KISD announces principals of the year

CONTRIBUTED REPORT
Posted 3/30/21

Every year Katy Independent School District is tasked with selecting two principals who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating leadership and dedication to their students, staff and community. …

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KISD announces principals of the year

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Every year Katy Independent School District is tasked with selecting two principals who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating leadership and dedication to their students, staff and community. The district recently announced Morton Ranch Elementary Principal Deborah “Deb” Hubble and Memorial Parkway Junior High Principal Emily Craig as Katy ISD Principals of the Year.

Both campus leaders will also be recognized as Region IV Principal Honorees. These school administrators were selected by their peers for their ability and willingness to make meaningful contributions to education, their desire for continuous personal and professional growth as well as their ability to inspire Katy ISD students and staff to reach their goals.

Hubble has worked in the field of education for 23 years, including 15 years at Katy ISD and eight years as principal of MRE. She began her teaching career in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) in the field of special education. She taught intermediate grade resources and pursued a deep study of the teaching methods for reading and writing.

Following her classroom experience, Hubble served as a district-wide curriculum coordinator in English Language Arts/Reading at SBISD. Hubble paused her career to raise her four children but stayed active in the field by writing research abstracts for Effective Schools and pursuing librarian certification. Eager to return to the school environment, she briefly worked in Lamar Consolidated ISD as an elementary librarian, then began her Katy ISD journey in January 2007, joining the Roosevelt Alexander Elementary StingRAEs as a literacy coach. When Katy ISD opened Morton Ranch Elementary School in 2008, she was chosen as assistant principal. The experiences she gained during the following five years set her up to lead the school as its principal in 2013, a position she has held since then.

“This is a career which is ever-evolving, shifting and changing to meet the demands of a fluctuating society,” said Hubble. “I have always been a strong believer in the power of public education to change lives.”

Craig has 25 years of experience in education. Prior to joining Katy ISD, Craig worked in Spring Branch ISD after graduating in December 1996 with a degree in education.  In the summer of 1997, an opportunity emerged for her at Katy High School as an English teacher. After six years of being a Katy Tiger, she took an opportunity to become a counselor at Memorial Parkway Junior High in 2008. Five years later, WoodCreek Junior High opened. Craig was part of the new campus, serving in a leadership role as assistant principal. Six years later, she was given the opportunity to go back to Memorial Parkway where she became the school’s principal in June of 2014.

“School is a place where possibilities exist – the opportunity to take risks and try new things is critical,” said Craig. “I want our students to have every avenue available to them to find their passion. As educators, it is our responsibility to provide the environment and the nurturing for students to see their future.”

Due to COVID-19, awards originally designated for the Region IV Principal Recognition Ceremony will be sent to individual school districts to be distributed and celebrated among the honorees.

KATY ISD, PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR, DEB HUBBLE, EMILY CRAIG