Greetings, Falcons!
Rick Kershner was officially offered the role of Royal ISD Superintendent on Monday, August 10, 2020. Read on to learn more about Mr. Kershner.
Please tell us about your family.
I have three adult children and five grandsons.
What are your favorite hobbies or pastimes?
My favorite pastime is spending time with family and working cattle with my son. I enjoy football, basketball, baseball, and track.
What are your goals for your first year at RISD?
To build trust and positive working relationships and to get to know as many students as possible. I want to participate in community and school activities.
Your prior position was Assistant Superintendent of Leadership and Culture. How do you plan to use the experience you gained in that role?
My current role has provided me an opportunity to be directly involved in all levels of campus leadership and see the positive impacts for campus culture when the organization focuses on building positive appropriate relationships with all students, staff, and district stakeholders.
How do you feel about the opportunity to return to Royal ISD?
I am truly honored that the board has confidence in my abilities to lead RISD. My tenure here as an assistant principal was extremely rewarding and I have always been interested in returning to the district to impact the students and community. Royal is a wonderful district that cares about providing students with opportunities to be successful beyond high school.
We are currently living in a surreal and uncertain time. How do you plan to facilitate a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that meets the needs of staff, parents, students, and the community while adhering to national, state, and local guidelines?
Our priority will always be to place student safety as the focus. With that in mind, we will remain diligent in our efforts to provide the best possible instructional practices and safe working environment for our students and staff.
During the superintendent search, the school board asked the RISD community to identify the characteristic s they would most like to see in the next Royal superintendent. Please provide a brief statement on how you feel your experience and personality fulfills each statement.
An effective communicator with refined interpersonal skills who is visible, willing to listen and learn, and interacts well with the staff and community.
The single most important element for success in leadership is effective communication. I believe the most effective is face to face with an open posture to provide all with a voice. A willingness to be visible, a good listener, and a collaborative decision maker are all skills I will employ.
A leader with a successful record of leading and monitoring the curriculum necessary for all students and teachers to excel academically and personally.
The superintendent serves as the district’s instructional leader and I have and will continue to lead collaboratively to foster and build the district' s curriculum and to provide the best for every Royal student.
Able to work in partnership with the Board of Trustees and build a climate of candor, mutual trust, and cooperation.
I believe in working together to build the best possible learning experiences for all Royal students. This can be accomplished through mutual trust and candid conversations with the board trustees to make the best decisions for all Royal students.
An experienced financial manager who understands Texas school finance, how to maximize the district's resources and tap alternative sources of funding.
I have worked with campus and district budgets for the past ten years and I will focus on being a responsible steward of district funds. We will continue Royal ISD's conscientious and solid spending and budget processes.
Is a progressive visionary that has had proven success in implementing instructional technology and innovative strategies in today's classroom.
I take a progressive-minded approach of using best practices and processes when working to integrate technology. It is my goal to utilize instructional technology tools to enhance the learning experiences of each child.
An effective problem solver who actively solicits input from those involved, reviews the facts, makes the tough decisions and supports those decisions with resources and personal commitment.
I feel that being a problem solver is truly a vital part of the superintendent role. This is an area in which I am comfortable and confident in my abilities to reach equitable decisions. The process will be principled centered, working with all involved to understand their position and collaborate to determine the best possible decision. Tough decisions are part of the job and I am confident in my abilities to work with others to solve problems and execute tough decisions.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RISD community?
I am honored to be chosen to serve the Royal ISD and community.
Royal ISD School Board members welcoming Mr. Kershner. From L-R: Secretary Cheri Fontenot, Trustee Nathaniel Richardson, Jr., Superintendent Rick Kershner, Vice President Joseph Campos, President Elton Foster, and Trustee Emily Hillsman. Not pictured: Trustees Mike Glover and Rose Jones.
Splendora Superintendent Jeffrey Burke and Splendora School Board President Adam Dietrich congratulating Mr. Kershner on his new journey at Royal ISD: