Katy ISD School Namesakes Gather for Special Event

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

November 18, 2024

By Natalie Cook Clark

Katy ISD honored their legacies, the namesakes to Katy schools who continue to positively impact the school community during special halftime presentation. Tonight, two more names will be added to this distinguished list as the district recommends names for their newest schools.

Photo courtesy of KISD

Katy ISD honored their legacies during halftime at the Katy High School Tigers and the Alief Elsik High School Rams on Friday night at Legacy Stadium. These legacies have all impacted the district and the community in such a lasting way that Katy ISD named schools after them to further inspire future generations.

“Being part of the school community as a namesake is like being a member of a second family,” says Fred and Patti Shafer. “We celebrate accomplishments, welcome new staff and students, and provide support during difficult times.”

Earlier in Katy ISD’s growth, school boards named schools based on locations such as Cinco Ranch High School, Nottingham Elementary School, etc. As the Katy area continued to grow rapidly, this became difficult to do because families who move to a neighborhood like Cinco Ranch, for example, don’t attend the school that has its neighborhood name or are rezoned to a different school.

A way was developed to help communities maintain ownership and involvement in the naming of schools. Each time Katy ISD builds a new school, and application is sent to the community impacted by the school. They have time to submit naming recommendations and then a committee comprised of parents, staff, administration, and community members; all who will be impacted by the new school meet to discuss. They then make a recommendation to the school board and the community then has time to discuss before the final vote and naming decision.

The schools who are named after people, who have been a part of the Katy community and have contributed to its greatness, have a significant impact on the children, families and staff.

“Katy ISD is so successful and respected because of the foundation built by these educators and community leaders,” says Katy ISD Board of Trustee Rebecca Fox. “They are torchbearers for student success. Never focused on themselves and almost embarrassed to talk about their accolades and personal accomplishments, they never lose the giddiness and humility of having their names chosen to represent a school and community.”

These schools thrive and are inspired by the deeds of their namesakes who attend and take part in school events. The schools become part of their family just as they become part of the school. Students get excited when they see their namesake in the hallways and events. Many namesakes have commented that they feel like ‘rock stars’ with the attention students give them.

“We love being namesakes of Wolman Elementary because of the interaction we get to have with our students, staff and families. We still get to be involved in teaching and learning and we are able to observe the amazing teachers at RJWE,” says Ray and Jamie Wolman. “We have an outstanding community of families who focused on education. It is such an honor to get to be a part of this school.”

“To have this school bear our name is an honor beyond words,” says Steve and Elaine Robertson. “It feels like our family has grown to include every student, parent, teacher and staff member who make up our Bulldog community.”

“At this point in our lives, we have the perspective to see what a sacred calling teaching is,” says Amy Campbell. “We feel it is important to encourage devoted and dedicated teachers and staff, who have a huge heart for children, to stay the course because rewards are innumerable and the effects of a positive educational experience, where curiosity, kindness, and responsibility are fostered, create ripples throughout the generations that make a positive impact on the future.”

Many namesakes go beyond the impact of education. Many of the families who built Katy from the 1900s have a rich history of how Katy changed through the years, these memories must be remembered. Katy ISD schools like Freeman, Nelson, Jordan, Robinson, Stockdick and Morton all keep that history alive as students learn local history in addition to normal curriculum.

“Educators do not enter the teaching career with visions of becoming wealthy or famous, they have dreams to make a lasting impact on the future,” says Fox. “That impact continues when they become a part of a school or facility that bears their names. We are fortunate to have their names and their lives still impacting the success and reputation of Katy ISD!”

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.

Tonight, at the regular School Board Meeting, committee chairs will share the name recommendations for Elementary #47 and #48. No doubt that the new names will be people who have made a lasting impact on the area. They will join a most distinguished list that will continue to grow as the Katy community continues to do so.

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