Read about some of our exceptional staff nominated for exemplifying the Leander Way!
Name: Jake Cumberland
Campus/Department: Cypress Elementary
Job Title: 5th Grade Teacher
Component of the Leander Way: Create
At the start of our distance learning, Jake worked hand in hand with another teacher to create a vision for a unifying platform that would provide consistency and needed information to our parents. He worked through all new technologies and became our campus expert on Zoom, Google Classroom, and most things techie! He spent many hours with staff to help us move through the learning curve of digital/distance learning. He and his 5th grade team created engaging lessons encompassing the curriculum provided by our district.
Jake has a passion for taking the “what” of learning and creating engaging lessons that provide student choice and high engagement. He has taken this passion that I see daily in his classroom and scaled it to provide collaborative opportunities for our campus!
– Kristen Alex, Cypress Elementary Principal
Name: Billy Jackson
Campus/Department: Transportation
Job Title: Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor
Component of the Leander Way: Build
Billy fully embraced Transportation’s commitment to excellence during the challenging times of COVID-19. On separate occasions, SPED leadership at the campus level was contacted by parents needing to retrieve equipment to assist their children at home. Billy stepped up to the request by picking up equipment at multiple campus locations and physically delivering to each family’s door step.
Not only has Billy provided excellent service to the families of LISD, but he and his mechanics have been coming into the office during the shutdown to repair and service buses so that once we resume transportation, our buses are running in top shape to meet the needs of the students we transport.
Billy’s actions exemplify the commitment LISD has to the community it serves and sets the standard of providing first class service.
– Michael Surrell, Assistant Transportation Director
