TASB Welcomes Two New Outstanding Education Leaders

Austin— The Texas Association of School Boards is pleased to announce the addition of two outstanding education leaders to its team as the organization continues to focus on supporting Texas school boards and the 5.4 million public schoolchildren they serve.  

Retiring Midway ISD Superintendent George Kazanas, Ed.D., will be joining TASB as its new division director of Field Services, an area of TASB that provides direct support to districts and their leadership teams. Kazanas brings more than 20 years of district leadership experience to the role, having also served as superintendent of Wichita Falls ISD and China Spring ISD.  

He has a long track record of moving districts forward in the areas of student achievement, bond elections, and enrollment growth. His commitment to excellence earned him the distinction of being Region 12 Superintendent of the Year in both 2018 and 2004. As superintendent of Midway ISD, his board was a finalist in the TASA School Board Awards in 2014. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with teacher certification and a master’s degree in educational administration from Baylor University. He received his doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Tarleton State University.   

Also joining the TASB team is Robert Long III, Ed.D., who will serve as TASB’s new division director of Board Development Services — a TASB service area known for providing excellent training and professional development for school boards, individual trustees, and teams of eight. He is joining TASB from Raise Your Hand Texas, where he is the senior regional advocacy director — West Houston, overseeing Raise Your Hand Texas’ advocacy work in Houston and the Gulf Coast. His education background includes serving as elementary and middle school principals in Spring ISD and Fort Bend ISD. His experience also includes campus leadership positions in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Aldine ISD. 

Long earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Stephen F. Austin State University, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Sam Houston State University, and a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University. In 2017, he was named a semifinalist in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards — just one of a long list of distinctions earned over his career.  

“Both these outstanding education leaders will bring essential experience and insight into their TASB roles, which are central to our mission of supporting school boards in their work to provide excellent district governance,” said TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell. “Their expertise will help strengthen both good governance practices and team of eight relationships and, as a result, will help promote and advance student opportunities and outcomes across the state. We’re excited to have them join the TASB team.” 

Kazanas will transition into his new role in the coming months. Long will join TASB Oct. 17.