Kreymer Elementary Celebrates Dedication Ceremony

The cafeteria at the district’s newest campus was filled with excitement and pride as the Wylie community gathered for the Kreymer Dedication Ceremony Oct. 6.

More than 200 guests were greeted with sweet treats and other goodies reflecting the spirit of the school. The 544 Café culinary students baked cookies bearing the kangaroo mascot. Blue and yellow M&Ms, kangaroo stickers, keychains, and water bottles were all on hand to celebrate not only a new building, but Wylie ISD’s ongoing story of growth, community, and tradition.

“We were thrilled to have such a high attendance from our Wylie community to dedicate our campus to pursuing exceptional academic levels of learning for Wylie ISD,” Kreymer Principal Vanessa Hudgins said. “It is a tremendous honor and privilege to lead with our Kreymer staff, students, and community on behalf of the Kreymer family.”

Acting Superintendent Dr. Kim Spicer began the ceremony with a warm welcome and opening remarks.

“It is such a joy to see this school filled with students and staff,” Dr. Spicer said. “We watched this project come to life brick by brick, and now it’s so exciting to celebrate together in this beautiful building.”

Wylie East High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC, under the direction of Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Colonel Brooks McFarland and Aerospace Science Instructor Senior Master Sergeant Cassandra Lenz, presented the colors as attendees stood for the National Anthem.

The Wylie East Air Force Junior ROTC is under the command of Cadet Colonel Samuel Buck. The Detail Commander and presenting the American Flag was Cadet Reyhan Vanli. Presenting the Texas Flag was Cadet Paige Potter. Escorting the colors were the guards, Cadet Buck and Cadet Wyatt Gibson.

Wylie ISD School Board President Dr. Jacob Day echoed Dr. Spicer’s excitement, highlighting the milestone the evening represented.

“It has been nearly a decade since Wylie ISD last opened a new school,” Dr. Day said. “This building is not just a new campus, but a symbol of our community’s continued growth, our commitment to children, and our vision for the future of Wylie ISD.”

Dr. Day also thanked the district’s operations team, Nathan Watson, Gary Barnhill, and Brian Burkhart, as well as PBK Architects and Pogue Construction, for their seamless collaboration and leadership throughout the project.

The highlight of the evening was hearing the Kreymer family’s story from Wylie ISD School Board Secretary and Kreymer family member, Kylie Reising. She shared the story of her family’s deep roots in Wylie and the legacy of her great-great-grandfather, Dr. G.C. Kreymer.

“The Kreymer name represents family, service, education, and community,” Reising said. “These are values that we hope will inspire you each day as you learn, grow, and work together on this campus.”

She recounted how Dr. Kreymer, born in 1841, was the town’s first doctor and one of the founding figures of Wylie ISD. In 1904, he traveled with Frank Birmingham to Austin, where they met with legislators and together established the Wylie Independent School District.

“This was not just an administrative act, but a defining moment in our community’s history,” Reising said. “Their work laid the foundation for the district we know and love today, one that continues to serve thousands of students and families with the same spirit of dedication and service that Dr. Kreymer embodied.”

Dr. Kreymer’s compassion, service, and dedication to education left an endearing mark on the community.

“Without his vision and leadership, the Wylie ISD we are so proud of may never have come to be,” she said. “On behalf of the entire Kreymer family, thank you for recognizing our history in this way. We are proud to know that generations of Wylie children, supported by dedicated teachers and staff, will learn and grow at Kreymer Elementary.”

Hudgins then took the stage to celebrate her staff then introduced Dr. Christopher Kreymer.

Chris explained the name of the school’s new mascot, Lou-Lou the Kangaroo, a name honoring Neva Lou Kreymer, the family’s great-grandmother, who believed deeply in the power of education to shape every child’s future.

After Lou-Lou stepped out to greet the audience, fourth-grade students took the stage to proudly perform the school song, The Kanga Hop, for the very first time.

Next, the Kreymer family, Kreymer administration, local dignitaries, City of Wylie Councilman Todd Pickens, PBK Architects, Pogue Construction officials, district leadership, and the School Board filled the stage for the much-anticipated ribbon-cutting.

Ending the celebration, guests were invited to tour the building while children enjoyed rock painting and face painting hosted by Wylie East student organizations.

“We aspire to create kind hearts, curious minds, and a level of personal excellence to last a lifetime,” Hudgins said. “We hope this aligns with the values that the Kreymers embrace, as we are all rooted together in love.”

The dedication celebrated a legacy of service, education, and community that continues to define Wylie ISD.

“Tonight is about more than a building,” Dr. Day said. “Every classroom is already shaping futures. Every hallway is alive with laughter and curiosity. That is what this school is truly about: creating a place where children feel valued, teachers can inspire, and families feel they belong.”