Superintendent, Northwest ISD

Karen Rue

Karen Rue, Ed.D. joined Northwest ISD in July 2005, as the Superintendent of Schools.  Under her leadership, the district continues to make gains in increasing academic success for all students. While at NISD, Rue has led two successful bond elections. The first bond election was held in 2005 for $224 million and the second in 2008 for $260 million.

In February 2010, Rue was a finalist for the Texas Computer Educators Association (TCEA) Superintendent of the Year Award. She serves on the executive committee for the Texas School Coalition, Fast Growth Schools Coalition, and Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-urban Schools, a Director of the 35W Coalition and on the Board of the Northwest Communities Partnership. Rue is on the Executive Board of the Texas Association of School Administrators and serves as the chair of the Communication and Technology Committee. Recently, she was elected Vice President for the South Central States for Urban Superintendents Association of America (USAA). She has presented at local, state, and national conferences.

Prior to joining Northwest ISD, Rue served as superintendent of schools of Tuloso-Midway ISD, a suburban school district in Corpus Christi, and as Executive Director of Katy ISD, a large school district with over 37,000 students. While at Katy ISD she received the United States Congressional Award for her contribution to education.

Karen Rue, Ed.D. has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, a master’s from Lamar University, and a doctorate from Texas A&M University. All three degrees are in education.

Superintendent Karen Rue is leading a transformational change in education at Northwest ISD and in Texas to ensure that all students are equipped for the digital age in which we live. She has a passion for public education and is dedicated to supporting NISD educators as they prepare students to be future ready ready to enter college, ready to enter the global workplace, and ready for their personal success.