“We may lead different districts, but we share the same mission—to serve kids and give them every opportunity to succeed,” LCISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens said. “At the end of the day, every student in Fort Bend County matters.”
The updates
Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Marc Smith said the district has introduced two additional wellness days in the 2025-26 school year to encourage staff to take time for themselves. Employees also have access to an anonymous counseling program, providing a safe space to seek support and maintain emotional well-being.
“If their cup is empty, then they can’t fill the cup that we need them to fill for our students each day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nivens said LCISD has implemented Innovative Schools Days across all campuses, allowing teachers to plan every eight days and students to learn about things that prepare them for the “real world,” such as credit scores and tax rates.
He said the program was initiated in the 2024-25 school year at certain campuses, with full implementation across the district this school year. He said teacher retention has risen from 89% to 95%.
Additionally, Stafford MSD Superintendent Robert Bostic said the district has emphasized mental health and work-life balance within its training programs, focusing on helping teachers reconnect with the joy of teaching so “school becomes fun again.”
Growing challenges
Smith said FBISD, like many large urban school districts across Texas, is experiencing enrollment stabilization driven by aging communities alongside pockets of new development, prompting the district to consider potential school closures and boundary adjustments.
He added that the district recently concluded a series of community forums, where administrators gathered public feedback to help guide decisions alongside facility index scores, which measure the condition and overall health of school buildings.
“We know emotion trumps logic every time ... that’s why transparency and communication are essential,” he said. “We want our families to have the data and the context [and] understand why we’re making these decisions and how they impact our students.”
Meanwhile, Smith said FBISD is managing its 2023 $1.26 billion bond projects, including:
- The opening of three elementary schools this August, plus Amy Coleman Middle in 2026
- The rebuild of Clements High, rescheduled for 2027
- The deployment of over 25,000 laptops to complete a 1-to-1 student-laptop ratio
While Stafford MSD does not have a bond on the ballot—following the failure of the May 2025 bond for facility renovations and capital improvements—Bostic said one may soon be proposed to “move the needle” on transportation and infrastructure needs for the district.
Moving forward
Ahead of his retirement in December, Bostic said innovation in education, including community partnerships and collaborations, is what will keep education in Fort Bend County “in front of things.”
“We want to capture the imagination of our kids while they’re young before the world tells them what they can’t do,” Bostic said. “Regardless of what’s happening around us, our goal is to give students the tools to reach the next level—to prepare them for something beyond the traditional path.”
