Article By Greg Jaklewicz
It’s a new school year for the Wylie ISD, and it’s already gone South.
In this case, that’s a good thing.
When classes begin Aug. 12, the district will open its ninth campus - South Elementary, 5450 Beltway South. The new campus is west of the intersection of FM 89 and Beltway South.
It’s the first campus with a “south” designation. The district in 2018 crossed U.S. Highways 83/84 to build East Elementary and eventually East Intermediate and Junior High. Those campuses today pair with three West campuses. The other two WISD campuses are the Early Childhood Center/admin complex and, of course, Wylie High School.
The first principal at South Elementary is the appropriately named Alison South. Superintendent Joey Light has joked the school was named before she was even hired for her principal position.
Her response is that the school was named for her.
“Even though it has nothing to do with me,” she said, laughing.
South is one of several new leaders in the district. Others are:
TiAda Radke, who has taken over for Reagan Berry at the high school
Berry, who moved to the administration building to serve as the district’s first director of state and federal programs
Hillary Hernandez, now the principal at East intermediate
Liz Carey, now the principal at West Elementary. She was the spring semester principal at East Intermediate and takes over at West Elementary for Lisa Bessent, who retired
Ricky Bacon, who is assistant superintendent of school operations. Bacon has taken over for Craig Bessent, who retired.
Mike Eames, a former academic administrator who will assist Bacon as head of campus security.
Light said the changes highlight the trademark stability of the district.
“We’ve had such an unusual amount of stability that any change is noticeable. When Mrs. Bessent decided to retire, that kicked in Mr. Bessent to retire. That made several dominoes fall at the same time,” Light said.”I’d say it’s unusual for us because of the high degree of stability that we’ve had.”
Let’s break these changes.
South Elementary
There is such a thing as the new school smell. It permeates South Elementary, which is bright thanks to windows, space and white walls and floors accented by color.
The layout is divided by a spacious lunch area and the library. On the west side are grades K through second. On the east side are grades 3-5.
Littles and bigs, Principal South said of the distinction.
This is the only Wylie ISD campus with this many grade levels (6).
The older kids are the fifth-graders. Fifth grade exited the West Junior High campus, lessening the student load there. Instead of being the youngest kids on campus, still with playground privileges, they will be tasked with being the leaders on their new campus, South said.
“We want to build some leaders before they leave us,” South said.
South is an Albany High grad who has a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Angelo State and who attained her principal’s certification in 2019. Entering her 24th year in education, South has served at levels ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. Her focuses include reading, dyslexia and special education.
She was the assistant principal and counselor at East Junior High last year.
Son Canyon was a 2026 graduate, leaving as UIL state champion in prose interpretation. She has a sophomore, Cheyenne.
Husband Scott is a self-employed insurance agent, giving him time to drive a bus for the WISD.
“When I was a school counselor, I always thought I just wanted to be a school counselor,” she said. “It was something I was truly passionate about, but as I worked in the counseling world, you do pick up more administrative duties. As I did that, I thought it was something I’d be interested in.”
Light said South was the best hire beyond having the right name.
“We were so happy she was available,” he said. “She learned under Mr. (Jeff) Goodenough how a campus runs. She is the right person for the job.”
She was an assistant principal for four years before getting the South assignment.
Her assistant principal is Brittanie Burson, who has taught and was an AP at Mann Middle School in the Abilene ISD. They have worked together, thus making a good team, South said. The counselor is former teacher Kaylee Channell, new to that role.
“She is learning, like all of us are,”South said.
South’s strength?
“Building culture and loving kids,” she said.
This may be her last role in education, but, she admitted, it feels like a reboot. So many things are new again.
“This is my favorite job at Wylie,” she said.
The new principal is expecting a full house at South, which is the campus designated for Dyess AFB students. Enrollment is nearing 600, she said.
A week before the opening of school, work still was brisk at the campus, including its entryways.
“The biggest challenge is getting the school finished,” she said eight days before classes were to start. Second has been getting the right teachers in the right roles. Teachers came from East and West elementaries and West Junior High. They were taken from their school family, South said, and now have to start a new family at South.
“I think that was tough for some of them but now they are soaking it in and enjoying the new campus.”
Alison South
Transportation also has to be worked out because new routes are required.
South likes the lighting and big windows in the cafeteria, which will serve as a hub. It has a large TV and a great sound system, she said.
One feature of the school is a designated storm shelter. Signage directs those on campus to a safe place if, say, a tornado becomes a threat.
South likely has had more challenges opening a new campus, but one was unexpected.
The grade halls are accented by a color. For example, third grade is yellow-green.
The first grade accent was spink, South said.
“It was the prettiest pink bubblegum hallway,” she said, a bit sadly.
One person didn’t like it, and that happened to be … Mr. Light.
“Pepto Bismol” was his description of the color.
“Yeeeee, it was a little too much,” he said.
It was repainted maroon, though South got to keep the pink mini fridge in her office.
On the upside, maroon matches the primary color of their mutual alma mater, McMurry University.
“I know, I know, but it’s not nearly as pretty as the pink,” she said.
Never too early to prep the students for college, Light joked.
Ala cumba.
Wylie HIgh
There’s a new team leading the way at the high school. For the most part.
The duties may be different but the names are familiar.
Radke had been an assistant principal. Assisting her now are:
Gabriela Bundy, AP for seniors. Bundy is the senior member of the AP group, having taught everything from Spanish and dyslexia to economics and dual credits. The 2015-16 teacher of the year is in her sixth year as an AP. She headed juniors last year.
Randy Willis, juniors.
Amy Overton, sophomores
Dr. Denise Patton, freshmen
Radke is a 32-year educator and Wichita Falls Rider (now Memorial) graduate. She attended Midwestern there where she knew recently retired Craig Bessent. She competed in track and field in the discus, shot put, and javelin.
TiAda Radtke
She was a volleyball coach for 20-plus years.
Berry believes Radke will rock as principal.
“She brings a lot of experience, more experience in education than I have and more experience as an administrator than I had going into the principal role,” Berry said. “She has ideas from other places. She knows what has worked.
“When you come in from the outside, you can have a fresh set of eyes. There are wonderful things about the Wylie way, but there certainly are ways to improve. She may have fresh eyes on things that I didn’t see or areas that were not my focus.”
Light called Radke a “go-getter,” someone who commands in a command role.
“She doesn’t shy away from a challenge.”
Berry offices just up the street, so Radke is not on her own.
Radke said she is amazed by the “talented and smart” students that fill the high school halls.
She was doing all she could to make Day 1 go smoothly but it always is "organized chaos,” she said, laughing. “We’ll try to minimize as much of that as possible.”
Transportation and making sure freshmen survive the first day are priorities.
She has a freshman at WHS, Reid, who already is working out for football season.
Radke’s husband, Tim, is a Bulldogs assistant coach and head track coach.
What are her strengths?
“I will listen to any concerns and issues. I am open to changes,” she said.
Before school even began, she was working on the end of the school year. Wylie graduates at the Taylor County Expo Center May 21 but the Abilene Kennel Club’s annual dog show already is booked.
Would Bulldogs be bumped by Goldendoodles and terriers?
Welcome to being a principal.
West Elementary
Carey left and returned to her campus.
Light said he might have left her at West if they had known Lisa Bessent was going to retire. However, the experience at East Intermediate was beneficial and “she already has proven herself,” he said.
And she likes being at her school, which is important.
She was the assistant principal at West, then went to East Intermediate as principal for the spring semester when Bacon was tasked with district transportation duties. She returns to West Elementary as principal, overseeing grades K-second.
She taught first grade at West for five years and then was an assistant there for almost five more years.
She taught kindergarten for one year in San Angelo after graduating from Angelo State.
Principal, Liz Carey (Right)
Carey’s blood flows purple and gold.
Her mother, Jennifer Rapstine, taught second grade in the WISD, and her aunt, Diana Witherspoon, taught pre-K and first grade.
“We taught first grade together for one year,” Carey said.”It was fun.”
She attended Wylie schools from first grade through graduating. She was a member of the state champion volleyball team in 2013.
Carey was a virtual teacher during the COVID era.
At East Intermediate, she was the one everyone was looking toward to lead, she said.
“Guidance and comfort and all the things. You have to compartmentalize,” she said. “Making sure the students are getting what they need.
“Obviously, I love teaching. Just watching kids learn is amazing.But being able to help teachers be successful is what I really love to do. Curriculum is kind of my thing.”
A successful principal is being there for her staff, she said.
“Become a sounding board. I love hearing ideas from teachers because they are on the battleground. Sometimes, they have the best ideas,” Carey said.
She credits Lisa Bessent for preparing her for this role.
“She was a great mentor.”
East Intermediate
Hernandez was the assistant principal at East Elementary last year, her first year in the Wylie ISD. She came to the district from the Abilene ISD, where she was employed for 16 years.
“She really impressed us,” Light said. “She had previous experience but when the rubber met the road, she proved that experience was legit. She is going to be excellent.”
She taught first grade for 10 years, and then third grade before becoming an instructional coordinator for two years. Her next assignment was assistant principal at several campuses before moving to Wylie.
“What resonated with me was how welcoming it was, not just the campus but the district,” Hernandez said of her first year.”It made an impression on me that when I was in a meeting with other assistant principals that I was called by name. People knew who I was and where I was.
“That close family feel was a big takeaway but also the community in general. Parents quickly trusted me with the decisions I had to make in regards to behavior and discipline. Mostly it was the trust.”
Hernandez said the Wylie vibe is apparent on the east side, which is only eight years old. East Intermediate opened in January 2022.
“I think so,” she said. “Getting to know families here, it’s a good mix.”
Principal, Hillary Hernandez
This year should be more stable - the school had two principals last year. Hernandez is now the third in three semesters. She has met most of her teachers and staff, so she is motoring the learning curve. She was looking forward to meeting everyone when in-service began.
“I did meet-and-greet throughout the summer for them. It was optional but a lot of them took advantage of that and there were great conversations. ‘Here’s what we love about this campus,’ but ‘they had heard great things about me and were excited about the great things you’ll bring to the table.’
“Again, just that welcoming.”
Her goal as principal is to remain an advocate for students and teachers.
“It’s a role I take very seriously, that everyone’s voice is heard - students, parents, teachers. I want to be a problem-solver with everybody. To me, there’s not one way or the highway. There are different ways we can look at things.
“I want to be someone they can collaborate with.”
The Hernandez family has three youngsters in school - eighth-grade Levi, sixth-grader Maxtin and third-grader Ayla.
Campus operations
Bessent was with the district for 34 years and an assistant superintendent since 2009.
His job evolved to him carrying a big umbrella.
“Mr. Bessent did wear a lot of hats and to do everything he was doing with the knowledge he had,” Light said. Security, Light believed, needed its own leader.
The superintendent said that adding Eames, who has a strong public safety background, would allow Bacon to excel with the other duties the job requires.
“Everything he does, he does well,” Light said of Bacon. “We just didn’t want to put too much on his plate.”
Ricky Bacon
With both men on board, safety will continue to reign throughout the Wylie ISD.
“(Bacon) felt like that was best,” Light said.
As assistant superintendent of operations, Bacon oversees everything from getting the grass mowed and transportation needs are met to making sure safety procedures and education needs align and not conflict.
Bacon has traveled an interesting road since student teaching at Wylie just before 2000. That included overseeing transportation the first half of this year.
He was qualified to do that because during his student teaching, he also drove a bus.
He is a Hardin-Simmons graduate as a special education major and was on the JV basketball team there for a season before meeting a girl and eventually marrying.
“That changed everything,” he said, smiling.
He filled in as a coach the final three weeks of his student teaching - he had aspirations to do that, too. A WISD job opened that was coach/special ed and he seamlessly slid into his career.
Light was his principal at the time.
He enjoyed coaching and stayed with that while he attained his principal requirements. Bacon also worked with Phil Boone, currently principal of West Intermediate, when a new junior high opened, entering into administrative duties while coaching at the high school.
After longtime coach Hugh Sandifer retired, Bacon turned his attention to administrative jobs.
“I do miss coaching but I’m living through my son (Duncan), who is associate director of operations for the Texas Tech men’s basketball team,” he said. Duncan is a Wylie grad; daughter Makinlee also is a WHS graduate.
Dad’s timing was right because the district was opening new campuses and needed new leaders. Bacon had five-six years of assistant principal experience.
He was named principal of East Intermediate when it opened in 2022.
Bacon stayed there until January, when he took over transportation.
Adding to his resume was being in the second school marshal class. At the time, the job was not specialized; selected teachers, coaches, and administrators filled the role. He also has been an alert level trainer and learned how to do facility audits.
“That is where some of my safety background comes from,” Bacon said.
There are many duties under this umbrella and with the retirement of Bessent, who initiated many programs, it was decided that Bacon would get some help. He joked that Bessent’s boots were so big to fill, it takes two people.
Bacon’s strength is his education background and how operations and security fit into daily campus life.
“We don’t want to turn public schools into prisons,” he said. “But safety is our No. 1 priority. We now have nine campuses, and the community needs to know we have a situation where their kids are safe.
“Second is what goes on in the classroom. That’s my perspective.”
His sidekick, Eames, brings a previous public safety background, so the dynamic duo was formed.
“It was time for a change, to have someone over safety and security,” Bacon said.
Eames has been a school marshal for eight years, and most recently has been housed at Early Childhood.
Eames was a firefighter/paramedic for 18 years in Dickinson, on the Texas Gulf Coast. There, he would become a behavior coach.
He moved with his wife, Jennifer, to Abilene 10 years ago; she now is a physician assistant with the Veterans Administration.
He started a behavior program (SOAR) at West Junior HIgh in 2016 and did that for three years before becoming assistant principal at East Junior high. He left that role for his new duties.
Eames said safety works better as a combination of being seen, and not being seen.
“Students need to feel safe and parents feel they are safe. I think Wylie does a great job.”
Eames’ job is “to continue the legacy that Mr. Bessent created. I think there is nothing better than to build upon the foundation that he has built. I’ve seen the inner workings of the requirements that are needed and where we need to go.
“It is an honor to follow him.”
State and federal programs
Berry has launched into her 12th year with the Wylie ISD. She was the principal at the high school for four years - the first woman in that role.
She was hired to teach business for the 2015-2016 school year.. In the background, she was working on her principal's certification. She was in the last year of that process.
Berry was named an assistant principal for the 2019-20 school year, teaching a half-day and handling administrative duties the other half.
Reagan Berry
She became the principal in 2022, when Tim Smith retired.
“I loved the hustle and bustle of it,” she said of her time as principal. “Every day was interesting. You never knew what to expect.
“I loved forming relationships with families and parents. And, of course, helping our teachers.”
Her new job is intended to help teachers, too.
There is money out there - be it Texas or nationally - that is available to school districts. It’s a matter of seeking that to see if a check can be put in the mail to 6251 Buffalo Gap Road.
“She’s a veritable cash machine,” Light said. “When she sets her mind to something, she usually is very successful.
Wylie is a growing district with expanding demographics. Berry graduated from Kermit High School, 225 miles west of Abilene, with 104 in her class. Wylie last spring graduated 347 students;
Kermit High has just under 400 students, total, and is firmly a Class 3A school. Wylie is moving up in Class 5A with more than 5,500 students .
Berry now lives in an environment of change, and change has to be addressed positively.
It was determined that Wylie needed “an intentional focus on more support for our students and our families,” Berry said.
The state has set forth its requirements for districts, she said, but “there are opportunities to go after further support. Without this position, nobody really has the time or the capacity to do that.
“Adding this position allows us to find more good for our families.”
For the district, it’s the financial benefit through grants and how to capitalize on those grants, even the ones we already receive. Are we missing some pieces in that? For the families, it’s more services. We added a Head Start program. That’s an example of a federal program that we added just this year.
“Our demographics have shifted even the 11 years that I’ve been here.”
That opens the door for opportunity to address the new necessities.
Because of Wylie’s tax base, the district doesn’t receive the funding that some may think it does
“We never fall into the right formula,” she said.”Because of our revenue from the state, we would struggle to provide these services.
“It’s imperative that we find and go after some of these grants.”
Berry is adjusting. She is not running around trying to get a new school years started - prepping a building, hiring new teachers, welcoming new families, setting schedules. It’s a very different feeling, but I am excited for the new school year.
“I can feel the buzz.”