Rhonda Mason has been named the sole finalist for superintendent of schools for Alvin ISD following a 5-2 vote by the board of trustees at its April 21 special meeting.
Trustees Earl Humbird and Cheryl Harris voted against naming Mason as the sole finalist due to concerns about Mason not having enough experience to serve as the superintendent.
Mason previously served as assistant superintendent of schools at Fort Bend ISD in 2023 and currently as area superintendent at Lamar CISD in 2025.
In their own words
The search process included a review of 42 candidates for the position, trustee Brian Roberson said at the meeting.
“I’m proud of the selection I made because this individual has over 25 years of experience. This person has served in the classroom, led campuses ... overseen A-rated campuses,” Roberson said at the meeting. “I’m fully confident that this individual will do an outstanding job in the district. I welcome Dr. Rhonda Mason to be our lone finalist.”
While Harris said she looks forward to working with Mason, she said she would not support Mason’s appointment as Mason does not have “executive cabinet or superintendent experience.”
“For that reason, I will not be extending my vote for Dr. Mason. I do look forward to working with Dr. Mason as she assumes the role of superintendent and welcome her to Alvin ISD,” Harris said at the meeting.
Humbird also said Mason “lacks the necessary executive-level experience as she has not served as superintendent.”
The background
The board of trustees was first informed of Nelson’s retirement at its Jan. 26 special meeting and began developing a timeline to identify candidates for the next superintendent.
The board approved Nelson’s retirement at its Feb. 10 meeting, as previously reported by Community Impact.
To gather community input, the district released a public questionnaire on Feb. 18 and held a public meeting on March 5, allowing residents to share desired leadership qualities for the next superintendent.
The district then conducted a series of interviews from April 7-15, Harris said at the meeting.
What’s next
State law requires a 21-day waiting period before the board may consider finalizing a superintendent contract, according to an April 21 news release from the district.
The board will consider the contract on May 13.
