Kevin Bott, Superintendent, Santa Fe ISD
In an interview with Invest:, Kevin Bott, superintendent of the Santa Fe Independent School District (ISD), discussed the district’s growth, workforce preparation, bilingual programming, teacher retention, and the importance of creating a safe and welcoming school culture. “As challenging as education can be, it is always rewarding,” Bott said.
What have been the biggest changes or trends affecting the Santa Fe ISD over the past year?
Our goal does not change. We always try to keep our kids first, help them be successful, and collaborate with our families and community. Everybody who comes to work in Santa Fe ISD is here to help kids.
We also live in a world where the political climate can make things more complex than they need to be. We may get calls, emails, or media requests about something that is a hot topic politically, but when we hang up the phone, we go back to work and keep helping our kids.
The headline may change, but for us, the goal and vision do not. We still see the results of teachers’ hard work, collaboration between schools and communities, and kids continuing to succeed and move forward.
Are demographic shifts affecting your priorities?
We are seeing more homes being built in the area and more families moving into Santa Fe. Our attendance has gone up a little bit, and we are starting to see more younger families moving into the district. That is refreshing because it allows us to welcome families and walk them through our schools.
People forget how nerve-racking it can be for a parent of a 5-year-old starting school for the first time. Creating and maintaining a positive, welcoming environment is extremely important. I would argue that feeling safe and welcome is just as important as the educational material and curriculum we provide. Students need to feel safe and welcome before they can truly be successful.
How would you describe Santa Fe ISD’s position within the Greater Houston region?
Santa Fe is located between Houston and Galveston. We are one of the few school districts in the Greater Houston area that still has a lot of open land. Most of the homes in Santa Fe are on larger properties, ranging from half an acre to 10 acres. It is an open, spread-out area, and people often move here to get away from the noise and find a quieter setting.
We do not necessarily have one major industry, but we do have a lot of people who both live and work in Santa Fe.
How is the district preparing students for evolving workforce needs?
We have career and technical education tracks for our junior high- and high-school students. Our CTE director works hard to stay connected with economic development, industry needs, and growing workforce opportunities.
We are trying to bridge student interest with economic need. There may be a lot of students interested in welding, and there is definitely a need for welders, but not every student will graduate and become a welder. On the other hand, there is also a large need for plumbers and HVAC professionals, but not every student wants to pursue those tracks.
We want students to graduate with multiple certifications and opportunities to be successful in a variety of career and technical pathways. Whether they go to college or directly into the workforce, we want them to have tools and certifications that allow them to be hired in the current market.
One of the bigger challenges is keeping school engaging and enjoyable while also preparing students for a demanding workforce.
Where do you see the district’s biggest investment priorities?
One of the biggest areas for us is our bilingual population. We have seen an influx of students and families who are not necessarily English speakers, so we have grown our bilingual program. We are expanding our pre-K and kindergarten bilingual programming next year to make sure students and families are successful. We want students to have the tools they need, even at a young age.
We love that people want to be here and raise their families here. It is our responsibility to make sure they have the tools they need to be successful and prepared.
How are you attracting and retaining teachers?
One of the top recruiting tools we have tried to create in Santa Fe is culture. We want people to enjoy coming to work, feel valued, and want to stay. I work here, my wife works at an elementary school across the street, and three of our children are still here. That makes a difference because I am not asking any parent or student to do anything I am not asking my own family to do.
We have to create an environment where people feel welcome, and we have to value the work they are doing. Teaching is hard, and the dynamics that students and families bring can sometimes be hard. Our teachers need to know they have our support and that we will provide whatever resources we can.
Our turnover rate has been relatively low, and we have had people leave and then come back. That tells me people want to stay and enjoy the work we are doing.
How are expectations from students and staff evolving?
Teachers sometimes wish they had more resources, and we wish we could provide more resources and support. That is probably a challenge for every school system, but the larger issue is making sure teachers feel valued. It is one thing for an employer to say that teachers are appreciated and valued. It is another for state legislators and representatives to say that.
We care about all kids. We are not perfect, and we are going to make mistakes because we work with human capital. That does not mean we stop caring or stop finding creative ways to help students.
What role does technology and AI play in the district?
As long as AI is used as a proper tool, it can support students and teachers. We know students will use these tools in college and in the workforce, so we are not saying they are bad. We want students to understand them and use them effectively.
The key word is tool. Technology should support who students are and what they are doing, not control them or shape their perspective. The relationships we build with students remain priority one. Our educators are shaping education, and AI can be used as a tool within that process.
What are your top priorities for the Santa Fe ISD over the next three to five years?
As we continue to grow, our goal is to maintain a safe and positive environment. Students face ups and downs, including mental health concerns, academic concerns, and special needs.
That is why I keep coming back to creating an environment where students and families feel safe.
We start with safety, and we make sure that our kids feel safe and make sure that our families feel safe. I am not only talking about safety from a threat. I am talking about being safe to talk to us, engage with us, and ask questions.
From there, we move into academic goals, athletic goals, and CTE goals. Safety comes first, then student success, then culture. If we maintain a safe, positive, and welcoming environment, we will be more successful as a school district and as a community.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The work of an educator is challenging, but it is always rewarding. I have seen people leave education because of the workload or salary and go into another field. More often than people might think, I have seen them come back because there is a sense of purpose here that draws them back.
I recently talked with my teenage daughter about careers as she prepares for college. She asked whether it is better to make more money in a job you do not really like or make less money in a job you love. I told her life is short, and she will have to figure out what makes her happy.
I worked for many years in jobs I loved that did not make much money. I was a teacher, then an assistant principal, principal, director, assistant superintendent, and now a superintendent. Now I am in a place where I am still happy, and I get to work to help our teachers earn more money, which is even more rewarding.
The goal for me was never to make money. The goal was always to help kids. As challenging as education can be, it is always rewarding.
