Katy ISD to Hold Public Forums for Elementary Schools #47 and #48

KATY, TX [November 18, 2024] – At the November 2024 Board Meeting, the Naming Advisory committees for elementary schools #47 and #48 recommended names for the district’s newest elementary schools.

The committees recommend the following names:

Elementary #47 – Alfred (Al) and Ann Boudny always aspired to teach, both starting their careers at Eagle Lake Middle School in the 1970s. He later joined Katy ISD at West Memorial Elementary. In 1981, he opened Nottingham Country Elementary with Richard Bruce as the 5th grade team lead, and in 1982, he and Ann helped open Memorial Parkway Junior High. In 1991, he helped open McDonald Junior High, where he was social studies department chair for 15 years and was named Teacher of the Year in 2000. Al retired with 39 years of teaching, 34 of them in Katy ISD. In retirement, he tutors at Katy Elementary, serves as a KEYS mentor, and volunteers at several schools, including McRoberts, Memorial Parkway, and Tom Wilson elementary schools.

In 1982, Ann joined Katy ISD with the opening of Memorial Parkway Junior High, where she served as department chair for 30 years, retiring in 2015 after 33 at the school. Al and Ann are active members of the Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE) organization.

Elementary #48 – James and Mitzi Cross both have extensive careers in education, contributing to their communities and inspiring future generations of students and educators. James began his teaching career in Levelland, Texas, where he taught English and U.S. History while also serving as assistant varsity, and then varsity tennis coach, at Levelland Junior High until 1998. James moved to Katy ISD’s Beck Junior High in 2002, where he served as assistant principal, and later as principal until 2009. His leadership journey culminated in his role as principal of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy ISD, where he served until 2022.

Mitzi Cross also had a long and fulfilling career in education. Her career began as a 7th grade English Language Arts teacher at Brownfield ISD from 1983 to 1986. She then taught 5th grade social studies and ELA at Roosevelt ISD before moving to Levelland ISD, where she taught 5th grade ELA. Mitzi then shifted to the role of librarian in Levelland before becoming a 5th grade ELA teacher at Alexander Elementary in Katy ISD in 2002. She later served as the librarian at Diane Winborn Elementary and Michael Griffin Elementary in the district. Mitzi retired after a 40-year career in education, having made a lasting impact on countless students.

The district will host Public Forums on the named recommendations, and community members are invited to share their thoughts. The forum for #47 will begin at 5 p.m., and the forum for #48 will begin at 6 p.m.

Elementary #47 is located at 7402 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road and will relieve Youngblood Elementary. Elementary #48 is located at 900 Sunterra Shores and will relieve Faldyn and Robertson elementary schools.

Visit the School and Facility Naming webpage to learn more about the recommended namesakes.