Klein ISD Superintendent Bret Champion Resigns

HOUSTON — The Klein Independent School District in north Harris County is looking for a new superintendent. Bret Champion, who has led Klein ISD since 2016, announced his resignation on Tuesday and said in a letter that he will be leaving the Houston area, and Texas, to lead the Medford, Oregon school district starting July 1.

Champion said in his letter that a recent health scare, and his children’s recent graduation fro college were catalysts for his decision.

“This decision was not an easy one, as the Klein community is a wonderful place to live and learn, with strong people bringing our shared vision to life for students every day,” Champion said in his letter.

Champion is one of a handful of administrators who were tapped to lead north Harris County school districts in 2016. Martha Salazar-Zamora in Tomball ISD, and Elizabeth Fagan in Humble ISD were named superintendents of their school districts in about the same time frame as Champion.

Klein ISD Board President Georgan Reitmeier responded to Champion’s announcement by wishing the now former superintendent well as he and his family moves on, and reminding the Klein community that the board would continue moving Klein ISD forward.

“We must change our leader, but we remain fully committed to our shared vision and strategic direction,” Reitmeier said in her letter to parents and staff. “Working together, we will continue to ensure that every student in Klein ISD enters with a promise and exits with a purpose. We will continue to honor our rich traditions begun and continued by prior leaders in this District.”

Klein ISD posted the superintendents position internally on Wednesday, and Reitmeier says the board hopes to name a lone finalist in early June.

“Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period before the new Superintendent can be named, and we hope to be able to do so no later than July 1, 2019,” Reitmeier said.

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