COPPERAS COVE - Multiple campuses in Bulldawg nation will have new leadership in the 2026-27 school year.
Tuesday evening, during its regular April meeting, the Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees heard the updated principal assignments for the 2026-27 school year.
Copperas Cove High School associate principal Jeff Shannon will assume the role of campus principal at CCHS, Fairview/Jewell Elementary principal Dr. Rebekah Shuck will take the lead at Copperas Cove Jr. High as principal and FJE assistant principal Vanessa Vazquez has been promoted to the principal role at the campus. Additionally, Heather Peacock has been named the principal at Clements/Parsons Elementary for next year and Robin Grabitz has been named the principal at Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy.
“We have a tremendous group of instructional leadership in Copperas Cove, and I strongly believe that these exceptional leaders will continue to have a positive impact on the students they work with every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “Being able to address these staffing needs without having to go outside of the district speaks to the strength of our team, and I am confident that with these leaders in their new posts, our students and our district will continue to thrive and Copperas Cove ISD will be positioned as a district of choice in central Texas.”
Shannon previously served as principal at Copperas Cove Jr. High, where he helped the campus implement the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program to improve campus culture and achieve consistent year-over-year academic growth. Ahead of Shannon’s final year at CCJHS, the campus only turned over three teaching positions thanks to this work.
Shuck has been principal at Fairview/Jewell Elementary since 2019, with Vazquez working alongside her as assistant principal since 2022. Under their joint leadership, Fairview/Jewell Elementary earned 21 out of a possible 24 distinction designations for exceptional achievements in certain areas. In 2022, the campus earned an “A” rating and has never been rated lower than a “B” under their watch, even with enhanced accountability standards from the TEA.
Grabitz joined the district in 2024 as principal at Clements/Parsons Elementary, where she helped grow the campus’ TEA accountability rating in her first year to an 88 with four academic distinction designations.
Peacock is completing her first year as a principal at Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy after serving as a longtime assistant principal across multiple CCISD campuses. Peacock has overseen the continued modernization of the district’s Pre-K program and the addition of multiple teachers to the Teacher Incentive Allotment, with more than 80% of MSELA teachers now holding an active TIA designation from the state.
This quintet of instructional leaders, which includes four Cove alumni, will assume their new positions in July.
The trustees also approved updates to staff salaries for next school year.
While RISE intern salaries will remain the same in 2026-27, classroom teachers who return to CCISD next year will receive a $500 retention stipend. All other employees in the district will receive a pay raise at three percent of their midpoint, with clerical and paraprofessional employee compensation seeing the greatest improvement and falling more in line with the district’s auxiliary compensation.
“I firmly believe that, as a district, we win and we lose with people,” Dr. Hawkins said. “In order for us to be the school district of choice, we need to make sure that we not only recruit the best of the best for our students, but that we keep them in Cove once they’re here. This approval from the trustees will allow us to continue improving how we make sure the very best are having a positive impact on our students.”
In line with the trustees’ approval Tuesday, CCISD teammates who are currently below 80% of the market wage for their position will be evaluated further for the district to align their salary with their years of service, certifications and education.
The board also approved a resolution in support of military-connected students and their families. This resolution cements CCISD’s efforts to meet the unique needs of military-connected families in school.
“It is an absolute honor to be able to serve the families who are serving us in the Armed Forces,” Dr. Hawkins said. “We understand these families face challenges that are unique to them and we want them to know we are committed to offering resources, services and programs that support their academic success, well-being and social-emotional development.”
The adopted resolution can be read in its entirety on the district website.
The trustees are next scheduled to hold a Special Called/Workshop Meeting at 5 p.m. May 11th in the board room, with its regular meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. May 12th. The regular May meeting will take place at Lea Ledger Auditorium on the Copperas Cove High School campus.
Agendas for each meeting are posted three business days before outside the District Service & Training Center on South Main Street. Once posted, they can be viewed online at www.CCISD.com/SchoolBoard.