The Aug. 8 dedication ceremony of McKinney Elementary School was a time for memories, laughter, and anxious new students to see their future school.
After beginning her career in Houston ISD, McKinney moved to Aledo and taught first grade at what was then the only elementary campus in the school district. Since then, she taught multiple grades, became elementary school vice-principal, vice-principal, and then Aledo High School principal, where she was voted Region 11 Outstanding Secondary Principal of the Year. She was later assistant superintendent of curriculum and served her last 12 years as deputy superintendent before retiring in 2023.
In introducing the person of honor, husband Randal McKinney, who is also a retired AISD educator, told the crowd in attendance of the fateful day when the two met at a Jack in the Box on Highway 80.
“I just walked over there and introduced myself, and the rest is history,” he recalled.
Aledo ISD Board of Trustees president Forrest Collins was among the administrators and staff honoring Lynn McKinney and thanking the community for the new building.
“I know this took a lot of hard work and many conversations, but this is a place we can be proud of,” Collins said. “We hope this school serves the community and is a home away from home for all the students.”
Lynn McKinney recognized some of the many people she worked with, telling anecdotes and amusing stories and expressed her gratitude for being the namesake of the 107,000 square foot campus. The school can accommodate 889 students grades K-5.
“What a humbling experience it is to have such a beautiful building named after me,” she said. “And when you tour the building in a few minutes, be sure to notice the most fun colors throughout the building.”
Every day was an opportunity to brighten students' days, according to McKinney. In spite of occasional difficult times, urgent decisions, and long hours, she tried to look for the positive in each situation and make the job a joy for those around her.
“I never really knew what each day was going to bring,” she recalled. “And really, you can’t get more fun than that.
McKinney said her most joyous memory is handing the diplomas to her students as they cross the stage during graduations.
The two -tory campus is laid out in suites, with a common area for each grade accessing separate classrooms. Older grades are upstairs and younger on the first floor. Bathrooms and a teachers’ resource room are in each suite.
New fourth-grader Eesa Nawabi toured the building with his family. His interest with the building was more about accommodation than education.
“I am really excited about the common rooms because each grade is going to have their own bathrooms,” Eesa said. “We can have our own area and our own space.”
Second-grader Jameson Wortsman found it easy to articulate his excitement as he climbed the soft and colorful seating in his common area.
“This is great!” he smiled. “This is really great!”
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