The Leander ISD community came together to celebrate the Denise Geiger Compass Center at a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony Saturday, spotlighting the namesake’s 32 years of service in LISD. Denise Geiger not only built programs but also a legacy of inclusion, reflected by the heartwarming standing ovation by those in attendance.
The GCC is the new home of the district’s program serving young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 who qualify for transition services through special education.
“Denise has dedicated her career to ensuring that every student in special education and 18+ transition programs had the support, skills and confidence they needed to step into adulthood with dignity and purpose,” said Justin Pine, the school’s first principal. “She believes deeply that our students deserve not only opportunity, but also guidance as they discover their own paths.”
More than a building, the GCC is the result of decades of progress and a shining example of LISD’s commitment that every learner deserves an environment where they can thrive.
“Denise has been unwavering in her dedication and persistence to the mission of transition in our district,” said Amy Rudd, Leander ISD’s director of special education, as she explained the history of how Geiger and her team turned this vision into reality.
Under Geiger’s guidance, the transition program has grown from serving one student to more than 140 every year. Her former students were among the crowd who came to celebrate the opening and tour the new campus.
Funded by the 2023 Bond, the Geiger Compass Center features accessible classrooms and bathrooms, vocational spaces, a mock apartment, a commercial kitchen, and an outdoor trail designed to prepare young adults with disabilities for independence.
“Every room, every resource, every thoughtful detail exists to support transformation, growth and success,” LISD Area Superintendent Kimberly Waltmon said. “From the very beginning, we knew our adult students deserved a space that reflects their potential, their perseverance, and their promise. Today, they have that space.”
Geiger said she’s proud as a peacock.
“Honored. That is a word, but what I feel is not defined. I am beyond proud, honored and humbled to accept this award and to have my name on this building,” she said. “I will keep looking out into the future with each one of you and know that whatever is imagineered in the next 25 to 50 years of these services will be what this world needs, what each student with disabilities needs, and what will propel Leander ISD to lead in the state when it comes to services for 18 to 22 year olds.”
Former and current students, parents and staff filled the space with excitement, proving that this investment touches lives far beyond its walls.
