After working as an educator for more than two decades, Lance Hindt is returning to Katy. The 1983 graduate of Katy ISD’s Taylor High School was announced as the lone finalist for the vacant KISD superintendent position June 10 and signed his contract of employment July 1. He starts work Aug. 1. Hindt previously worked at Fort Bend ISD, the Stafford Municipal School and Allen ISD.

What interested you about Katy ISD’s superintendent role?

The school district, the community was very good to me and my family. And when the opportunity came up and I found out that [Alton] Frailey was retiring, after thoughtful prayer, a lot of consideration and conversation with my family, I felt like it was a good move. I felt like that I could provide for that community and be a part of their vision, “Be the Legacy.”

What does it mean to you to be coming back to Katy?

I don’t believe I’d be in the position I’m in today if it had not been for some great educators that were at West Memorial Junior High [School], at Taylor High School and those that worked at Central Office, many of which have buildings named after them now. I made up my mind in my junior year that I wanted to be a teacher and a coach, and that was because of the influence of my teachers and coaches there at Taylor High School. 

You are coming from Allen ISD, a district that is similar to Katy ISD. What are some of the key similarities and differences between the districts?

There’s very high expectations [from] both communities. They expect that we’re going to provide the best instructional environment for their students, and we’re going to provide them with the best opportunities outside the classroom also through our extracurricular [activities], clubs and organizations. They’re both very high-performing school districts.  [totalpoll id="165216"]

What programs are you most excited to work with here in KISD from an academic and extracurricular standpoint?

There is a different feel and a different culture to a school that you walk in and they’re having great success on their athletic fields, they’re having great success in some of the other extracurricular. When you teach kids to be successful and try hard—no matter what the endeavor is—and to shoot for the stars, that translate[s] into the classroom.

What are some of the challenges that you expect with KISD, and what are you most looking forward to accomplishing?

I say this in almost every job I have. I have five nonnegotiable elements. Student learning will improve; we cannot get complacent in the classroom. Professional learning will improve. In order for us to enhance what we’re doing in the classroom and what we’re providing to kids through instruction, we have to constantly sharpen our tools as educators as well. We will work in high-performing, collaborative teams. I do not believe in working in isolation. I believe in providing quality internal and external customer service. We serve a community, we serve a population of kids, we serve each other as professionals.