PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — It's that time of the year again: Tuesday, Aug. 13 marks the first day of school for eight Central Texas school districts, including Hays and San Marcos CISDs and Dripping Springs, Milano, Pflugerville, Rockdale, Round Rock and Schulenburg ISDs.
A fresh face this year is Pflugerville ISD’s new superintendent, Dr. Quintin Shepherd. Shepherd, who recently served as superintendent of Victoria ISD in southeastern Texas, said he already has a plan for the first 100 days on the job.
“With nearly 20 years experience as a superintendent, it would be easy for me to come in and just sort of lay my thinking on top of the school district. But that's not an appropriate way to do it,” he said. “My focus is on listening and learning first.”
Shepherd said he will be visiting all 33 Pflugerville ISD campuses to speak to parents, teachers, students and community leaders. He wants to answer two questions: What people love about the district and what do they plan to work on next?
“That actually is a springboard into the next step, which is re-crafting our strategic plan,” Shepherd said. “We will use those findings and directions from our community, literally their voices, to develop our strategic plan about where we go forward. It is the ultimate in community ownership.”
He said part of the next 100 days will also be dedicated to recruiting and retaining teachers.
In April, the Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 2% general pay increase and a minimum wage of $17 for all teachers and staff. Shepherd said great teachers will want to work for great districts that strive for great promise, purpose and potential.
He said the district is also pushing forward with a bond it passed in 2022 to make housing more affordable for teachers.
Shepherd succeeds former superintendent Douglas Killian, who resigned in April.