Seven San Angelo ISD Campuses Honored as Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools

San Angelo ISD announces with celebration the selection of seven SAISD campuses as Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) National Showcase Schools for the 2022-2023 school year. Alta Loma Elementary, Austin Elementary, Bradford Elementary, Fannin Elementary, Goliad Elementary, Holiman Elementary and Lincoln Middle School were chosen for the national honor. This is the first year Austin Elementary and Lincoln Middle School have received this recognition. 

The CKH National Showcase School award recognizes campuses that go above and beyond in building a safe and welcoming environment where students are relationally connected and eager to learn. CKH National Showcase Schools are selected annually by the Flippen Group through a process that includes measuring key performance indicators, gathering campus data and surveying staff and students. 

SAISD commends the committed leadership of the seven campuses selected for the honor including Principals Lauri Herndon (Alta Loma Elementary), Brooke Kalnbach (Austin Elementary), Berta Carrasco (Bradford Elementary), Dana Felts (Fannin Elementary), Shannon Klepac (Goliad Elementary), Stacy Fischer (Holiman Elementary), and Joe Gandar (Lincoln Middle School). 

“This is a huge recognition for Lincoln Middle School! Our mission is to love, encourage, and empower our students, and each other; and that is what Capturing Kids’ Hearts is all about,” said Lincoln Middle School Principal Joe Gandar. “A quote that stood out to me from Capturing Kids’ Hearts is, ‘When you have a kid's heart, you have their mind.’ That is so true. True learning happens when teachers truly love and care for their students, and my staff does just that. It’s such a great feeling for our school to get recognized for that. I’m proud to be the principal of Lincoln Middle School, and I’m proud of the adults that have committed to love our kids with me.” 

San Angelo ISD is committed to building safe and welcoming environments, relationship-driven campus cultures, student connectedness, and processes focused on social-emotional wellbeing at our campuses. These seven CKH National Showcase schools excel in these areas, and students and staff authentically connect resulting in the improved wellbeing of the whole child. 

“We are thrilled to be recognized as a National Showcase school for Capturing Kids’ Hearts,” said Austin Elementary Principal Brooke Kalnbach. “We strive to empower our students to learn and lead and CKH gives us the tools to build strong relationships so that we can help students accomplish their goals. Our staff is purposeful in connecting with and affirming students. They work hard to support the social emotional needs of our students so that academic growth can occur. I’m thankful to be on a team of adults who are champions for children.”

Through experiential training, expert coaching, an social-emotional learning curriculum for students, and personalized support, Capturing Kids' Hearts® equips professionals in K-12 education to implement transformational processes focused on social-emotional wellbeing, relationship-driven campus culture, and student connectedness.

Capturing Kids’ Hearts campuses across the country were considered by the Flippen Group for the National Showcase School award based on criteria including survey and performance data from students, staff, teachers and administrators, data demonstrating that Capturing Kids’ Hearts has made a significant improvement in attendance, discipline, climate/culture, or academics as well as positive campus culture and climate.

For over three decades, Capturing Kids’ Hearts has brought tools to thousands of campuses nationwide that equip teachers, coaches, administrators, and district leaders to implement transformational processes focused on cultivating student-connectedness, improving school culture, and fostering social-emotional learning. These processes are designed to directly impact every aspect of a school community. 

To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Capturing Kids’ Hearts and the Flippen Group

In 1990 a small group of educators experienced the first Capturing Kids' Hearts® training at the Flippen’s home in College Station, Texas. The vision has since grown and today the team introduces Capturing Kids' Hearts® processes to 37,000+ educators each year nationwide.

Capturing Kids’ Hearts is a premier source of professional development for educators nationwide. Through experiential training, expert coaching, and personalized support, Capturing Kids' Hearts equips professionals in K-12 education to implement transformational processes focused on social-emotional wellbeing, relationship-driven culture, and student connectedness.

Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes provide educators the skills they need to change the trajectory of students’ lives.

Campuses implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes consistently report improvements in academic, behavioral, and cultural outcomes.