The Leadership TASB Class of 2026 Launches in Houston

The Leadership TASB Class of 2026 gathered for its inaugural meeting in Houston ready to embark on a yearlong journey that will have the 32 members traveling thousands of miles across the state in service to their districts, communities, and students.

Every year, the class launches during txEDCON, and this year the program kicked off with learning, connecting, and district visits. The first district site visits were to Lamar Consolidated ISD and Royal ISD, both in the Houston metro area.

“It’s been far beyond my expectations,” Ron Franklin, a trustee from Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD in Fort Worth, said of the cohort’s morning visit to Lamar CISD. “The biggest takeaway for me was how engaging the kids have been.”

For over 30 years, LTASB has proven to be the premier school board trustee training program in Texas, with more than 1,000 Master Trustees having completed the program. This year, members will visit Harlingen, Amarillo, and Texarkana, with their final meeting in Fort Worth, where upon successful completion of the program they will graduate and earn the Master Trustee designation.

“School visits are an extremely impactful part of the LTASB program experience,” said Robert Long III, LTASB program manager and Board Development Services division director. “The on-site tours really drive home the opportunities districts have that allow them to meet challenges and find innovative solutions. Each LTASB member gains insights and key takeaways from the experience.”

The Work Begins

The Class of 2026 program began Wednesday with a day of connection and norming, where the trustees learned more about program expectations, while they also began bonding with each other. After the introductory day, which allowed the group to gain their footing, the cohort got right into the heart of the program making on-site school visits.

The trustees began their day Thursday in Rosenberg at Lamar CISD, where they were welcomed by students and staff and toured Tomas High School, Banks Junior High School, and Fagert Elementary School.

After the morning visit, the group boarded a bus and headed about 30 miles northwest to Royal ISD in Pattison, where trustees made their first stop at Royal Prairie Elementary School, a brand-new school and the district’s first in Katy. The school just opened in August. The trustees were greeted by students, staff, and administrators. While trustees were easing into the new experience, they were also thoroughly engaged.

“It’s been awesome learning about the different districts and what’s happening with education here in Texas,” said LTASB class member Denishea Williams, a trustee at Cedar Hill ISD, a district about 17 miles southwest of Dallas.

District leaders prepared a packed schedule for the trustees, starting with a presentation that explained how Royal ISD is preparing for growth, dealing with recapture, creating a culture that captures kids’ hearts, and building a strong leadership team and school community.

Royal ISD is now a fast-growth district, Superintendent Megan Pape said. In August, the district surpassed 3,000 students and is expected to have 9,000-11,000 students by 2030. All of that expected growth requires the district to think strategically and to take action to prepare for the future.

Classroom Exploration

After the introduction to the district, the trustees split into two groups to visit classrooms. They observed students in the fine arts and flexible learning spaces. In one of the classrooms, students were participating in a dance class, and in the flexible learning space, students were using the story of The Three Little Pigs to gain a better understanding of the English language and its structure.

During the dance class, the goal was to switch between partners without being eliminated until only one dancer remained on the floor. When the tour guide asked the group what they observed about the students, the trustees responded that they were all engaged and seemed connected to and supportive of each other.

The final stop of the day was at Royal STEM Academy where the trustees learned how Project Lead the Way is helping students be college and career ready. They spoke with students about the projects they were undertaking and watched robotics in action.

After the classroom visits, the trustees heard from a panel of teachers who shared how things in the district have changed over time and steps they’ve taken to build a culture of caring, not only with students, but also with staff. The district gifted the class members with engraved tumblers with a special LTASB/Royal ISD design, and they also received a copy of Ron Clark’s book Move Your Bus.

“I am feeling even more inspired as a board member, seeing all the ways we can support students,” said Chasiti McKissic, board president at DeSoto ISD, which is about 16 miles south of Dallas. “It makes me excited to see what can I do to advocate at the state level to support our schools and students.”

McKissic said she is looking forward to learning more about how she can not only advocate on behalf of public schools and students but to find ways to get legislators into the classrooms, “to give them a better idea of what is going on in education and give them a real world experience.”

Photo: The LTASB Class of 2026 receives a warm welcome at Royal Prairie Elementary School.

This article first appeared in the October/November 2025 issue of Texas Lone Star.