Tomball ISD Superintendent Huey Kinchen’s 38-year career in education will come to a close when he retires at the end of this month. Kinchen previously worked in Humble and Spring ISDs and served as principal of Tomball High School and as a deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent of administrative services before succeeding former Superintendent John Neubauer in 2013. Huey Kinchen Huey Kinchen[/caption] During a special TISD school board meeting Feb. 9, the board voted to named Chief Academic Officer Martha Salazar-Zamora as the lone finalist for the superintendent role. She will take over when Kinchen retires March 31 if she is approved by the board, following a 21-day waiting period. What brought you to work as an administrator in Tomball ISD? I had an opportunity to become the principal of Tomball High School, but I was also looking for a community to raise my family.  Both of my children attended our schools and graduated from Tomball High School.  When I joined this school district, I knew I wanted to retire from Tomball.  I have enjoyed my time in the district, and I’m fortunate to be retiring from Tomball ISD. What will you miss the most about serving in TISD? There are two things I will miss the most when I retire:  I will miss visiting schools and working with our staff.  I love to enter a school and feel the positive energy from the teachers and students.  It’s uplifting and dynamic. Also, it has been a blessing to work with a dedicated staff.  It’s a privilege to see our team continually striving to enhance educational opportunities for all students. What are you most looking forward to about retirement? School business is time-driven.  Everything we do is planned and driven by minutes in a day.  It will be nice to have a flexible schedule. This will allow me to spend more time with my family and enjoy some traveling. What advice would you give to your successor? I encourage the next superintendent to carry on the traditions and values of Tomball ISD and the Tomball community.  Through the years, our school district has developed a foundation for excellence, which is partly due to the legacy and foundation established by our predecessors. I am confident that a solid structure is in place for our school district to continue moving forward as we serve our community.  There are many oppositional forces attacking public education; therefore, it is imperative that we stay focused on our primary mission of providing a quality education. What would you like to see for the future of the district? Although this is a lofty goal, my desire is for every student to successfully pass all courses and state assessments. I would also like to see our school district recognized as the best with every student prepared to lead in creating the future.