Staff report
The Board of Trustees for the Hays Consolidated Independent School District approved the promotion Monday of Karen Lucita from assistant principal to principal at Kyle Elementary School.
Lucita has worked for the district her entire education career that spans nearly two decades. In fact, it was at Kyle Elementary School where she began as a student teacher and long-term substitute in 1997, the year she earned her bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University and her Texas teacher certification. Through the years, Lucita has worked as a teacher, a curriculum and technology leader, and district administrator.
As a teacher, Lucita served at Kyle and Fuentes Elementary schools, and at then Dahlstrom Intermediate School. She has also served as a campus technologist, instructional strategist, and eventually the assistant principal at Tobias Elementary School. She was the district’s summer school principal in 2010 and 2011. Most recently, Lucita was the assistant principal of Negley Elementary School before accepting the assignment at Kyle Elementary School earlier this year.
“I believe that all students have the ability to learn if they are provided with an atmosphere that welcomes and encourages the student’s exploration of education, as well as the promotion of high self-esteem and confidence,” Lucita said. “I believe that a child’s school should be a place that he or she finds welcoming and enjoyable.”
Lucita was selected in part based upon a customized principal profile developed after meetings with campus teachers. In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree, she has earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Texas State University.
“The Kyle Elementary campus has a rich tradition of success academically and a strong tie to the community,” said Lucita. “I look forward to the honor of being the campus principal.”
Lucita succeeds Kyle Elementary School’s retiring principal, Ann Conlee.