Dr. Thomas Price, an administrative leader in Texas public education for more than two decades, has been named the lone finalist for the superintendent's position at Boerne Independent School District.
The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Price the lone finalist at a specially called meeting on Wednesday, May 3. Price currently serves as Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer in Humble ISD, northeast of Houston.
Price now begins a 21-day waiting period - required by Texas law – before being formally named to the position. His appointment as superintendent follows the announced retirement of David Stelmazewski, who has served as Boerne ISD superintendent since December 2011 and who will retire June 30.
Price began his service as Deputy Superintendent for the 41,200-student Humble ISD in 2012. Areas of responsibility in that role have included curriculum and instruction, professional learning, technology, special education, accountability, career and technical education, advanced academics, bilingual education, fine arts and athletics. He was responsible for the planning and opening of two new elementary schools and a new middle school in Humble.
"Dr. Price is an educator who possesses a wide range of leadership experiences," said Boerne ISD board president Donna Sharp. "His record of success is impressive."
Under Price's leadership, Humble ISD was named to the National College Board's AP District Honor Roll, recognizing increased student participation in advanced placement courses and increased AP test scores. He also guided the district to an increased emphasis on dual credit programming, CTE certifications and internships, and double-digit gains in college readiness scores. He offered oversight for a multi-district science/math collaborative that partnered with Rice University and other institutions to enhance professional development and revise existing elementary science and math programs.
In 2015, Humble ISD earned the HEB Excellence in Education award as the best large public school district in Texas. Two district high schools – Kingwood and Quest Early College - are recognized on the U.S. News list of top high schools in the state.
Prior to his tenure at Humble ISD, Price served as superintendent at Splendora ISD, Sealy ISD and Anderson-Shiro CISD. He also was assistant superintendent at West Orange-Cove CISD. Both Anderson-Shiro and West Orange-Cove are Chapter 41 districts that must operate under the same "Robin Hood" provisions encountered in Boerne ISD.
Earlier in his career, Price served as executive director for elementary at Port Arthur ISD, principal at Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD and assistant principal at Beaumont ISD. His career in public education began with teaching assignments in Anahuac ISD, Hardin-Jefferson CISD and Beaumont ISD.
Price studied education as an undergraduate at University of Houston and earned both his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Lamar University. Price and his wife, Donna, have three children, Christopher (26), Sean (17) and Savannah (15).
The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees initiated its search process in January, shortly after Mr. Stelmazewski announced his retirement.
Combining input from faculty, staff and community members, the Board developed a candidate profile and engaged the Texas Association of School Boards to assist in the search. From a field of more than 60 applicants, the Board identified six candidates for initial interviews. Through the vetting process, which included a visit by trustees to his current district, Dr. Price emerged as the sole finalist.
"It has been a true pleasure to get to know Dr. Price and to envision him in the role as the next leader of our school district," Sharp said. "Having followed a thorough, collaborative search process, we can say with confidence that we found in Dr. Price someone who matches the qualities and characteristics expressed by the community as desirable in our next superintendent.
"The opportunity to meet with more than two dozen representatives – staff, board members, parents, administrators – in his current district earlier this week provided solid affirmation that in Thomas Price we have made the right choice for Boerne ISD."
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