The decision, if approved following the required 21-day waiting period, will move Dr. Battershell from her former Class 2A Salado school district to Temple’s Class 5A district.
At that time, as Temple ISD’s new superintendent, Dr. Battershell will start visiting with the different department heads, principals and community leaders to begin what she calls “assessing.”
“I’ll just start putting names and faces together,” she said. “I’ll start assessing, looking for strengths and things that are really good in Temple.”
Dr. Battershell listed the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and fine arts programs as particular strengths within the Temple ISD.
“My husband and I just drove around Temple and looked at all the schools,” she said. “I just saw all the things that the community already has to be proud of. The exteriors are really beautiful, with new gyms, new playgrounds and new paint. The facilities are really well maintained, with gardens, even. There are teachers that care and parent volunteer groups. There are some rare things that Temple really has to be proud of, some really great things.”
Dr. Battershell accepted that there will also be plenty of challenges to face and “assess.”
“But I’m going in with a blank slate,” she said. “I’m going in to learn. Obviously, I’m in a learning mode. When you’ve been to five colleges (like Battershell’s Texas Tech, University of Houston, University of Texas, Tarleton State University and Baylor University), then you’re always in a learning mode! But I’ve learned not to do knee-jerk reactions. I try to take my time and really get to know people. So that’s what I’m gonna do.”
In addition to her experience in Salado, Dr. Battershell has worked in Killeen, Pasadena, Houston, and a few other places - varied districts both large and small.
“And I think that’s a good thing,” she said. “Some things will be different in Temple. But some of the things that we’ve done in Salado and elsewhere will also work here. The things that have worked in previous districts, well, they’re all the same. You’ve got to get to know people. You’ve got to find a very distinct purpose.”
That purpose for Dr. Battershell - at least until this current school year ends - will be to make the transition for both Temple and Salado school districts as smooth as possible.
“We’re gonna work together so that there’s a smooth transition both in Temple and Salado, because we really can’t afford to do anything else,” she said. “The kids are counting on us, you know.”
In addition to the children of Temple and Salado, Battershell also has three children of her own - a set of twin girls and one son, all in their 20s. And she relates her role as superintendent to her more innate role of motherhood.
“There are systems in the school districts just like there are systems in our homes with our families,” she said. “We have systems to get things accomplished. It’s not always flashy, but it works. You look for the good things and try to duplicate them. Then, you assess the challenges.”
Battershell, now a seasoned veteran of Texas education, grew up in Waco and ultimately received her doctorate of education from Baylor University.
Her parents still live near Waco and own a farm with “cattle, a fishing hole and all that stuff,” Battershell said. “But, as I said last night, I’m really honored to have been selected. I’m gonna work hard because, at heart, I’m just an old farm girl. And I love the kids.”
