Some familiar faces in Pasadena ISD will now be in some new positions.
Karen Hickman is the new Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction (Pre-Kindergarten-sixth grade). She had served as one of the district's executive directors of campus performance since 2007. From 1999-2007, she served as principal of Matthys Elementary, where she was named a National Distinguished Principal by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. She began her career in education in 1985. Hickman graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her master's degree from the University of Houston.
Billye Smith was named the Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction (7-12). Smith served as principal of the district's newest high school, Memorial High School. She oversaw the opening of the high school and building its staff and curriculum from the ground up when the school opened in 2001. Smith began her career in Pasadena ISD in 1988 as a teacher at Teague Elementary and has served in secondary school assistant principal and principal positions in Pasadena and Deer Park school districts. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Troy McCarley is the district's new Associate Superintendent for Campus Development. McCarley had served as an executive director of campus performance along with Hickman. McCarley served as principal of Sam Rayburn High School from 2004-2007 and led the school to a National Model School designation from the International Center of Leadership in Education. McCarley has also served as principal at Queens Intermediate School and as an assistant principal at Jackson Intermediate. He began his career as a teacher in Deer Park ISD in 1993. McCarley received his bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University and his master's from the University of St. Thomas.
Rosie Prusz was selected as the district's new Associate Superintendent for Leadership and Instruction Support. Prusz has served as the principal of Kruse Elementary School since 1997. She has also been honored as a National Distinguished Principal by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association and was a finalist in H-E-B Excellence in Education Outstanding Principal awards. She began her career in Pasadena ISD as a fourth grade teacher in 1980 and also worked as an instructional specialist from 1991-1997. Prusz received her bachelor's degree from the University of Houston-Central Campus and earned her master's from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Joe Saavedra was named the new principal of Pasadena High School. Saavedra has served as principal at Miller Intermediate School for the past six years. He started his career at Jackson Intermediate as a math teacher in 1998 and then moved up to assistant principal in 2002. Saavedra received his bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University and his master's from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
