Katy ISD Welcomes Three New Trustees as Board Leadership Transitions Ahead of New School Year
Katy ISD’s leadership officially took on a new look this week as three newly elected trustees were sworn into office and the district selected a new slate of board officers, marking another significant moment for one of the fastest-growing and most closely watched school districts in Texas.
At the district’s May board meeting, Cicely Taylor, Jim Davidson and Nathan Shipley officially took the oath of office and began their service on the Katy ISD Board of Trustees, representing Positions 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The transition comes as Katy ISD continues navigating rapid enrollment growth, campus planning, student achievement initiatives and community expectations across the district’s expanding footprint.
Following the election, trustees selected Lance Redmon as board president, Dawn Champagne as vice president and James Cross as secretary.
For many Katy-area families, the leadership transition represents more than a routine governance update. School board decisions directly shape classroom resources, campus safety, rezoning conversations, teacher support, bond planning and the overall direction of public education across the community.
Three New Trustees Bring Deep Katy Ties and Varied Leadership Experience
Each of the district’s newly elected trustees enters office with strong ties to Katy ISD and longstanding involvement in the community.
Cicely Taylor Focuses on Educational Opportunity and Community Engagement
Newly elected trustee Cicely Taylor brings a background rooted in education administration and student advocacy. A resident of Grand Lakes and member of the Katy ISD community for two decades, Taylor has spent years supporting district initiatives through volunteerism and mentorship.
Taylor works with Acelero, Inc. and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College along with a Master of Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her involvement in Katy ISD includes service on a Campus Advisory Team, participation as a KEYS mentor and membership in Leadership Katy’s 2025–2026 class.
Her focus on educational opportunity and community connection reflects a growing emphasis across Katy ISD on strengthening relationships between campuses, families and neighborhood stakeholders.
Taylor and her late husband, Steve, raised two children and are now grandparents, giving her perspective across multiple generations of students and families connected to the district.
Jim Davidson Brings Business and Community Leadership Experience
Trustee Jim Davidson enters the board with extensive operational leadership experience from his career as a partner at global consulting firm ERM, where he served in commercial and leadership roles.
A lifelong Katy-area resident who has lived within Katy ISD boundaries for more than four decades, Davidson and his wife, Kelli, are raising two current Katy ISD students.
Davidson earned a Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Sciences from Texas A&M University and also completed postgraduate studies at the University of Houston.
Beyond his professional background, Davidson has built a reputation through wide-ranging community service efforts. He serves as a regional leader for F3, volunteers with organizations including Eagles Wings, Manna House and Feed the Hunger, and participates as an alternate commissioner for the City of Katy Planning & Zoning Commission. He also serves on the board of Keep Katy Beautiful.
Within Katy ISD, Davidson has remained actively involved through the Katy ISD Education Foundation, school volunteer initiatives and campus events ranging from field trips to student celebrations.
His election adds another trustee with direct experience balancing community growth, civic engagement and long-term planning.
Nathan Shipley Returns to Serve the District That Educated Him
For Nathan Shipley, joining the board represents a return to the district where his own educational journey began.
A Katy ISD graduate who attended Winborn Elementary, McDonald Junior High and Katy High School, Shipley has been connected to the community for 44 years. He now lives in Firethorne with his wife, Danielle, and their three children, all current Katy ISD students.
Shipley works as a consultant and executive director at Circana and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Houston.
His local involvement includes service on the Fort Bend County MUD 151 board, coaching youth sports, volunteering as an EMT and supporting church activities throughout the area.
Inside Katy ISD, Shipley previously served on the district’s Bond Advisory Committee and supported organizations including the Wolman Elementary PTA, WoodCreek Junior High PTA, WoodCreek Junior High Band Boosters and the Katy Bengal Brigade/Cheerleaders Booster Club.
As Katy ISD continues planning for future growth and infrastructure needs, trustees with firsthand experience as district graduates and current parents often bring a perspective closely aligned with families navigating today’s schools.
New Officer Team Reflects Blend of Experience and Community Service
The board’s newly elected officers also bring extensive history with Katy ISD and community leadership.
Lance Redmon Named Board President
Lance Redmon, who was first elected to the board in 2019, will now serve as president. A longtime Katy resident, Redmon has volunteered with the Katy ISD Education Foundation Board, the Katy Improvement Council and PTA organizations while also coaching youth basketball and serving his local church community.
Redmon is president of Specialized Building Systems and holds degrees from Rice University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Bradi, have lived in Katy for 37 years and currently have three children enrolled in Katy ISD schools.
Dawn Champagne Selected as Vice President
Vice President Dawn Champagne continues her long record of volunteerism and district involvement. Since moving to Katy in 2001, Champagne has served in numerous leadership roles across local schools, scouting organizations, church ministries and nonprofit initiatives.
Her extensive service includes PTA leadership positions at multiple campuses, district advisory committees, KEYS mentoring and volunteer coordination efforts throughout Katy ISD. She also founded the Mighty Mask Makers initiative, which distributed thousands of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Champagne has served as a trustee since 2018 and has completed more than 230 hours of Texas Association of School Boards training.
James Cross Chosen as Board Secretary
Board Secretary James Cross brings decades of educational leadership experience to the role. A retired principal, Cross previously led Beck Junior High and Cinco Ranch High School, overseeing one of the district’s largest campuses before retiring from Katy ISD administration in 2022.
Cross remains active in the community through organizations including the Katy Education Foundation, YMCA, Ballard House and Feed the Hunger. He currently serves as executive director of the Southeast Texas Education Coalition.
His family also maintains deep ties to Katy ISD, including a daughter who now teaches within the district.
Returning Trustees Continue Longstanding Service
The board also continues to include experienced trustees such as Rebecca Fox, whose service spans decades and multiple leadership positions. Fox previously served on the board from 2004 to 2019 before being re-elected in 2021 and has been recognized statewide for her advocacy and volunteerism.
Her work with district committees, PTA organizations and educational initiatives has helped shape many of Katy ISD’s long-term priorities during periods of substantial enrollment growth and campus expansion.
Together, the blend of returning trustees and newly elected members creates a board that combines institutional knowledge with new perspectives at a time when Katy ISD continues facing both opportunities and challenges tied to population growth, academic expectations and community investment in public education.
What Happens Next for Katy ISD
The newly seated board will immediately step into discussions involving district budgeting, campus operations, student support programs and future planning initiatives ahead of the 2026–2027 school year.
For residents across Katy, Cinco Ranch, Firethorne, Grand Lakes and surrounding communities, school board leadership remains closely connected to issues affecting daily life — from classroom quality and school safety to property values and neighborhood growth.
As one of the region’s most influential public institutions, Katy ISD’s direction often reflects broader conversations happening across the community about growth, investment and the future families envision for the area.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of Katy ISD leadership, education updates and community developments across the Katy area.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.