New Humble ISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen
The Humble Independent School District (Humble ISD) voted to officially hire Elizabeth Fagen at its last board meeting. The board released the following.
The Humble ISD School Board has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Fagen as the next superintendent of Humble ISD. Her first day will be Tuesday, July 5. She was hired during the June 14 school board meeting on a 6-0 unanimous vote.
Dr. Fagen brings 20 years of experience in education, including eight as a superintendent. She earned her doctoral and master’s degrees and her education specialist degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and her bachelor’s degree from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She comes to Humble ISD from the Douglas County School District in Colorado.
Humble ISD School Board members cited Dr. Fagen’s skills as an instructional leader in making the appointment.
“We respect the right of the Douglas County Board of Education to pursue and implement policies that they feel are in the best interest of their staff and students. That said, we want to clear up any perception that our selection of Dr. Fagen implies that we are aligned or interested in the policies that the Douglas County Board has chosen to pursue,” Humble ISD School Board President Robert Sitton said.
“The vision of our School Board is to continue the culture and climate we all enjoy as part of the Humble ISD Family, and we could not be more excited about partnering with Dr. Fagen,” Sitton added.
Dr. Fagen fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Dr. Guy Sconzo, who has served as superintendent since 2001. Dr. Sconzo will be serving as a transition consultant to Dr. Fagen and the school board through Dec. 31, 2016.
“I look forward to our community warmly welcoming Dr. Fagen,” Dr. Sconzo said. “Like me, she advocates against excessive state testing and focuses on educating the whole child. As the grandparent of an Humble ISD student, I feel really good about Dr. Fagen leading the district. She has my full endorsement.”
Dr. Fagen was offered a five-year contract with a base salary of $298,000. This is similar to the base salaries in other Houston suburban districts. For example, according to Texas Education Agency (TEA) superintendent salary reports for 2015-2016, superintendent salaries in other districts are: Aldine ISD, $278,622; Alief ISD, $312,120; Conroe ISD $343,000; Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, $383,402; Katy ISD – unknown at this time for the next superintendent, but current superintendent earns $322,171; Klein ISD – unknown at this time, but previous superintendent earned $378,000; Spring ISD, $229,500; and Spring Branch ISD, $285,000.
Town Hall Meetings, and other activities, will be scheduled beginning in July to allow staff and the public to get to know Dr. Fagen.
The Town Hall Meetings will be held:
- 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the the Kingwood High School Performing Arts Center, 2701 Kingwood Drive, 77339;
- 6 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Humble High School Performing Arts Center, 1700 Wilson Road, Humble, 77338;
- 6 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Atascocita High School Performing Arts Center, 13300 Will Clayton Parkway, 77346.
Two parents stood up prior to the vote to express their objection to her hire. Learn more about the protest against the new superintendent here.