Katy ISD Names Principals for Two New Schools

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

November 13, 2024

By Natalie Cook Clark

Katy ISD announced the principals for the district’s newest schools that are set to open next academic year. Both Elementary #47 and #48 are currently being constructed to serve the district in the Northwest quadrant that is seeing so much growth.

Left to right: Tamika Holdman and Felicia Ashabranner will lead the newest Katy ISD elementary schools. Photo credits: Katy ISD

Katy ISD to Open Two New Schools Next Year

Katy ISD is set to open two new elementary schools Fall of 2025 to better serve students as the district continues to see immense growth, especially in the Northwest quadrant of Katy.

Both Educators have Long Served Katy Students

Felicia Ashabranner has been named principal of Elementary #47, located in the Elyson area, and Tamika Holdman was named principal of Elementary #48, located in the Sunterra South area. Both of these residential communities continue to grow and provide stress on their current schools. The opening of new schools will relieve crowding and provide the Katy ISD standard of service to the students and staff impacted.

"Both of these longtime educators bring decades of leadership experience, having successfully guided teachers, staff, and students to success," says Dr. Gregorski. "I know they will do a great job leading our new schools and fostering cultures of excellence."

Currently, Ashabranner serves as principal of Mayde Creek Elementary and Holdman serves as 8th grade assistant principal at Morton Ranch Junior High. Both will assume their new positions this coming calendar year.

Ashabranner has also served as a classroom teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal, and she holds a Master of Education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and bachelor’s degrees in education and sociology from Texas A&M University.

As an educational leader, she believes in creating spaces where students and staff thrive through strategic planning for improvement, engaging with community partners, and incorporating cultural competency in school culture.

“It is truly an honor to be named the principal of one of our newest schools,” says Ashabranner. “My hope is to inspire our young scholars and to galvanize our staff to the singular goal – equipping our students to achieve excellence.”

In addition to her work as an assistant principal, Holdman has served as a teacher, instructional coordinator, and assistant principal, and she holds master’s degrees in educational administration and psychology, from Lamar University and the University of Phoenix, respectively, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas A&M University. As a school leader, her focus has been to establish strong communication with students, staff, and parents; build and nurture relationships with community partners; and foster an environment for continuous improvement and growth.

“I am excited to forge this new path for the district with our students and staff,” says Holdman. “As our school family begins to take shape, we will also have the privilege to work with the namesake chosen for our school and to build lasting relationships that will forever be part of the Katy ISD legacy.”

Katy ISD Opened Two New Schools This Year

The northwest quadrant continues to be the fastest growing area of Katy. The proof is in Katy ISD’s building and planning of new schools to meet the demand. This academic year, Nelson Junior High and Freeman High School opened off of Katy Hockley and Logenbaugh Road.

“The northwest quadrant is our fastest-growing area and we want to be sure we’re effectively serving families as they move into the district,” says Ted Vierling, Chief Operations Officer at Katy ISD. “We continually work with our demographic partner – Population and Survey Analysts – to address the capacity concerns at in the fast growth areas of the districts.”

Elementary #47 will be located at 7402 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road and will continue to help relieve the growing Elyson area that continues to add enrollment pressures at Youngblood Elementary.

Meanwhile, Elementary #48, is being built for the Sunterra South area. It is located at 900 Sunterra Shores Drive and provide enrollment relief to Faldyn and Robertson elementary schools. Both schools will open in the 2025-26 school year.

Committees are currently meeting to discuss the naming of both schools. Katy ISD schools are uniquely named after namesakes that have impacted the district and Katy area.

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