GISD superintendent announces his retirement effective July 31

During his tenure, Lee said some of his biggest accomplishments included passing the 2010 voter approved bond package, transitioning to two ninth12th grade high school campuses and overseeing student successes academically and athletically in all co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

These four years have been very rewarding, and I dont mind telling you that they have been very challenging, Lee said. I look back over the past four years and look at all this district has been through and the things that we have been able to accomplish, and its really been pretty amazing.

Lee also led the district through $7.4 million in budget reductions after the Texas Legislature cut nearly $5 billion in education funding in 2011 and oversaw the approval of a 4 cent tax ratification election.

Weve had to make some hard decisions together, said Scott Alarcon, GISD board of trustees president. His guiding principal has always been what is the right thing to do for students.

Lee said he wanted to see the first senior class graduate from East View High School and complete renovations at Georgetown High School before retiring.

I told [my wife] Tracy, the last four years have just been boom, boom, boom nonstop, and I really want to sit back and enjoy all of this stuff for one year, and that is what I got to do this year, he said.

This summer Lee will complete his 39th year serving in public schools, 27 of those as a superintendent. He previously served as superintendent in Redwater ISD and Longview Pine Tree ISD.

Ive served my time. Ive been a good faithful servant, and its time for me to let someone else come in and take a great school district and make it even better, he said. I think that is what will happen because this school district is very attractive to a lot of really great superintendents out there. Ive been blessed to do this twice, and Ill never forget it.