The schools
Located in the Elyson area, Elementary No. 47 will be named Alfred and Ann Boundy Elementary. In the Sunterra development, Elementary No. 48 will be named James and Mitzi Cross Elementary. These schools will support the district’s growing northwest quadrant as part of the 2023 bond, according to a Dec. 9 news release.
“Our namesakes are an important part of the Katy ISD community and we are looking forward to adding the Boudny and Cross families to that special group,” Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. “These dedicated educators continue to pour into our district and we look forward to seeing the impact they’ll have in these new school communities.”
The approach
The recommendations were submitted by board members, administrators, and parents from the respective School Naming Selection committees, according to the news release. This month, the district held forums where the public was invited to comment on the recommendations.
“We ended up with some great legacies who will continue that namesake legacy that is so strong in Katy ISD. They built it. They loved it. They spent 70 years or more pouring into it and they will be there to encourage children and teachers and families as these new schools open,” Trustee Rebecca Fox said.
The backstory
Alfred and Ann Boundy met at Eagle Lake Middle School in 1975 before moving to KISD, where they served as department chairs after the opening of Memorial Parkway Junior High in 1982. Ann Boundy continued her career at MPJH until her retirement in 2015 while Al Boundy served as the inaugural social studies chair for McDonald Junior High starting in 1991 before retiring from West Memorial West Junior High in 2014, according to the news release. Al and Ann have received Honorary Life Memberships from the Parent Teacher Associations at their retired campuses.
James Cross taught English and U.S. History in Levelland, TX, before moving to KISD as an assistant principal at Beck Junior High in 2002. From 2009 until his retirement in 2022, he served as principal of Cinco Range High School, according to the news release. Mitzi Cross taught at Brownsfield, Roosevelt, and Levelland ISDs before serving as a fifth-grade English and language arts teacher at Alexander Elementary in 2002. She later served as librarian for Diane Winborn Elementary and Michael Griffin Elementary before retiring after 40 years in education.
