Paulette Tomlinson Set to Become New Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts
Tomball ISD has named Paulette Tomlinson its new Director of Fine Arts. She will take over for long-time fine arts educator JD Janda as he announced his retirement at the end of the school year.
“We are excited to welcome Paulette Tomlinson as the Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts,” said Dr. Steven Gutierrez, Chief Operating Officer. “Her experience and leadership will continue to elevate our Fine Arts programs across the district.”
Tomlinson brings to TISD over 15 years of fine arts education and leadership experience. As an educational leader and arts advocate, Tomlinson joins us directly from Flour Bluff ISD in Corpus Christi where she served as the District Fine Arts Administrator. In that role, she supervised fine arts educators and programs EC-12 in music, theatre, visual art, and drill team as well as oversaw and evaluated the district’s Fine Arts Department budget.
Prior to her role in Flour Bluff, Tomlinson was the Director of Fine Arts for Nacogdoches ISD from 2019 to 2022. Not only was she the District’s first Director of Fine Arts, she managed tremendous growth within all fine arts programs, led in curriculum alignment, supervised the budget, and was awarded several accolades and distinctions for her strong leadership.
Along with dedicating four years overseeing two different fine arts departments, Tomlinson also has experience as the Director of Bands over several stops, including San Augustine ISD (2018-19), Florida State University Schools (2014-18), and Sanders Middle School (2012-14) and Great Falls Middle/High School (2009-12), both in South Carolina.
During her time as the Director of Bands, Tomlinson led ensembles to superior and first division ratings, achieved area and state level participation in Florida and Texas, and was awarded two Florida Music Educators Association Enrollment Awards for attaining over 35% district student enrollment.
Her leadership expands outside of her district administrative role as she serves as the Regional Representative on the Texas Arts Education Campaign Board of Directors and was the Texas Fine Arts Administrators, Small District liaison.
As a Fine Arts administrator, Tomlinson has earned NAMM Best Communities for Music Education Recognition in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She also earned TAEA District of Distinction in 2020, along with several Florida Music Association honors throughout her career.
"My mission is to empower teachers to do their very best work for our students and to be involved in decision making that keeps fine arts student well-being and success at the forefront. I will also be a partner to campus administrators in ensuring the advancement of their fine arts programs. I am thrilled to be joining this team," said Tomlinson.
Tomlinson earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Furman University and her Master of Music Education in Instrumental Music from Florida State University.
ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates nearly 22,000 students at 22 campuses.
Source: Tomball ISD
