Hi, I’m
Heather Kukuk
Award-Winning Educator • AI Integration Advocate • Instructional Leader • Aspiring School Administrator
Arlington,TX
Not caring what other people think is the best choice you will ever make.
Heather Kukuk
Summary
Award-winning educator and instructional leader passionate about AI integration, innovative teaching, and educator growth. As the 2025 ATPE Secondary Educator of the Year and Arlington ISD Wall of Fame honoree, I design engaging learning experiences that prepare students for the future while mentoring teachers and leading professional initiatives. I aspire to transition into campus administration to expand my impact through servant leadership, innovation, and strong school culture.
Overview
14
years of professional experience
7
years of post-secondary education
3
Certificates
1
Language
Certification
Principal (Grades EC-12)
Accomplishments
- 2026 AWARE Foundation Semi-Finalist (in process)
- 2025 Arlington ISD Wall of Fame
- 2025 ATPE Charles Pickitt Texas Educator of the Year
- 2025-2026 Leadership ATPE
- 2025-2026 ATPE President
- 2024-Current AISD Financial Futures Committee
- 2024 ATPE Vice President AISD
- 2022 ATPE Regional Teacher of the Year
- 2021-2022 LEAP program completion (Leadership Excellence for Aspiring Principals)
- 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year for Shannon/DAEP in Birdville ISD
- 2020-2021 Touch of Class – “for making a difference in the lives of others”
- 2021 Certificate of Congratulations from the Senator
- 2021 Certificate of Congratulations from the State of Texas House of Representatives
- 2020 Teaching Superstar, awarded by Governor Greg Abbott
Work History
Arlington ISDArlington, TX
Creative Writing Teacher
08.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Elevated student performance by incorporating various teaching techniques tailored to individual learning styles.
- Enhanced students'' writing skills by providing constructive feedback and guidance on their work.
- Collaborated with fellow educators to develop interdisciplinary projects, enriching the overall curriculum.
- Developed strong relationships with students, fostering a positive learning environment and promoting creativity.
Shannon High School/DAEP, Birdville ISDHaltom City, TX
Acting Administrator, Department Head
08.2021 - Current
Job overview
- Work directly with principal and executive director of student services to ensure DAEP program runs efficiently.
- Supervise, assess, and mentor teachers and paraprofessionals.
- Conduct intakes for new students and parents.
- Create PowerPoint presentations and Zoom training videos.
- Collected, validated, and distributed information to employees.
- Set academic and behavioral standards for all students.
- Developed and implemented plans to minimize misbehavior and maximize learning.
- Handled disciplinary referrals with calm, logical approach to student behavior.
- Cultivated collaborative, performance-oriented culture to keep team motivated and enthusiastic about achieving shared goals.
- Create effective schedules and delegating work based on personnel strengths and knowledge.
- Work with other staff members to determine instructional goals according to district's mission and continuous improvement plan.
- Conduct PLC meetings and record minutes.
- Create spreadsheets and modules to assist teachers with daily tasks such as collecting data for attendance, student schedule forms, and disciplinary record forms for students.
Shannon High School/DAEP, Birdville ISDHaltom City, TX
Reading Interventionist, English Teacher, Mentor
08.2018 - Current
Job overview
- Input new students into programs that DAEP utilizes so that all teachers can ensure success for every student.
- Communicate regularly with parents and other staff members, including teachers and principals at all schools in district.
- Use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, equipment, and technology to support other teachers with implementing their lessons with students in DAEP.
- Work cooperatively with special education teachers to modify curricula as needed for special education students according to guidelines established in individual Education Plans (IEP).
- Participate in intake meetings with new students, going over rules and procedures of DAEP.
- Actively monitor students by walking around and using GoGuardian to ensure students are on task.
- Assess accomplishments of students on regular basis and provide progress reports.
- Be positive role model for students that support mission of school district.
- Create classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for physical, social, and emotional development of students.
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to adapt to changes in regular school day.
- Establish discipline management plan, maintain effective classroom management, and administer discipline in accordance with board policies, administrative regulations, and DAEP rules and regulations.
- Manage student behavior in accordance with Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
- Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
- Administer standardized and other tests as required.
- Created lessons based off of school's chosen reading program.
- Collaborated with teachers to assess needs, set objectives, and discuss strategies.
- Gathered, organized, and analyzed data on student needs and progress.
- Interpreted student assessment data to ascertain best intervention methods.
- Assessed, documented, and reported student progress with established goals.
- Implemented tracking tools to evaluate successes and areas in need of improvement.
- Promoted love of reading and literacy to all students.
- Created tools for instruction and behavioral support.
- Helped students prepare for standardized tests and reviewed results against objectives after completion.
- Supervised small reading groups of students.
- Contacted parents to discuss student progress and notify about class issues.
- Enhanced knowledge by attending training and adopting new technologies.
- Created positive and engaging environment in classroom that encouraged literacy skills.
- Affirmatively communicated and promoted positive attitude with each and every student.
- Mentored students by checking in on them, monitoring their grades in all classes, and supporting them emotionally or providing resources to support them.
Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie ISDGrand Prairie, TX
English Language Arts & Reading Teacher
08.2015 - 08.2018
Job overview
- Collaborate with colleagues in PLC and Team meetings and consulted with teachers in other disciplines to identify and adopt successful instructional strategies.
- Created and planned dynamic lessons to increase student comprehension of TEKS.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Kept high classroom management standards, which includes having organized, clean, and safe classroom environment for students and visitors.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
- Explored and implemented innovative use of technology in language education.
- Co-sponsor S.I.S.T.E.R.S. Club (Sacrificing Individually So That Everyone Reaches Success)
- Created mini-curriculum with lessons for after school program, STAAR/EOC Academy, which offered tutoring for students (re-testers of EOC) three days per week.
Sam Houston High School, Arlington ISDArlington, TX
English Language Arts & Reading Teacher
08.2012 - 06.2015
Job overview
- Collaborate with colleagues in PLC and Team meetings.
- Created and planned dynamic lessons to increase student comprehension of TEKS.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Kept high classroom management standards, which includes organized, clean, and safe classroom environment for students and visitors.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
Education
University of North TexasDenton, TX
Master of Education from Educational Leadership
08.2015 - 05.2016
The University of Texas At ArlingtonArlington, TX
Master of Education from Mind, Brain, And Education
08.2013 - 05.2015
The University of Texas At ArlingtonArlington, TX
Bachelor of Arts from English
08.2007 - 05.2010
Tarrant County CollegeArlington, Tx
Associate of Arts from Basic Studies
08.2005 - 05.2007
Skills
Curriculum Design and Development
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Framework
Student Centered Learning
Strategic planning
Project Management
Administrative support
Performance improvement
Behavior Management
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Group facilitation and presentations
Policy development and enforcement
Common Core learning standards
Instructional leadership
Verbal and written communication
College Awards/Honors
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (Tarrant County College SE)
- Dean’s List (Tarrant County College SE/University of Texas at Arlington)
- Order of Omega Honor Society (University of Texas at Arlington)
- ΓΣΑ - Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society (University of Texas at Arlington)
Campus Organizations
- ΔΑΣ - Delta Alpha Sigma Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (Pledge Director)
- Multi-cultural Greek Council (Community Service Chair)
- E.S.A - English Student Association (President)
- A.M.A.S. - Association of Mexican-American Students
- P.A.L.s - Peer Assistance and Leadership
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Timeline
Creative Writing Teacher
Arlington ISD
08.2023 - Current
Acting Administrator, Department Head
Shannon High School/DAEP, Birdville ISD
08.2021 - Current
English as a Second Language Supplemental
02-2019
Reading Interventionist, English Teacher, Mentor
Shannon High School/DAEP, Birdville ISD
08.2018 - Current
Principal (Grades EC-12)
11-2016
University of North Texas
Master of Education from Educational Leadership
08.2015 - 05.2016
English Language Arts & Reading Teacher
Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie ISD
08.2015 - 08.2018
The University of Texas At Arlington
Master of Education from Mind, Brain, And Education
08.2013 - 05.2015
English Language Arts & Reading Teacher
Sam Houston High School, Arlington ISD
08.2012 - 06.2015
English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 8-12)
05-2010
The University of Texas At Arlington
Bachelor of Arts from English
08.2007 - 05.2010
Tarrant County College
Associate of Arts from Basic Studies
08.2005 - 05.2007