At Granbury ISD, leadership takes many forms, from supporting teachers and strengthening instruction to building a campus where students and families feel connected. This month’s Leading with Purpose: TeamGISD Leadership Stories features Karla Willmeth, Director of Teaching & Learning, and Angie Payne, Assistant Principal at Acton Middle School. Their stories reflect the lasting impact of investing in others and leading with service.
Leading with Purpose: TeamGISD Leadership Stories is a monthly feature recognizing leaders from across Granbury ISD who are making a meaningful impact on students, staff, and our community. Through their unique journeys, experiences, and leadership philosophies, these stories celebrate the people who help make TeamGISD a place where students and employees can thrive.
Karla Willmeth | Director of Teaching & Learning
Karla Willmeth’s leadership journey was not one she mapped out from the beginning. She began her career with a deep love for the classroom, but along the way, others recognized in her a capacity to lead, encourage, and develop those around her. Their investment helped shape a career that has now come full circle, because today, Karla finds her greatest purpose in doing the same for others.
Now in her 30th year in education and her 25th year as part of TeamGISD, Karla serves as Director of Teaching & Learning.
Karla spent 13 years in the classroom, including five years as head women's gymnastics coach at Abilene High School. Some of her earliest lessons about leadership came from athletics, where coaching taught her to develop individuals, build relationships, create a shared vision, and lead through both success and adversity. Her own high school and college coaches were early influences, modeling discipline, accountability, and perseverance.
After joining Granbury ISD, Karla continued to lead from within the classroom. At Granbury Middle School, colleague Kristie Berryman persistently encouraged her to pursue a master's degree in educational leadership. Karla wasn't convinced. She was fulfilled as a teacher leader, but looking back, she is grateful Kristie saw possibilities she had not yet envisioned for herself.
That step opened the door to new opportunities. As an ELA Department Head, Karla discovered how much she enjoyed motivating adults, building collaborative teams, and helping colleagues improve their practice. Later, as an Instructional Specialist, she supported teachers across grade levels and campuses.
Karla began to realize that leadership wasn't a departure from what she loved about teaching. It was an extension of it, allowing her to help educators grow and, through them, positively influence even more students.
"I believe leadership is not about the title you hold, but the impact you have on others."
As Karla moved into campus administration, mentors continued to shape her development. Former GISD administrator and assistant superintendent Jimmy Dawson modeled the servant leadership that would become central to Karla's own approach.
At Acton Elementary, Principal Anna Roe gave Karla the opportunity to learn leadership by doing it. Anna trusted her with meaningful responsibilities and created space for Karla to grow through experience.
In 2015, while serving as an assistant principal, Karla was named the Region 11 Assistant Principal of the Year. While proud of the recognition, she sees it as a reflection of more than her own work, the collective efforts of the students, teachers, staff, and leaders she had the privilege of serving alongside.
Those experiences and opportunities prepared Karla to step confidently into the principal role at Acton when Anna was ready for her next chapter.
Karla's journey eventually gave her experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels before she transitioned into district administration, deepening her understanding of the needs and opportunities across a school system.
As her work became increasingly focused on teaching and learning, Stacie Brown became another important influence. Karla credits Stacie's instructional expertise with challenging her to think deeply about teaching, learning, and the impact strong instructional leadership has on student success.
Today, developing others remains at the heart of Karla's work. Her philosophy is grounded in servant leadership, building trust, fostering relationships, supporting others, and creating an environment where people feel valued and empowered. Capturing Kids' Hearts further strengthened her commitment to relationships, trust, and service.
A quote from Pete Hoekstra captures the philosophy she has carried throughout her leadership journey: "Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people they lead."
For Karla, three decades in education have reinforced that success is not ultimately about what a leader accomplishes personally.
"There is no greater joy than helping others grow."
Whether coaching an athlete, teaching a student, supporting a colleague, leading a campus, or working alongside educators at the district level, Karla has found the greatest fulfillment in watching others develop confidence, discover new strengths, and accomplish things they may not have believed were possible.
That commitment to growth also shapes what she hopes for TeamGISD. Karla believes every position in education ultimately exists to support student success, requiring everyone, from the classroom to the district office, to continually learn and improve.
"When we commit to getting better each day, our students reap the benefits."
After 25 years in Granbury ISD, Karla says the family atmosphere and genuine care people have for one another remain among the things she values most about TeamGISD. She sees teachers and staff consistently going above and beyond for students and remains deeply committed to the district's success.
Outside of school, Karla's greatest blessing is her family. She and her husband have been married for 31 years, and she treasures time with their adult children. She also enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
Thirty years into a career in education, Karla's path has taken her farther than she imagined. Along the way, coaches, colleagues, mentors, and leaders invested in her, challenged her, trusted her, and helped her recognize her capacity to lead.
Today, she strives to offer that same gift to others, helping people grow, recognize their potential, and become the best versions of themselves. For Karla, that is not simply part of leadership. It is the purpose of it.
Angie Payne | Assistant Principal, Acton Middle School
For Angie Payne, leadership has never been about a title. It's about serving others, building meaningful relationships, and creating a school community where students, staff, and families feel connected, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Now entering her 17th year in education and her 10th year as part of TeamGISD, Angie serves as assistant principal at Acton Middle School. Her journey into leadership began while she was still in the classroom, where she discovered that some of her greatest fulfillment came not only from teaching students, but from supporting the growth of those around her.
"As a classroom teacher, I was given many opportunities to serve in leadership roles, and through those experiences I discovered that leadership is a true passion of mine. Having the opportunity to make a positive impact beyond the walls of my classroom and contribute to the success of our entire school community brought me great joy."
Encouragement from former principals helped shape that passion into a calling. They challenged Angie to step outside of her comfort zone and pursue leadership, allowing her to see firsthand how campus leaders influence not only students, but the culture and success of an entire school community.
Throughout her teaching career, Angie was known for bringing creativity and innovation into the classroom. Sharing instructional strategies through campus and district professional learning became one of the experiences that confirmed her desire to lead.
"Having the opportunity to share these ideas through professional development at both the campus and district levels inspired me to lead on a daily basis and reinforced my desire to support the growth and success of both students and educators."
That commitment to supporting educators continues to define her leadership today. Angie believes that investing in teachers is one of the greatest ways to impact students because every improvement in teaching creates new opportunities for learning.
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, a belief that leaders exist to serve those around them with integrity, empathy, and purpose. Whether working alongside teachers, partnering with families, or supporting students through challenges, Angie strives to put the needs of others first while empowering them to reach their full potential.
One principle guides nearly every conversation and decision Angie makes: "Clear is kind." Inspired by Brené Brown, Angie believes transparency is one of the greatest gifts a leader can offer. She knows that clear, honest communication builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates a culture of accountability. Even when conversations are difficult, she believes people deserve clarity because it demonstrates respect and helps everyone move forward together.
Among the accomplishments she is most proud of is creating memorable experiences for students while intentionally sharing those moments with families and the broader community. She believes schools should be places where students are excited to learn and families feel connected to their children's daily experiences.
By celebrating student success, highlighting engaging learning, and inviting families into the life of the school, Angie has helped strengthen the partnership between home and school while creating a greater sense of pride throughout the campus community.
Another lesson that has shaped Angie's leadership is the importance of thoughtful reflection. She has learned that the best decisions are rarely made in moments of heightened emotion. Instead, she intentionally takes time to consider different perspectives, gather the necessary information, and respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. This intentional approach has helped her make balanced decisions while building trust and confidence among those she serves.
Looking ahead, Angie hopes to continue fostering a culture of connectedness throughout TeamGISD.
"We are one team with a shared purpose: ensuring every GISD student has the opportunity to succeed."
She believes the strongest districts are built when campuses collaborate rather than compete, when educators freely share ideas and resources, and when relationships extend beyond individual buildings to benefit every student in Granbury ISD.
That spirit of collaboration is one of the things Angie appreciates most about TeamGISD.
"The people are the heart of our district. We celebrate each other's successes, support one another through challenges, and are always willing to help each other learn and grow."
As a leader, Angie wants those around her to know that she is committed to continuous growth. She values honest feedback, welcomes opportunities to learn from others, and believes humility is one of a leader's greatest strengths. She hopes those she serves know her door is always open and that she is never afraid to acknowledge mistakes, take ownership, and grow through every experience.
Outside of school, music plays an important role in Angie's life. Her husband is a musician, and together they enjoy attending concerts and spending time making memories through music. Every now and then, Angie even picks up her guitar herself, though she jokingly admits she's "not quite ready for a public performance."
As she continues serving the students, staff, and families of Acton Middle School, Angie remains committed to leading with service, strengthening relationships, and creating connections that extend far beyond the school day. She believes that when people feel supported, valued, and connected to one another, schools become more than places of learning, they become communities where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed.