Bright Futures

Karen Hollard Receives the Sunnyvale Alumni Association’s 2021 Legacy Award

Beloved, long-time Sunnyvale ISD teacher Ms. Karen Holland has received the Sunnyvale Alumni Association’s Legacy Award for 2021. Ms. Holland has the distinction of being the employee who has taught the most years in a Sunnyvale ISD classroom — 40 years. She retired in 2020.

During that time, she taught American History, Texas History, World Geography, Theatre Arts and World History. She also coached volleyball for eight years, sponsored the cheerleaders for six years, and advised the yearbook staff. “Mr. B heard that I was looking for a job and had interviewed at Highland Park,” she said. “He called their district office and they gave him my contact information. He called me at my best friend’s house, and would you believe he hired me right then over the phone?”

She also touched the lives of countless Sunnyvale kids.

“Karen Holland helped shape the person I am today,” alumna Carmen James Elder (SJH ‘88) said. “She loved me at times I felt unlovable and showed tough love when I needed it. I wanted to be just like her.”

Ms. Holland began working for Sunnyvale ISD in 1980 after being hired by long-time Superintendent Gwinn Blankenship — believe it or not — over the phone. She spent the next 40 years in service to SISD, guiding students and teaching them about history and life.

“What I loved about teaching in Sunnyvale is the relationship we built with the kids,” Ms. Holland said. “As soon as they left for high school, they became our friends. Here I am 40 years later, and I have former students who call me regularly and take care of me as they would their parents. I just love when that happens. Where else in America does that happen except Sunnyvale, Texas?”

Carmen James Elder (SJH Class of ‘88) Named Sunnyvale ISD Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

Few Sunnyvale alums have made an impact on the Town of Sunnyvale the way this year’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year has.

Through her contributions as a Sunnyvale school principal, a community volunteer and a town business advocate, Carmen James Elder has touched the lives of countless Sunnyvale Raiders. Carmen graduated from Sunnyvale Junior High School in 1988 after attending the then K-8 campus during kindergarten and first grade and then again from fifth grade through eighth grade. At the time, because Sunnyvale did not have a high school, students attended Poteet High School. Carmen graduated from Poteet High School in 1992. She then graduated from Texas A&M University in 1996.

“My favorite memory growing up as a Raider was the weekly pep rally,” Carmen said. “As I got older and became part of the pep rallies, I remember being so excited to carry on the traditions of those kids that went before me. I still love when everyone stands and sings Sunnyvale Our Sunnyvale together.”

“The Sunnyvale community made a huge impact on my life as a principal in so many ways,” she said. “I never expected to get more from a community than I gave as a principal. I can truly say that being in this district and in this community made me a better principal, mom, friend, and over all better person.”

In 1996, Carmen began a career in education that spanned over 20 years. She worked as a teacher in Mesquite ISD and later became a principal. In 2010, she returned to her roots and became the Sunnyvale Middle School principal.

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COUNTDOWN TO EARLY ADMISSION

My name is Karo Beazley Reese and I am a senior in the class of 2022! I truly believe that Sunnyvale has prepared me for the college admissions process in a way that has set me up for success. Here are some of the steps I’ve taken since my junior year to prepare:

• Nearing the end of my junior year, Mr. Mitchell set up a meeting for my class and our parents to give us an overview of what to expect senior year. This way, I was able to know what to prepare for.

• The summer going into my senior year was crucial in my college admissions process. I am so grateful that I took the time in the summer to prepare my applications so I didn’t have to worry about it during my busy senior year. As school approached, though, I was able to contact Mr. Mitchell whenever needed and he helped me out with any questions that I had!

• Along with being open to answering questions, Mr. Mitchell also set up college application workshops before school started where he was able to help out with navigating the application programs. Having some extra help before the school year is always appreciated!

• Once senior year got into full swing, we had another follow up class meeting about exact dates and topics like High School Project. Having those dates on mine and my parents’ calendars really helped us to feel ready for all the events.

• Another helpful resource that I discovered Mr. Mitchell offers is his web page on the SHS website. It has all the links I ever needed for any extra help with applications, and direct links to all the resources seniors need on Naviance. Having everything streamlined online for us is super useful!

• I also began to have one-to-one meetings with Mr. Mitchell during my senior year. I had so many questions to ask him, and he was great at answering every single one of them. I also met with him to check on all my supplementary materials, like my recommendation letters and transcripts, before he sent them in. I always left his office feeling so much more reassured about my process than I did before!

The main thing that Sunnyvale offers that has helped me the most is support. I applied to eleven schools, and at the end of my junior year I was terrified to dive into all the applications. But after help from teachers, administrators, and especially Mr. Mitchell, applying to college was made a whole lot less stressful. I know this is a time I will remember for the rest of my life, and I’m so grateful that SHS put me in the position to feel prepared for the application process and college itself!

A Q&A with Director of College and Career Readiness CLARK MITCHELL

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH SUNNYVALE HIGH SCHOOL AS THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DIRECTOR?

I am currently in my ninth year at Sunnyvale High School. My wife and I have two young Raiders, CJ in fifth grade and Ethan in second grade.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU OVERSEE AND THE WORK YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS?

As the Future Readiness Advisor, I work with students to discuss their plans for after high school. This varies from attending a twoyear or four-year college or a trade school, to joining a military branch, to going into the workforce. Each student has different goals and helping them find the right path to reach their goals is something I do not take lightly. I always let students and parents know that I will not make the decisions for the student, but I am there to assist in any way possible. Sometimes my role is to simply listen to the student and offer encouragement; other times my role is to offer suggestions of ways the student can reach their goals using an approach they had not thought of yet.

YOU HAVE A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF HELPING SHS SENIORS GET INTO COLLEGE. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?

I enjoy the opportunity to talk with students starting their freshman year and watch them grow during the high school years. As I talk with students and get to know them, it helps me have a better understanding of their future goals. Each student has different goals and may need different approaches to reach their goals. I aim to assist the student in determining the path that fits their needs while helping them reach their goals.

I have a meeting towards the end of the students’ junior year to start planning for the college application process during their senior year. This meeting offers recommendations of things the students can work on over the summer to get prepared for when applications open up. At the beginning of August, I host College Application Workshops. This is an open format that allows seniors to come and go as their schedule permits, to ask questions and work on their applications. Some students complete their application and submit it during the Application Workshops, while others use the time to get a jump start on their applications to submit during the fall semester.

Throughout the fall, I meet with students before, during, or after school, depending on what is best for each student, to help reduce their stress of finding time to get help. The application process is stressful for most seniors, but I am here to help as much as I can. Some students will come to my office frequently for assistance, while other students prefer to just email me. My advice to students and parents: the college application process is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush the process because it is easy to miss something if you are rushing.

DID YOU KNOW SISD GRADUATES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AT MORE THAN 250 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES? CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE LIST!

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