On May 23, the Klein ISD board of trustees officially announced Bret Champion as the next superintendent of the district. Champion comes to Klein ISD with 22 years of experience serving at Leander ISD, including being the superintendent there for eight years. He has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Houston, a Master of Education from Texas State University and a doctorate in education from The University of Texas.
When he and his wife, Marcee, were considering the move to the Spring and Klein area for the superintendent role, they spent time in the community and grew attracted to its commitment to hold on to its small-town ambience while maintaining its welcoming presence toward new members to the community.
“Everyone we’ve encountered has been friendly, open and kind,” Champion said.
Champion said his goal as superintendent is to build on the excellence for which the district is known and ensure a system whereby every pathway is available to every student.
Champion takes over as superintendent July 1. Superintendent Jim Cain will be available for special assignments until August 31.
What does KISD do right as a school district?
Klein does many, many things well. Opportunities for students are rich, educators are committed, the community is strong and supportive, and the people are awesome.
What are you most excited to do in your first year as superintendent?
One of my favorite things to do as superintendent is to get onto campuses and visit students, teachers and classrooms. I’m also excited to get into the community and visit parents and community leaders.
What do you see as the top three challenges in the district that you will address?
First, as I transition into the role of superintendent, we need to collectively assess what Klein ISD does well and where we need to improve. In the coming months, I’ll be working with the board and listening to and learning from staff, students, parents and community members about Klein ISD. Based on that feedback, we’ll be working together on future plans for the district.
Second, while growing is a good thing, there are always challenges when the district grows as quickly as Klein ISD continues to do. Logistically managing the growth is a constant challenge (buildings, ancillary facilities, staffing, budget, etc.), but equally as important is ensuring we do not lose sight of the unique Klein ISD culture. And all of that has to be done within the very challenging framework of our current school finance system.
Finally, in every educational system, we can never forget that each student is an individual learner who is much more than a test score. And while we certainly must continue to improve student achievement, we can never lose sight of the whole student, ensuring we bring balance to our educational system.
Why did you leave Leander ISD?
Leander ISD will always hold a special place in my heart. Professionally, I grew up there, Marcee and I raised our family there, and we have loved being part of the community. However, with both boys now in college, we realized we had a bit more freedom to explore exciting options. The Klein ISD job opened up at just that time.
What will be the biggest challenges to filling Superintendent Jim Cain’s shoes?
No one can fill Jim Cain’s shoes. Nothing can replace the experience Dr. Cain has brought to Klein ISD over the years. His knowledge of the history of the district and the people who live and work here can never be replaced.
