Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Houston, Texas (Monday, June 24) – The Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees voted 7-0 this evening to name Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D., as its new Superintendent of Schools.

SBISD Trustees voted unanimously in a special meeting on May 31 to name Dr. Blaine as sole finalist for Superintendent to lead the 35,000-student school district. Under state law, there is a required 21-day waiting period until district Trustees can take final hiring action. Dr. Blaine will take office on July 1. Current Superintendent Scott Muri, Ed.D., will soon begin serving as Ector County ISD Superintendent.

“Dr. Blaine is deeply committed to the success of Every Child,” said SBISD President Pam Goodson after the unanimous Board vote. “Her extensive experiences within our system make her uniquely qualified to continue moving the district forward. She has a strong and accomplished track record of success in every district initiative under her leadership. The entire Board believes that her record of success will continue as the district’s leader.”

 “I am so very honored tonight to have been selected for this role,” Dr. Blaine told Trustees after being confirmed at the June 24 monthly meeting. “As I have said many times, this is truly a dream come true for me. I promise each of you that I will lead with passion and will keep our children at the forefront of every decision made. I will continue to focus our system with clarity on doing the right and very best work for all children. I will live our Core Values through my actions and words everyday as I lead and support our 4,800 employees to do great work on behalf of kids.”

“I believe, in my heart of hearts,” the new Superintendent also said, “that we have the most amazing school district and community, not only in the state of Texas, but in the nation.”

Dr. Blaine brings 29 years of experience including 19 in SBISD leading in roles ranging from principal to executive administrator and as an associate superintendent over three different divisions – curriculum and instruction, administration, and talent and operations. Dr. Blaine shares the Board’s commitment to the district’s T-2-4 goal of increasing the number of SBISD graduates achieving a technical certificate or military training, or a two-year or four-year degree.

SBISD’s new leader is a 2010 fellow of the Broad Superintendents Academy, a highly regarded national educational leadership institute. Serving as SBISD associate superintendent in several roles, Dr. Blaine has helped shape and implement many of the district’s strategic initiatives.

The naming of Dr. Blaine as Superintendent follows a process that began in April and included a Board meeting with an attorney to review superintendent selection options; a Board Workshop meeting where Superintendent candidates’ qualifications were discussed; and internal posting of the open position for a 10-work day period for application submissions.

In addition, an online public survey was conducted seeking input from employees, parents, teachers, students and community members about attributes desired in a new Superintendent. Responses were catalogued by areas of interest and presented during the Board’s regular meeting in May.

 A 1990 University of Iowa graduate, Dr. Blaine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education with a specialization in reading. She has since received a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership, both from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

She has presented at the international, national and state levels. Her honors include the Annenberg Challenge Award for School Reform, which she earned three times; the New Jersey Writing Project’s Sue German Award for Outstanding Instructional Leadership; and Texas School Business Monthly’s featured CTE Leader recognition.

Dr. Blaine and her husband, Will, reside in the Spring Branch ISD community where their son attends SBISD schools.

Related Links:

Learn more about Dr. Blaine here. 

To learn more about SBISD, please visit the district's homepage.