The day-to-day operations of running a school district have a habit of keeping you on your toes. Luckily, Jill Bottelberghe, the new superintendent of the Connally Independent School District, prefers to use a standing desk.
Bottelberghe began her tenure as leader of the district on July 5th. She replaces Wesley Holt, who retired after 33 years with CISD - the final 10 of which were as superintendent.
“I’m extremely excited to be in this leadership role for this district,” Bottelberghe said. “In all of my years in education, Connally has been the best place to work for by far.”
Bottelberghe has worked in the district since 2012. She was the high school principal for eight years before moving to the administration building to serve as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. She started her career as a middle school language arts teacher and later moved into administrative roles at both the Maypearl and Venus Independent School Districts.
“I have done a little bit of everything over the years - from being a classroom teacher to a counselor to a campus and district-level administrator,” Bottelberghe said. “I really feel as though the combination of those experiences gives me a holistic perspective on education.”
As the start of the 2023 - 2024 school year draws near, the superintendent’s office has listed clear and accessible communication with the public as a major priority.
“We are currently working to completely overhaul our district’s website and social media presence,” CISD Director of Communications Michael Donaldson said. “There are amazing things going on in our schools and community, and we want everyone to be able to see and hear about them as often as possible.”
That push for strong communication with the public falls in line with another one of Bottelberghe’s goals: a commitment to the mission and vision of the district.
“In order for a school to really make a positive difference in the life of a student, everyone working there has to be able to articulate their ‘why’,” Bottelberghe said. “That provides us with a basic roadmap of where we are and what we hope to accomplish with every single student. It helps us maximize the good that we provide.”
That devotion to a central vision is crucial to the establishment of a positive school culture. Proper adherence to it has an effect that extends far beyond the administration building.
“We are lucky to work for a superintendent that has so much experience and passion. Those traits combined with her technical skills make her an ideal leader,” new high school principal Hermann Pereria said. Pereira is returning to Connally after spending the past three years working in the non-profit sector. He previously worked as a teacher and administrator at CHS.
When students return to class on August 9th, they will find things operating as “business as usual”. That consistency of routine is thanks to a smooth transition of leadership that requires a lot of hard work.
“The administration building never really has a true day off,” Bottelberghe said. “Everyone here has their sleeves rolled up and is working hard to have a smooth start to the school year. I am excited to be along for the ride.”