INSIDE DSISD

Dripping Springs ISD is excited to announce the appointment of Melissa Oliver, the current assistant principal of Rooster Springs Elementary, as the new campus principal. Principal Oliver’s appointment was announced following the March 31 Board of Trustees meeting.

For the past two years, Mrs. Oliver has served as assistant principal for the Belterra neighborhood school. Known for her dedication and results-oriented approach, she has built a strong reputation for promoting academic excellence, cultivating a positive school culture, and providing effective instructional leadership.

“We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Mrs. Oliver from assistant principal to principal of Rooster Springs,” commented Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz. “Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep commitment to student growth, and a tireless dedication to the students, staff, and Rooster Springs community. Mrs. Oliver is a strong leader and we are confident that her leadership will take the campus to new heights of success and achievement.”

Before joining Dripping Springs ISD, Mrs. Oliver spent nine years at Kocurek Elementary in Austin. She served as an instructional coach and academic interventionist for three years and spent six years in the classroom as a fifth grade ESL teacher. Mrs. Oliver succeeds Steve Novickas, who recently transitioned to open DSISD's newest elementary school, Wildwood Springs.

Mrs. Oliver earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from WGU Texas and a Master of Education Administration from Concordia University, Nebraska.

The Dripping Springs High School Hi-Steppers (varsity) and Dazzlers (junior varsity) dance teams each captured national titles at the 2025 Crowdpleasers National Showcase, held from March 28-30 at the Galveston Island Convention Center.

The Hi-Steppers earned top honors in the Medium Team Division (20-29 members) and secured second place overall. The squad were crowned national champions in contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, and pom within their division, and placed first among all divisions in hip-hop and second in contemporary and pom.

The Hi-Steppers officer quartet of Molly Blackmon, Kay Elliott, Sophie Gammill and Stella Rios also brought home several awards. They won the Medium Division title and placed third overall, finishing first in their division for jazz, lyrical, and open categories.

Meanwhile, the Dazzlers were named Large Team (20+ members) National Champions, also taking first place in jazz, pom, and contemporary dances.

The Dazzlers officer trio consisting of Hannah Link, Mackenzie Sullivan and Ivy Williamson finished third with their performance.

Additionally, Rios (7th place) and Riley Solberg (2nd place) earned recognition for their solo performances.

Dripping Springs Elementary fourth-grader Elise Acosta has been selected as a finalist in the National PTA Reflections Program after earning an Overall Award of Excellence from the Texas PTA for her music composition piece, “Perfectly Imperfect”.

Acosta is just the fourth Dripping Springs ISD student, and first since 2017, to advance to the National PTA Reflections Contest.

The National PTA Reflections Program encourages students of all ages and abilities to submit original works of art in the medium of their choice, reflecting on a specific theme. This year’s theme was “Accepting Imperfection”. Student work is submitted in one of six categories and evaluated based on artistic merit, creativity, mastery of the medium, and interpretation of the theme. Overall Award of Excellence recipients at the state level advance to the national level for judging, with results announced on May 1.

Acosta will also be recognized at the Texas PTA Reflections Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 3 at St. Edward’s University in Austin.

The Dripping Springs High School FIRST Robotics team, The Spring Konstant, has advanced to the UIL FIRST Division State Championship. For the second consecutive year, The Spring Konstant won the most prestigious award in FIRST Robotics by capturing the FIRST Impact Award at the district contest.

The FIRST Impact Award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders.

Below is what the judges said about the The Spring Konstant's impact and message of STEAM education.

"Every Impact Award winner can tell a great story but this team crafted theirs with rhyme and reason. Their story is one that covers not just their local impact, but a book (Mission Un-Impossible) that has gone global in 5 languages total! They are a team with a Spring in their step, The Spring Konstant."

The Spring Konstant is competing this week at the state championship in Houston.

DSISD will host two Community Information Sessions on the 2025 Bond on Wednesday, April 9 in the Center for Learning & Leadership. A morning session (9:30 - 10:30 AM) and evening session (6:00 - 7:00 PM) will be offered for DSISD stakeholders. The sessions will include a presentation by Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn and Chief Operating Officer Scott Berry. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the session.