Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle announced this week that he will be retiring after 20 years with the District. Dr. Randle plans to finish the school year in Lamar CISD, or until the School Board completes the superintendent search process.
Dr. Randle became Lamar CISD’s Superintendent of Schools in 2001. Under his leadership, Lamar CISD has become known around the state for academic excellence. During Dr. Randle’s tenure, the District has twice been recognized by Texas School Business magazine for its best practices, earned the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award for Best Large District, had four campuses named National Blue Ribbon Schools, and been selected as an inaugural cohort member of The Holdsworth Center’s District Leadership Program. Academically, Lamar CISD is one of the state’s largest districts to receive an “A” rating by the Texas Education Agency.
Since Dr. Randle’s arrival in Lamar CISD, student enrollment has increased from 16,000 to over 36,000 and the staff has gone from 2,200 to over 5,400—making Lamar CISD the second-largest employer in Fort Bend County. The District has also successfully passed five bond elections totaling more than $1.3 billion dollars.
“Lamar CISD is a special place, with special people,” said Randle. “All I can say is that I am humbled and grateful to have served alongside so many others over the past two decades.”
“Dr. Randle is a pillar of our community and we have been so fortunate to have his calm and steady leadership for so many years,” said Lamar CISD Board of Trustees President, Joy Williams. “When you look at our world-class instruction, our sound financial management and our innovative programming—Dr. Randle has clearly positioned Lamar CISD for continued success.”
Randle has more than 40 years of experience in education, including 26 as a superintendent of schools. He has twice been named the Region 4 Superintendent of the Year, once in 2001 and again in 2017. Other honors include the 2004 Texas Educational Support Staff Administrator of the Year and Texas A&M’s 2012 John R. Hoyle Award for Educational Leadership. In 2017, the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators recognized Dr. Randle by naming a statewide award in his honor.
Dr. Randle earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University and a Doctorate from Oklahoma State University. At A&M, Dr. Randle was a Distinguished Student, and was named an Outstanding Graduate.
The Lamar CISD School Board has initiated the search process with its counsel and plans to share a public timeline for the hiring of a new superintendent in November.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we want to publicly thank Dr. Randle, his wife Rubye, and his family for their many years of valued service to Lamar CISD,” said Williams. “In the meantime, we look forward to completing another successful school year under his leadership.”