Katy Independent School District will be starting 2019 with several new principals. During the most recent regular Board meeting, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved Stephanie Vaughan as the new principal of Elementary #42, Carrie Caruso as the principal of McDonald Junior High, Elisabeth Brodt as the principal of Junior High #16 and Brian Schuss as the assistant superintendent for the Human Resources Department.[via www.katyisd.org]Elementary #42 is one of Katy ISD's latest school additions set to open its doors for the 2019-20 school year and Principal Stephanie Vaughan will be there to welcome students to their new school. Her extensive experience in education is a perfect fit for this campus and its flourishing community. Ms. Vaughan began teaching in Aldine ISD in 1999. In 2001, she began her career in Katy ISD's Sundown Elementary (SE) where she taught for three years before being named as assistant principal. She served in such role from 2004 until 2007. Following her role at SE, she was chosen as the first principal of the newest Katy ISD campus, Ursula Stephens Elementary (USE). She has served in that role since 2007. Ms. Vaughan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Wyoming and a Masters of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. She will begin her new role in February 1, 2019.
Another new school set to open its doors to students in 2019 is Junior High #16. The Board of Trustees named Elisabeth Brodt as its first principal. Ms. Brodt began her career in education in the Oklahoma City Public Schools as a Strings Specialist in 1999. In 2001, she relocated to Texas and joined Katy ISD as the Jr. High School Orchestra Director at Cinco Ranch Jr. High School (CRJH). From 2005 to 2012, she served in various assistant principal roles at Beckendorff Junior High. During her time there, she served in the capacity of 6th and 7th grade Assistant Principal, Student Support Assistant Principal and 8th grade Assistant Principal. Ms. Brodt took an administrative position at Seven Lakes High School (SLHS) in 2012 where she served in the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior Assistant Principal roles until 2016. At that time, she was named associate principal of the campus. Ms. Brodt received her Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Oklahoma City University and a Masters in Educational Mid Management from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. She will begin her new role in January 7, 2019.
Carrie Caruso will be moving just down the street from her current campus to McDonald Junior High(MDJH). She was named the principal of MDJH after serving as the Associate Principal at Morton Ranch High School. Ms. Caruso began her teaching career at Cypress Falls High School in 2006. Two years later, she joined the Katy ISD family when she accepted a position at Cardiff Junior High (CJH) as the Special Education Department Chair for one year before being named an Instructional Coach on the campus. In 2011, she transferred to Taylor High School (THS) to become the Social Studies Instructional Coach. In 2013, Ms. Caruso became the Assistant Principal of Mayde Creek Junior High (MCJH). In December of that same year, she became the Assistant Principal of Student Support at Morton Ranch High School (MRHS) and then took on the role of Associate Principal at that campus. Ms. Caruso has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from the University of Texas and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. She will begin her new role on January 7, 2019.
Brian Schuss joins Katy ISD from Flour Bluff ISD where he was serving as the district's superintendent. Before being named superintendent in 2016, Mr. Schuss was the District's Assistant Superintendent for Business Management for seven years and was responsible for finance, human resources and district operations. Prior to his tenure at Flour Bluff ISD, he was the Executive Director of Business and Operations for Port Aransas ISD. Mr. Schuss also served as an Analyst and Performance Auditor for the New Mexico State Legislative Finance Committee. His educational career began in the classroom as an Economics and Secondary Mathematics teacher. Katy ISD Board of Trustee members welcomed him during the last monthly board meeting, where he was approved as the assistant superintendent for Human Resources Department. Mr. Schuss will begin his new role in January 2019.