College Station ISD Retirements And New Administrator Hires

Bringing in New Admins to Foster Continuing Success

As we bid farewell to two long-standing administrators from the College Station Independent School District (CSISD), droves of fresh energy and ideas come with the two new recruits. CSISD announced the retirement of its Chief Financial Officer, Amy Drozd, after four years of service in CSISD and 18 years of tenure in a similar role at Bryan ISD. Additionally, the Transportation Director, Hector Silva, is bidding adieu after spending 16 years in his position.

This month, the vacancies left by these administrative titans have been filled as the CSISD School Board brings on board Heather Wilson of Canyon as the new Chief Financial Officer and Shannon Calltharp steps up as the new Transportation Director. Notably, Calltharp becomes the third key administrator to make the transition from Willis, following in the steps of Superintendent Tim Harkrider and Chief of Staff Sara Goolsby.

Heather Wilson— Stepping Up the Fiscal Game

On March 28, during its special workshop meeting, the CSISD Board of Trustees officially signed on Heather Wilson as the district’s new Chief Financial Officer. Heather is expected to continue the efforts of Drozd, who plans to retire this spring following her commendable service. With 26 years of experience in school finance, Wilson brings a cache of expertise to her new role. She has held important positions within public school finance, including serving as the director of finance for Smithville ISD, the director of support services for Giddings ISD, and most recently the assistant superintendent of business and operations at Canyon ISD.

In her new role at CSISD, Wilson plans to continue making fiscally sound decisions and efficiently manage taxpayer funds. She wholeheartedly believes in the strong leadership of Dr. Harkrider and is excited about collaborating with the entire College Station ISD family.

Shannon Calltharp — The New Wheel in CSISD’s Transport Department

On March 19, the CSISD Board of Trustees approved Shannon Calltharp as the district’s new Director of Transportation. With nine years of experience in transportation, including four at a directorial level, Calltharp hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the responsibilities earlier handled by Hector Silva.

With a steady hands-on approach to the transportation of 5,500 students daily over 154 miles, Calltharp looks forward to continuing the commendable job done by her predecessor, Silva. Adding, “I know I’ve got big shoes to fill here in CSISD, but I’m confident we can keep the important work getting our students to and back from school safely and efficiently.”

Other CSISD Updates

In other CSISD news, the College Station City Council and Habitat For Humanity have agreed to terminate a contract from July 2017 to build five homes for low-income families. It was mutual agreement, with Habitat returning to the city whatever they receive for selling the land on Renee Lane, just few blocks north of College Station High School.

In preparation for the 2024-2025 academic year, Bryan ISD school board members are currently knee-deep in the budget discussion, a process that has been significantly characterized with anticipation. The possibility of not filling or restructuring positions due to fiscal constraints was also proposed.

At a Glance and Forward-Looking Statements

Through these significant retirements and hires, CSISD is poised to continue being a beacon of educational excellence in Texas. With the likes of Heather Wilson and Shannon Calltharp in key roles, it’s safe to say that the college is in good hands.