Retired Soldier Turned Educator Earns Top Killeen ISD Employee Honor

Mountain View Elementary School behavior management aide Julian Gibbs is a Killeen ISD STEEL Award winner for the month of January.?

In just two years in KISD, the 22-year U.S. Army retiree has made a huge impact.

“Julian Gibbs is an exceptional educator who combines deep compassion with a commitment to building meaningful relationships with all students,” said Mountain View Principal Christy Galloway.

“You understand the unique needs of each child and consistently create a positive and supportive environment where students feel valued and motivated to reach their full potential,” she said in the nomination.

“You set high expectations for every student, providing the guidance and support they need to strive for excellence. Your collaborative spirit and dedication to teamwork make you an invaluable asset to any educational team.”

A hard worker motivated to serve the community, Gibbs said he was retired from the military for about a week before he sought out a job as a substitute teacher in KISD.

After six months, the administration at Mountain View snatched him up and he has been a welcome addition with his compassionate support and discipline.

“I didn’t want to sit home. I had to figure out a way to serve the community,” he said, explaining his entrance into education.

“Help them understand this is a place of safety and love,” Gibbs said. “That’s what a lot of our kids need. That’s why we’re here.”

From the time students get off the bus, eat breakfast and get into school, the aide looks over students, ready to provide mentoring and listen to students’ needs.

“The most rewarding is seeing kids smile at the end of the day,” he said. “When they meet their parents or get on the bus, they say ‘I had a good day,’ I know you did. That’s what we do. We build positivity through math, science, music, whatever they like the most.”

He wants his students to know they are loved and to know that they need to get an education, while learning respect and kindness.

“We are working on tomorrow’s leaders,” he said.

“I felt honored,” he said of winning the STEEL Award. The former soldier said he has loved learning to work with students.

“I was shocked. I’m never looking for awards because we work as a team,” he said. “You have to do a lot of good things to stand out among your peers. I was excited we are doing something positive.”

The STEEL Award stands for Supporting the Education and Empowerment of Learners.?

School district administrators join campus leaders in surprising honorees with the honor based on nominations collected throughout the district.