Conroe ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton Announces Retirement

At the conclusion of the annual Celebrate Our Schools Assembly on Monday, Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2017-18 school year.

Bringing his wife, Kara, who is a retired CISD teacher, to the stage with him, Dr. Stockton shared the story of his time with the District and how much each moment has meant to him.

“It’s been an honor to serve in the District for 32 years with 15 of those years as superintendent,” shared Stockton.

Dr. Don Stockton was appointed Superintendent of Schools in August of 2003. He has 34 years of experience in education, serving 32 of those years in Conroe ISD.

Prior to being named Superintendent, Dr. Stockton served as Interim Superintendent; Assistant Superintendent; Principal of The Woodlands High School, McCullough Junior High School, and Knox Junior High School; and Assistant Principal at Oak Ridge High School, McCullough Junior High School, and Knox Junior High School. Prior to administration, he taught math and coached at both Conroe High School and Travis Junior High School. Dr. Stockton began his career in education as a math teacher in Lafayette, Indiana.

In addition to his District responsibilities as Superintendent, he volunteers on numerous educational and civic boards and committees, including Junior Achievement Board of Southeast Texas, Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Conroe Economic Development Council, the Education for Tomorrow Alliance, Montgomery County Food Bank, Montgomery County Public Health District Board, Assistance League of Montgomery County Advisory Board, The Woodlands Rotary, and Montgomery County United Way.

Dr. Stockton was awarded the 2004 Texas Counseling Association Layperson Exemplary Service Award from counselors from the public school and private practice sectors throughout the state of Texas. He was named as the Educator of the Month for Texas School Business in March 2005. In March of 2007, Dr. Stockton was honored by Interfaith of The Woodlands at the annual Five Who Share banquet for his impact in the field of education. Dr. Stockton was named the Education Service Center Region VI Superintendent of the Year in 2007, Texas Superintendent of the Year Finalist in 2007, and South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2008. He was selected to be the Grand Marshall of the 2007 Conroe Black History Month Parade, the 2008 Kiwanis Club of Conroe Children’s Christmas Parade, and the 2009 Fourth of July South County Celebration Parade.

He received the 2013 Drum Major Award at the 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration in The Woodlands. The title of the award is derived from a sermon given by Dr. King in February, 1968, in which he referred to a 20th century notion of greatness – the innate human need for recognition, the desire for distinction – calling this impulse the Drum Major instinct. The Drum Major Award is an honor given annually to an outstanding individual in Montgomery County whose life or work best exemplifies the ideals of being a “Drum Major.”

In 2014, Dr. Stockton was honored by Texas A&M University College of Education and Human Development as an Outstanding Alumnus at the College Awards Celebration. The College of Education and Human Development recognizes former students who have distinguished themselves in their field by contributing to Texas and the nation as evidenced by their leadership. In 2015, Dr. Stockton was named an honorary alumnus of Leadership Montgomery County for his dedication to helping cultivate the future leaders of Montgomery County. In 2017, Dr. Stockton was presented the Community Builders Award by Conroe Masonic Lodge #748 in appreciation for his outstanding community-oriented achievements.

Under Dr. Stockton’s leadership, Conroe ISD is the largest school district to ever be named Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency. Conroe ISD is one of only three districts to be recognized with the highest rating six years in a row for high academic achievement while maintaining cost-effective operations. Conroe ISD has also received the highest recognition for transparency from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts seven years in a row. In 2015, the District was selected by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Institute for Productivity in Education (IPE) as one of nine public school districts in Texas to receive the title of Honor Roll District.

Dr. Stockton received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue University. He obtained his Mid-Management Certification from Sam Houston State University and his Doctorate of Education in Administration from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Kara, have a daughter, Brooke, who is a Conroe ISD and Texas A&M University graduate. He and Kara are members at West Conroe Baptist Church.