Celina ISD appoints Katie Dunn to school board

Katie Dunn has been selected for Place 1 on the Celina ISD board of trustees, a district representative confirmed.

She was appointed by the board at a May 14 meeting and will be sworn in May 18.

How we got here

Dunn will fill the vacancy left by board member Chuck Hansen, who submitted his resignation at an April 20 meeting. Hansen was appointed to the board in 2008 and was last elected in 2025.

The board must order an election at least 78 days in advance, according to CISD’s school board policy. Because Hansen’s resignation was less than 78 days before the May 2 joint election, the board decided to select his successor by appointment instead of calling a special election.

The board solicited applications from eligible candidates, interviewed three finalists and decided on Dunn as the next Place 1 trustee.

Although Hansen had two years left in his term, Dunn’s appointment is only valid until the next election in May 2027, Dunn said.

“That way it gives the voters the chance to say, ‘Yes, we agree,’ or ‘No, that’s not what we wanted,’ and that’s up to them,” she said.

If she wishes to remain in the seat, she must run in 2027 to serve out the remainder of Hansen’s term, then she will be eligible to run for a full three-year term in 2028.

In her own words

Dunn said she decided to apply for the vacant position after losing a narrow race for Celina City Council Place 4.

“The district is growing, and it has to manage growth and communications and families,” she said, “I feel like it’s kind of a natural translation of my skillset.”

Dunn has an 11-year-old headed to Willard Middle School in the fall and a 4-year-old preparing to start kindergarten.

She said her top priority as a trustee will be communication.

“With everything that the school has gone through over the past year, I feel like a lot of people are asking ... how are decisions being made and why are they being made?” Dunn said. “And I feel like that’s exactly what I can bring to the school board.”