Katy ISD Board Calls for May Election, Announces Lifetime Achievement, Principal

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

January 21, 2021

By Natalie Cook Clark

The Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved a general election for May 2021. The District that saw the greatest student gain in the state also announced a new principal and a lifetime achievement award at their weekly meeting.

Board Approves May Election

This week, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved and announced that they will hold a general election in May 2021.

Residents will vote for a three-year term for Positions 6 and 7.

Susan Gesoff currently holds Position 6, while Dawn Champagne holds Position 7. State law requires that a candidate for an independent school district trustee be a qualified voter.

Interested candidates must submit an application by Friday, February 12 at 5 p.m. at the Katy ISD Education Support complex located at 6301 S. Stadium Lane.

As Katy ISD continues to grow, the Community Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC) is meeting to evaluate the District’s needs and develop a bond package. This package is expected to be included on the ballet for the May election.

Learn more about the CBAC at their website.

Election Day will be May 1, 2021 with early voting taking place Monday, April 19 to Tuesday, April 27. Click here for a list of early voting locations.

Lifetime Achievement Awarded for Planning for Katy’s Future

As Katy continues to grow, it needs those who can plan and ensure its continued success. Lisa Kassman, Katy ISD Executive Director of Planning, Facilities and Construction has been recognized as the 2020 Southern Region Planner of the Year by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).

Lisa Kassman presented Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Creating plans are of little use if planning is not part of them,” says Lisa Kassman.

“Planning is not a one-person action. It requires the collaboration of a group of individuals.”

Kassman presented Katy ISD’s long-range facilities plan process and the need for the creation of a bond referendum to address the rapid growth at last week’s Community Bond Advisory Committee meeting.

Katy ISD is one of the fastest growing districts in Texas. The District projects enrollment of nearly 100,000 students by 2026.

The southern region for A4LE (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma) awards a Planner of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award each year to a region member who has shown dedication and commitment to the growth and overall success of the region.

A4LE is a professional association whose sole mission is improving the places where children learn. The association believes that facilities impact the learning, development and behavior of the facility user and that sharing and networking improve the planning process.

Kassman is currently the President-Elect for the Gulf Coast Chapter and has been involved with A4LE for over 20 years.

“I share this lifetime achievement award with my team and the District leadership, who actively contribute to the planning process of this vibrant school district,” says Kassman.

Rhoads Elementary Gets New Principal

New Rhoads Elementary Principal Timothy Wolff.

The Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved a new principal for Rhoads Elementary this week. Timothy Wolff, the current principal at Bear Creek Elementary, will begin his leadership at Rhoads Elementary on January 25.

“I’m excited to embrace this new learning adventure with Rhoads students, staff, parents and its school community,” says Timothy Wolff.

Wolff began his education career at Fort Bend ISD in 2001 as an elementary teacher at Sienna Crossing Elementary. His career has seen him in administrative positions and a building principal for an elementary school in Utah.

After living in Utah, Wolff returned to Katy in 2016 and joined the Katy ISD family. He has served as the Assistant Principal at Woodcreek Elementary and, most recently, at Bear Creek Elementary.

Rhoads Elementary is located at 19711 Clay Road and they are the blue and white Rockets.

“Much like a rocket that signifies an exploration and/or journey that reaches unimaginable heights, my goal is to see each student aim high with their dreams and goals,” says Wolff.

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS