Steve Flores began his position as superintendent of Round Rock ISD on Oct. 1. He previously served as superintendent for Harlingen CISD, near McAllen, where he oversaw the passing of a $98.6 million bond in 2010. The RRISD board of trustees is considering calling a bond election in May 2014.

What are your first priorities for the district?

We're focused on our facilities, we're focused to enhance and support our wonderful teachers [and] our wonderful campuses.

The other thing is also to continue working with our governance team—my seven board members and myself. All of our board members love kids and have a passion for making Round Rock ISD one of the best districts ... in the state and nation.

I've met with the [Round Rock] mayor, the chamber some members of the Austin chamber as well. So being visible, being out and about, focusing on what we can do to increase involvement in our schools ... where stakeholders feel invested in our schools.

What are your plans are to address Round Rock ISD's rapid growth?

There are over 1,000 districts in the state of Texas and many districts—in fact the majority of districts—are declining in enrollment. So growth is good. But with growth obviously comes the need for facilities. The district has been proactive in having a facilities master plan that we are updating.

We obviously have a need for middle school relief and elementary school relief primarily in the Walsh and Cedar Valley area of town—and in the Wells Branch and Bluebonnet area as well. We have one performing arts venue for 46,700 students, so the need is [also] there.

How do you feel about May 2014 for a potential bond election?

I feel good about it. The district has been proactive in assessing what the needs have been. Our demographers also point to the fact that the growth will continue. With that growth—I mean, right now we're at 46,700 students; in 2 1/2 years, we'll be close to 50,000 [students]. You'll hear me over and over say 'growth is good,' but with that comes some realities that are necessary to address.

What will the process be for assessing whether a bond election is needed?

The time is now. The citizens committee will have over 100 members throughout our entire community. We will have two co-chairs. There will be an elementary subcommittee, secondary subcommittee, technology and other district facilities subcommittee and a finance subcommittee. ... Each will have a chair and a vice chair. So you're looking at 10 individuals that will lead us during the process.

At this point in time we have identified up to $175 million–$200 million worth of needs, so what we want to be able to do is gather information, create the bond citizens task force ... so in February, we will make a presentation to the [school] board ... what the plan is for a possible bond election in May 2014.

What appealed to you about coming back to Round Rock ISD?

I believe that Round Rock has the components that are necessary for us to move from a first-class school district to a world-class school district. I am very passionate about the fact that what we have here is unique and what we have here is the opportunity to just be as great as we can be for our students.

When the opportunity unveiled itself here in Round Rock, there was no doubt that this was the right place and the right time. Having been here before I already knew the district for the most part.

What are your future goals for Round Rock ISD?

I want to highlight all the richness and great things that go on in our district on a daily basis. One of my goals is to create avenues where we are not only building the capacity for leadership from the teacher level to the assistant principal level and central office level, but at the student level as well. I'll have a student advisory board [that] will be comprised of each of our secondary campuses in the district—that is our middle and high schools—and I'll meet with them monthly.

Other goals are to work on the components of our first-class district to become world class and to become a model for the rest of the state and the nation. So whatever we can do to maximize our student learning each and every day is what my goal is for us to move from good to great.

How does Round Rock ISD maintain a sense of stability during a time of change in leadership?

Regardless of any changes at the board or superintendent level, [if we keep] the focus on the students and what happens in the classrooms each and every day, our district will continue to transition well, whether it's new board members [or] a new superintendent. I want to make sure that I highlight that we have a quality staff. I think that is a requisite for stability and a requisite for success in a school district.

Meet the new superintendent

• Steve Flores received his master's and bachelor's degrees from Angelo State University and his superintendent's certificate from Texas Tech University.

• He completed his Ph.D. in educational administration at The University of Texas at Austin.

• Flores and his wife, Amy, have two sons. One is in college in Illinois, and the other is a teacher in Colorado.

• Flores has previous experience working for Pflugerville ISD as assistant superintendent and as acting superintendent for Round Rock ISD for a brief period.

• His wife also has previous experience working in RRISD as a teacher at Fern Bluff Elementary School.

• Flores has won several awards, including Outstanding Leader in Education from the Texas Teaching Commission in 2001.