ROUND ROCK, Texas — In a special called meeting held Friday, November 13, the Round Rock Independent School Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Steve Flores came to an agreement about his continuing role with the district. The group accepted Flores’s resignation.
Flores will step down from his current position at the end of the month, and beginning December 1, he will remain on staff to assist with transition of leadership, according to a release on the RRISD website. He was named 2020 Texas PTA Superintendent of the Year this past June.
“Round Rock ISD is my home and I love this District like no other. It was the honor of my career to return to Round Rock ISD in 2013 as Superintendent and lead this extraordinary school system and I am proud of the work we’ve accomplished and the ‘Destination District’ Round Rock ISD has become,” Dr. Flores said. “I am ready to transition to the next chapter in my career, one that allows me to continue to advocate for Texas public schools, pursue my lifelong goal of writing a book about the transformational power of public education, and also have time for family and friends. I believe the time is right for new leadership and a new perspective in Round Rock ISD that will build on our legacy of excellence.”
It was reported earlier this week that the Board of Trustees would hold this meeting, but the outcome was not made official until today.
The public was able to watch Friday’s meeting online, and some parents commented in support of Flores.
The highlights under Flores’s leadership included:
- Successful Bond Programs passed in 2014 and 2018 totaling more than $800 million.
- Opened several new campuses and facilities, including Joe Lee Johnson Elementary, Pearson Ranch Middle School, Early College High School, Success High School, and Performing Arts Centers at Cedar Ridge and Stony Point high schools.
- Established first-ever Office of Equity in Round Rock ISD and hired the District’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer.
- Established Round Rock ISD Police Department with a groundbreaking model focusing on student advocacy and behavioral health.
- Round Rock ISD college readiness rates recognized as best in Central Texas by Austin Chamber multiple years.
- Seven consecutive Superior ratings on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.
- Only District in Texas to earn and maintain a AAA rating from both Moody’s and Fitch.
- Selected in 2017 as one of seven districts across the state to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Holdsworth Center leadership program. Founded by H-E-B CEO Charles Butt, the program is a five-year partnership focused on helping public school districts grow their pipeline of inspiring leaders.
- Earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency in 2018 for outstanding student performance on STAAR exams.
- Round Rock and Westwood high schools consistently ranked among best in the state and nation by U.S. News & World Report.
- Multiple Round Rock ISD schools named as top-performing schools by Children at Risk multiple years in a row.
- Multiple schools earning Project Lead the Way Distinguished and National Showcase campuses multiple years in a row.
- Round Rock ISD Recognized by the Texas Arts Association as a District of Distinction for outstanding fine arts programs in 2019 and 2020.