Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced April 28 he is leaving the district for Klein ISD. Champion has served as LISD's superintendent since 2008. He is a former teacher within the district, assistant principal and principal, as well as assistant superintendent of administrative services. Champion is in his 22nd year with Leander ISD, according to the district. Klein ISD is located in Northwest Harris County with 50,000 students. Champion will start as KISD's superintendent in July. "The decision to leave Leander ISD was the most difficult professional decision I’ve ever had to make," Champion said in a news release. "This is Marcee’s [my wife] and my home, the place our boys were educated, and a spot where we have made deep friendships.  With both boys in college now, when the unique opportunity to lead Klein ISD opened up, we decided to start a new adventure." Champion’s first teaching positions were in inner-city schools in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to LISD. LISD board of trustees president Will Streit provided a public statement regarding Champion's departure and said he is confident that LISD's teachers, principals, administration and board will continue to "drive the district forward." “We are grateful to Dr. Champion for his passion and unwavering commitment to students and their learning, as well as his ability to build great leaders who support our entire system," Streit said in a news release. “We congratulate Dr. Champion for his outstanding tenure in LISD and for setting this district on a continued path of excellence. … Leander ISD is truly a destination district with a rich legacy and a strong foundation. Bret Champion has been a part of our district for more than 20 years, and he will be greatly missed."