FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katy, TX – James Cross, a retired Katy ISD educator and campus principal, has filed to run for Katy ISD School Board Trustee, Position 1. With a strong commitment to quality education and proven leadership, Cross brings 30 years of experience serving students, families, teachers, staff, and community. “Education is the foundation for whatever path students choose for their future. I am running to ensure every student has access to exceptional opportunities, every teacher feels supported, and every parent is met with a listening ear.”
James Cross began his career in West Texas as a classroom teacher and spent the last 22 years in Katy ISD, first as assistant principal and principal of Beck Jr High and then as principal of Cinco Ranch High School from 2009 until his retirement in 2022. James’s perspective extends as a father of Katy ISD graduates, who have both chosen teaching as their career path, and as a grandfather of current Katy ISD students. His wife, daughter, son-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law are all educators. Understanding the district from the classroom to the board room, Cross is ready to use his experience to bring recent campus perspectives and collaborative solutions to the role of Trustee.
James Cross has been an active participant in the Katy community as a KEYS Mentor, a charter member of the Katy ISD Education Foundation, and a member of Katy Area Retired Educators. James is actively involved in his church in Katy and served as a deacon at his church in West Texas. He and his wife Mitzi were recently given the honor of having their names chosen for elementary school #48, James and Mitzi Cross Elementary, that will open in August 2025.
Under James’s leadership, his schools have excelled academically, athletically and in fine arts. As a champion for students and teachers, Cross has earned recognition as a state-level award-winning administrator. He was chosen as Texas PTA Secondary Principal of the Year in 2018, Agriculture Teachers Association Outstanding Principal Award recipient in 2019, and the Journalism Educators Association Principal of the Year in 2020, emphasizing the strong respect and connections he has with educators, parents and community. His commitment to Katy ISD’s students and families is evident through his ongoing engagement and advocacy work. In collaboration with other southeast Texas school districts, James uses his knowledge and experience to inform state legislators how their laws impact student outcomes in the classroom.
“As a school board member, my priority will be to listen, learn, and lead with integrity,” Cross stated. “Together, we can continue to protect and improve on the well-known stellar reputation of Katy ISD and continue the legacy of being a destination district for families.”
The upcoming election is set for May 3, 2025, early voting begins April 21, 2025. James looks forward to meeting people and learning about the issues they care about. For more information about James Cross and his campaign, please visit www.crossforkatyisd.com or James Cross for Katy ISD on social media.