Tomball ISD Names Salazar-Zamora As Lone Superintendent Finalist

TOMBALL, TX -- The Tomball ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday voted unanimously to name Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora as the lone finalist to become the new superintendent of schools in Tomball ISD.

Salazar-Zamora, who has served as the district’s chief academic officer since 2014, will, by statute, have to wait 21 days before she assumes leadership.

The board approved Salazar-Zamora from a field of 29 other candidates, making her the first woman, and first Hispanic to assumed the role in Tomball ISD.

“I am overwhelmed with joy. I am so excited and so grateful to this board for giving me this wonderful opportunity,” Salazar-Zamora said. “To have this opportunity in a district that I care about, it means the world to me. It’s like my professional dream come true."

Salazar-Zamora has a 30-year track record in education and has held a number of key leadership positions throughout her career, including superintendent of school in Kingsville ISD, and in leadership positions in Round Rock ISD, Houston ISD, Bishop CISD and Spring ISD.

She began her career in education as a teacher and speech pathologist with Kingsville ISD, and went on to serve as an educational diagnostician, and as an assistant superintendent before assuming the role of superintendent.

Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora is congratulated by Tomball ISD Superintendent Huey Kinchen after she was chosen by the Tomball ISD board of trustees to become the new superintendent of schools. She will succeed Kinchen next month.

As Tomball ISD’s chief academic officer, Salazar-Zamora introduced a number of programs to the district, including the new early college high school program, known as Tomball Star Academy, and the Principal Partners Program which pairs a parent with a principal with a behind-the scenes look at what school principals each day.

At the end of the mandated 21-day waiting period on March 2, the board of trustees intends plans to officially hire Salazar-Zamora.

“I think she has already shown that she excels in developing initiatives that are good for students,” Tomball ISD Board President Kathy Handler said. “I feel there will be other initiatives that she will bring to our district that will be beneficial to the future of Tomball ISD.”

Once she assumes her new role, she will begin working closely with Tomball ISD Superintendent Huey Kinchen, who officially retires March 31.

Kinchen, who has worked in the district for nearly 18 years, announced his retirement to the board of trustees in November.

He was named superintendent in July 2013 to replace John Neubauer who retired from Tomball ISD after 46 years.

Kinchen said he was pleasantly surprised, and thrilled at the selection of Salazar-Zamora as his successor.

“I was hopeful (because) it would be hard to find someone better than her,” Kinchen said. “I was ecstatic because I think she’s the right person for the job. She’s a good fit and she knows the district. She’s done a lot of great things since she’s been here, and she understands our needs, so for us to continue moving forward, we won’t miss a beat.”

Images: Tomball ISD

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