Remarkable Achievements and Devotion to Educational Excellence Define Dr. Sheppard’s Leadership
Last Updated 6/23/2023 – Official Press Release from Huntsville ISD
(Huntsville, TX – June 23, 2023) – Region 6 Education Service Center has announced the 2023
Region 6 Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Scott Sheppard, Huntsville ISD Superintendent, has been named the 2023 Region 6
Superintendent of the Year and will represent Region 6 in the annual statewide Superintendent
of the Year award program.
Sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the Texas Superintendent of the
Year program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in
educational leadership in public school administration since 1984.
The Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution during the March
Board Meeting to nominate Sheppard for the TASB Superintendent of the Year for 2023
(SOTY).
“Each year the educational service centers around the state receive nominations for the
Superintendent of the Year from the school districts in their region that feel their superintendent
has shown exceptional leadership. Dr. Sheppard has moved this District in the direction he was
hired for since he arrived in February 2018. A few of the specific areas that we could highlight
or mention would be fiscal management, instruction and student progress, and the successful
bond election and the progress of those said bond projects. By nominating Dr. Sheppard for the
Superintendent of the Year, we are publicly acknowledging those accomplishments and the
direction HISD is moving under his leadership. At the very least, this is a thank you to him from
the Board of Trustees,” said Trey Wharton, HISD Board President.
HISD Board Secretary, Ken Holland added, “I think it is very well deserved and we are honored
to be able to nominate him for this.”
“We are excited to have Dr. Sheppard as the representative of all Region 6 superintendents,”
shared John Conley II, Region 6 ESC Field Services Agent.
Region 6 encompasses 12,400 square miles that includes 15 counties and over 60 school
districts, private schools, and charter schools. Region 6 serves over 150,000 students and over
20,000 teachers and staff members.
Dr. Sheppard brings over 34 years of experience in education and has served HISD as
Superintendent of Schools for the past five years. “I’m truly honored,” said Sheppard upon his
nomination. “It’s a team effort and I don’t really deserve credit for what we’ve done together.
Our staff, students, parents and community rallied around the idea of Building Champions in
Huntsville ISD and worked really hard to improve our schools in every way. I appreciate the
thank-you’s and I pass those along to the people that have really made it happen for our kids
and community.”
According to TASB, the Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) award candidates are chosen for
their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving the quality of education in their districts,
and commitment to public support and involvement in education.
Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,026 local school districts are eligible for nomination
by their school boards. Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which
chooses one nominee to send to a state selection committee. Dr. Sheppard will be among 20
Regional winners who will be interviewed by the state committee at the end of August, from
which 5 state finalists will be selected. The 2023 Texas Superintendent of the Year will then be
announced September 29 at the annual txEDCON23 TASA | TASB Convention in Dallas.
ORIGINAL HELLO HUNTSVILLE ARTICLE
Huntsville, TX – Dr. Scott Sheppard, Superintendent of Huntsville Independent School District (ISD), has been named the 2023 Region 6 Regional Superintendent of the Year. This prestigious honor marks a high point in Dr. Sheppard’s long and distinguished career in the field of education, spotlighting his steadfast commitment to academic progress, student well-being, and community growth.
The accolade follows a series of successful initiatives under Dr. Sheppard’s leadership, notably the passage of the Huntsville ISD 2021 School Bond, a significant community-backed investment for the enhancement of local education infrastructure. This achievement was a result of Dr. Sheppard’s adept collaboration with the Long Range Master Plan committee, a diverse body of community leaders, parents, teachers, students, and local business owners.
On August 13, 2020, the committee presented its comprehensive plan to the Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees, addressing future student growth projections and the district’s needs for capital projects. By February 4, 2021, the Board had unanimously called for a $127,000,000 bond election. The bond propositions received overwhelming support from Huntsville ISD voters on Election Day, May 1, 2021, paving the way for crucial improvements and upgrades that will benefit the district for years to come.
Dr. Sheppard, a seasoned veteran of education with 35 years of experience, has been serving the Huntsville ISD since January 8, 2018, when the Board of Trustees officially named him as the district’s Superintendent of Schools. Prior to his current role, he honed his administrative acumen as an Assistant Superintendent in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Houston, where he managed 35 secondary campuses. He began his journey in education as a band director in Jasper and Kirbyville schools before progressing to roles of increasing responsibility.
Today, Dr. Sheppard’s unwavering dedication to “Building Champions” among staff and students of Huntsville ISD is more evident than ever, reflecting his belief in the power of education to shape futures and transform communities.
The honor of being named 2023 Region 6 Regional Superintendent of the Year adds to the stellar reputation of the Region 6 Education Service Center (ESC). Founded in 1967, Region 6 ESC is dedicated to assisting school districts in enhancing student performance, promoting operational efficiency, and implementing legislative or commissioner-assigned initiatives. It serves over 150,000 students and more than 20,000 teachers and staff members across 15 counties and 60+ school districts in southeast Texas.
With this new recognition, Dr. Sheppard continues to exemplify the best in educational leadership, championing the goals and aspirations of Huntsville ISD, and setting a benchmark for other superintendents in the region and beyond.
Related links:
Region 6 Education Service Center (ESC)
Dr. Scott Sheppard’s Profile on HISD Website
