle School, seventh grade, had their artwork selected from hundreds of statewide entries and will be displayed at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in March. Averie D. from Live Oak Elementary, fifth grade, will have her entry in the State Flag Design Competition – Elementary Division, featured at the National Flag Ceremony at the National Art Education Association Conference and the TAEA Conference.
At Ridgeview Middle School, eighth-graders Nathan and Easton outplayed more than 88 Esports teams, and are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Middle School Esports League Central Division for Rocket League 2v2.
At the same time, our talented teachers and campus leaders are being honored. Every year, H-E-B recognizes outstanding educators for their leadership, dedication to campus culture, and community impact. I’m excited to share that Principal Monica Collins of Pearson Ranch Middle School is a finalist for the prestigious H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. There are only five secondary principal finalists in the state each year. H-E-B has awarded Ms. Collins $1,000 and $2,500 for her school, and as she moves to the state level, she has the chance to win a $10,000 grant for Pearson Ranch and a $10,000 personal prize.
As a district, we’ve been recognized as a Career and Technical Education District of Distinction by the Career and Technical Association of Texas. We earn this distinction through our innovative programming, industry-based certifications, alignment with workforce needs, and exceptional student outcomes.
Additionally, our district received the Caudill Award at the TASA Midwinter Conference for the design of CD Fulkes Middle School, a 2018 Bond project. This top honor in the Exhibit of School Architecture competition celebrates its innovative spaces for learning and collaboration.
I’m also proud of our district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. For the 16th consecutive year, the Round Rock ISD Purchasing Department earned the TASBO Award of Merit, recognizing excellence in procurement, compliance, and fiscal responsibility.
This past week, we finalized the second sale of bonds for this year, bringing to $350 million the total we’ve sold in this first year to begin work on 2024 Bond projects. Our strong financial rating allowed us to sell the bond at a lower interest rate than we’d projected. Next, we’ll finalize project schedules, share it with our community, with some work expected to begin as soon as this semester.
These are just a few of the amazing things happening every day that make us Central Texas’s leading public school district.
Respectfully,
Dr. Hafedh “AZ” Azaiez
Proud Superintendent of Schools
