After around five months of searching, Willis ISD has named its final superintendent candidate, according to an April 1 new release.

In a nutshell

During a special meeting April 1, the WISD board of trustees unanimously voted to name Kimberley James as the lone finalist for the superintendent position, according to the news release.

James is the deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Corpus Christi ISD, a district that has a student enrollment fo 33,107 students, according to the news release. She has also worked in various positions in Humble, Aldine and Aransas County ISDs.

How we got here



Last June, previous Superintendent Tim Harkrider announced he would be leaving WISD to take a position as superintendent at College Station ISD, Community Impact previously reported. The district named its interim superintendent, Tom Crowe, last July and hired a firm to search for a new superintendent last November.

What they’re saying

  • “I am thrilled for the opportunity to serve as superintendent of Willis ISD and to partner with the employees, parents and community as we soar to new heights and uncover new horizons,” James said via news release. “Joining a community that values family, children and faith as much as I do is a dream come true for me.”
  • “During surveys and focus groups, we heard from our community that you wanted a leader who is strong in academics, and focused on parent and community relations,” Board President Kyle Hoegemeyer said via news release. “Dr. James is student-centered, visionary and innovative. She is a committed ambassador for public education, and we could not be more excited to welcome her with open arms.”

What’s next

After a 21-day state-required waiting period, James will officially report to WISD as its new superintendent, according to the news release. She plans to spend her first 30 days on the job meeting with community stakeholders, administration, campus leadership, teachers and staff.

James will also hold town hall meetings with parents and the community, according to the news release.