Sledd departing CCISD for Waco ISD

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

During every Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees meeting, Communications Director Wendy Sledd usually facilitates the recognitions portion of the meeting during which students and district staff are recognized for their accomplishments. 

At Tuesday night’s meeting CCISD superintendent Joe Burns had an announcement of his own, that Tuesday was Sledd’s final board of trustees meeting. 

Burns said that when Sledd told him she would be leaving CCISD, it “sunk his ship,” and that she “has done a great job for the district and has set the pace for many public information officers and directors of communication across the state. She is a multiple winner of awards related to school public relations. 

“I don’t know how we would ever, ever, ever thank Wendy enough for the work that she’s done in Copperas Cove and the difference she’s made for our community, our students and for our staff. She will be dearly missed.”

Sledd’s last day with CCISD is July 31, and she will be starting her new role on August 1 as Communications Coordinator for the Waco Independent School District. 

Sledd began her journey with CCISD in July 2014 and prior to that worked as an award-winning  journalist. 

During her nine years at CCISD, Sledd received 120 Texas School Public Relations Association medals including two Crystal Awards of Merit and the association’s highest honor, a Crystal Commendation Award. 

She also received Mt. Hiram Masonic Lodge’s Bridge Builder Award, the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce YES award, Copperas Cove Chamber Volunteer of the Year, among other community awards.

While at CCISD, Sledd began the annual Stuff the Bus event held each August, Chocolate Fantasia to benefit Special Olympics, the homecoming dance for special education students, Paint the School/Town Orange Anti-Bullying Campaign, CCISD Employee of the Year Dinner, and revived the former CCISD Autism Awareness Walk. 

She also represented CCISD on both the United Way board and Lemonade Day board. 

This past year, CCISD raised a record high $53,604 for the United Way and also had 561 student entrepreneurs involved in Lemonade Day.

Sledd shared what her time at the district has meant to her.

“Very few people get to do what they love for a living! Getting to share the great stories of the incredible work of our students and staff has been a true blessing,” Sledd said. .”I will always be grateful to CCISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns and the CCISD Board of Trustees for the opportunity to work in such an amazing district. I will always have a fondness for CCISD and be a Bulldawg at heart! Go Dawgs!”