TEXARKANA, Texas — Kristen Giles is settling in as the newly-hired principal of Pleasant Grove High School and she is looking to use her vast experience as an educator to advance the school forward in a new age of education.
Giles has been with the district for 27 years and most recently served as Pleasant Grove High's assistant principal.
From 2007-2018, Giles helped the district pass three bonds and founded an education foundation as the Director of Business and Community Partnerships. She has also served as Pleasant Grove Middle School assistant principal, an instructional technologist and a teacher for the district.
"It meant a lot to me because I consider PG my home," Giles said. "I went here from kindergarten through 12th grade, and I'm pretty sure I'm the first alumni to be a head principal here at Pleasant Grove. So, that's pretty exciting. I'm just honored to be here because my family and I love PG."
Transitioning from assistant principal to principal, Giles said she's looking to take a more hands-on approach with the students and faculty.
"I feel like it's been a pretty smooth transition," she said. "The staff knows me, and I feel like we had a great first day of school. It's definitely different because I feel more responsible for a larger part of the high school — not just my grade level. It's a much bigger role."
Giles said ensuring post-secondary success and expanding college and career readiness are two of her main goals to complete in her tenure as principal.
"I want every student who walks out this door when they graduate to feel like they are prepared," she said. "Whether it's going to college, going into the workforce, getting a job or going into the military, I want them to feel like they got the best education and they've had the best courses — all things they need to meet their goals of what they want to be.
"We want to add more structure and more communication for our students and parents. At eighth grade before they even get here, we want to start talking with students about — Do they want to go to college? What are their goals? — so we can meet that."
She said she also wants to put an emphasis on helping students find scholarships and getting them prepared to take the ACT by making them aware of these factors sooner than later.
Through her years at PG, Giles has had the opportunity to work with students of all ages, and she said the family-like atmosphere of the schools in the district is what gets her most excited about continuing her educational journey as the principal of PG High.
"I think what makes me passionate about education is the fact that I kind of view us as a team," she said. "When I was here in high school, I was an athlete, and some of my best memories were being a part of that team, being on the bus and just all those fun things. And I feel like as an educator, we are just one big team here to help these students. That gets me fired up about what our kids are able to accomplish with our support.
"And every staff member here plays an integral part. They truly enjoy working with our kids, and they want what's best for them. It's really like a family here."
Meet Kristen Giles, new principal at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana: 'I want every student who walks out this door when they graduate to feel like they are prepared' - Texarkana Gazette
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