The Klein ISD board of trustees approved Monday night to extend Superintendent Bret Champion’s contract to five years from its original duration of four years.

The board approves the contract each January, said Judy Rimato, associate superintendent for communications for KISD.

“The board of trustees indicated they are highly pleased with the work Dr. Champion is doing,” Rimato said. “The contract extension gives assurance to the Klein ISD community that Dr. Champion is indeed the right choice to move this district forward.”

Champion joined the district as superintendent last July, replacing longtime Superintendent Jim Cain. Champion was previously the superintendent at Leander ISD.

He has since initiated several efforts to improve the district, such as pursuing the District of Innovation designation, a status that will allow the district to tailor its programs to meet the community’s needs. Champion strongly believes in the shared vision that each student “enters with a promise and exits with a purpose.”

“I am pleased the board sees good progress with our work over the last six months,” Champion said.

He said he appreciates the time and effort the employees from each campus and department and others in the community have put forth.

“We eagerly look forward to building this shared vision into a strategic plan that will move Klein ISD forward,” Champion said.