Four of our beloved campus lead principals have retired, and we cannot thank them enough for their service and dedication to public education and our Round Rock ISD community. To commemorate their departure, they were asked about the end of their careers and to offer insights into their experiences at Round Rock ISD and in education.
Jenny Strong
Strong dedicated a remarkable 29 years to education, with 23 of those spent in Round Rock ISD. Her journey in the district began at Caldwell Heights Elementary, where she taught second-grade for five years before teaching at Cactus Ranch Elementary, and then transitioning to be a campus leader at Voigt Elementary and Brushy Creek Elementary.
One of Strong’s favorite aspects of being a campus leader was the opportunity to forge strong relationships with students, staff and community members throughout the years. She knew that the key to building trust within her campus and community was to ensure open, honest relationships with all of her Brushy Creek students, staff and families.
A key lesson she wishes to impart to fellow educators is to “keep people at the forefront! Building relationships with students, staff, and families will be the foundation for everything else. Make yourself visible, listen more than you talk, and don’t feel pressured to have all the answers immediately. Set clear expectations, stay consistent, and remember that trust is built in those small, everyday moments.”
As she prepares to retire, her parting words are a heartfelt reminder: “I may be stepping away, but the spirit of Brushy Creek Elementary will always be with me… just with a bit more free time on my hands.”
Heath Frazer
Frazier dedicated a remarkable 30 years to education, with 19 of those spent in Round Rock ISD. Before joining Round Rock ISD, Frazer was a high school business teacher and assistant coach for basketball and tennis in Kansas. He then moved to Texas and became the assistant principal at Deep Wood Elementary School before leading at Callison Elementary School and, for 14 years, serving as the lead principal at Great Oaks Elementary.
A factor in education that particularly intrigued Frazer was problem-solving. Trying to find a win-win solution to problems and gaps for everyone was always the goal. He loved to help others so they could be the best versions of themselves each day.
Something Frazer learned and wanted to pass along to other educators is that listening is one of the strongest skills to have. “Listen with the intent to really understand the problem and provide help,” Frazer said. “Trust is built over time with each interaction, so keep at it.”
Cheryl Hester
Hester has 33 years of experience in education, with 13 years in a classroom setting and 20 as a school administrator. She started as a fifth-grade teacher in Bastrop ISD. Then she moved to Round Rock ISD to serve as an educator at Berkman Elementary School and Cactus Ranch Elementary before her first role as an assistant principal at Blackland Prairie Elementary and Voigt Elementary School, where she then led the school as principal for 13 years.
One aspect of her leadership that Hester always loved to focus on was helping. Regardless of whether it was for a first-grade student, a veteran educator, or a new parent, helping guide and lead in education was something she felt was her true calling.
Some words of wisdom from Hester to others in education would be, “Spend your first year learning all about the community you serve.” Hester said, “Don't make a lot of changes right away. Spend time building relationships with your staff and families, and always ensure your teachers have everything they need to be able to teach their students.”
As she prepares to retire, her parting words aren’t just for educators, but to all: “The greatest success in any career isn’t measured in years, but the lives we can touch while being there.”
Vicki Crain
Crain has 36 years of excellence in education, spanning teaching and school leadership. She started her career as a first-grade teacher in Fort Worth ISD before coming to Round Rock ISD, where she taught at Cactus Ranch Elementary. As her love for Cactus Ranch grew, she served as their assistant principal for four years and then led the campus as principal for 20 years.
What stood out most to Crain was the love of seeing her students grow. “I love getting to see former students and hear how Cactus Ranch Elementary has had a positive impact on their lives,” Crain said. “I never get tired of reconnecting with them, celebrating their successes, and recognizing that I had a small part in helping shape the person they have become.”
Crain focused on creating those deep moments of connection with people. Knowing that building relationships has the greatest impact, she made sure that all students, staff, educators and community members felt heard and comfortable when they walked into her school.
As she ends her educational career, her parting words are a quote from Maya Angelou, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”