Steven Snell, superintendent of Liberty Hill ISD, has been named the 2024 Regional Superintendent of the Year by the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 13.
The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees unanimously nominated Snell, reflecting the board’s recognition of his outstanding leadership and vision. Since he was appointed superintendent, Snell has led the district through remarkable growth and significant achievements. Under his leadership, student enrollment has doubled from 4,000 to 9,050 in just over five years.
To address the district’s rapid growth, Snell successfully guided Liberty Hill ISD through two major bond initiatives totaling $962 million. His efforts included creating a Long-Range Planning Committee, engaging the community through over 80 bond information sessions, and organizing bus tours to showcase the district’s developments and construction projects. The result was an impressive 76% approval rate for the 2023 bond proposition, the highest for any large bond in Texas that year.
Commitment to Growth
Snell’s commitment to managing growth extends beyond bonds. He has overseen up to 13 simultaneous construction projects, ensuring timely completion and effective resource use. He is actively involved with the Fast Growth Schools Coalition, advocating for policies that benefit rapidly growing districts like Liberty Hill ISD.
One of Snell’s key strengths is his ability to build and maintain a positive school culture. He meets with new teachers and staff to share the district’s history and values, ensuring the continuity of Liberty Hill’s traditions. He has also revamped the human resources department to focus on teacher development and retention. Under his leadership, the district has joined the Holdsworth Leadership Development Center to enhance internal leadership capacity.
Snell’s influence extends beyond Liberty Hill ISD. He has taught superintendency classes and created coursework for the Texas Superintendency Certification Institute. He has also presented at numerous educational conferences and mentored other regional superintendents.
Safety is a Top Priority
With safety as a top priority, Snell organized a community-wide school safety summit, bringing in national speakers to address safety concerns. He also advocated for and implemented the addition of a police officer at each campus before it was mandated.
Under his financial stewardship, Liberty Hill ISD’s fund balance has increased significantly, and the district has improved its credit rating, saving millions in debt interest. He encourages staff involvement in the budget process, fostering transparency and collaboration.
The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees is honored to have Snell as their superintendent and proud to see him recognized as the 2024 Regional Superintendent of the Year. His exceptional work ethic, dedication to public education, and unwavering support for the Liberty Hill community make him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
“Steven Snell’s exemplary leadership and innovative approach to managing rapid growth have profoundly impacted Liberty Hill ISD. His dedication to fostering a positive school culture, engaging the community, and advocating for public education is commendable. We proudly recognize him as the 2024 Regional Superintendent of the Year.”
Dr. Rich Elsasser, ESC Region 13 Executive Director
Sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the Superintendent of the Year program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984. Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance, and commitment to public involvement in education.
Superintendents from any of the state’s local school districts are eligible for nomination by their school boards. Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which chooses one nominee to send to the state selection committee.
TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state, and the districts they represent serve more than 5.3 million students.
See previous recipients here.
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