Carol James named 'Elementary Principal of the Year'

Carol James leads Nitsch Elementary by inspiring young minds through active learning.

Carol James, principal of Nitsch Elementary School, was recently selected as the 2012 Klein ISD Elementary Principal of the Year.

James has worked as an educator in the district for 23 years, starting as a kindergarten teacher in 1988. She taught for 16 years before obtaining her principal certification from Prairie View A&M.

James is known among her staff for holding high standards for herself and her campus and working hard for the benefit of her students.

“I love working in the Klein ISD," James said in a press release. "My kids went here, and I am just truly excited to have been nominated by my peers for this honor. This is not a ‘me job’, however, but rather a ‘we job.’ I have a fabulous staff that enables me to do my job and who are willing to step up and do whatever is needed of them. I assure them that it takes each and every one of us working together to take Nitsch and our students to that next level in their education.”

Since her time as principal at Nitsch Elementary, many initiatives and programs have been started, including the Recipes for Success program, which allows students to create and taste nutritional foods, and the Mighty Kids project, which teaches physical fitness.

“Mrs. James really puts her heart into her work to help the children, and she gives us teachers the freedom to be creative within the guidelines so that we can use our creativity to benefit our students,” said Dora Davis, fifth-grade teacher, in the press release.

“It’s been phenomenal working for Mrs. James and at Nitsch,” said Ken Murry, Positive Approach to Student Success (P.A.S.S.) assistant, in the press release. “She has an open door and you can talk to her about anything. Most importantly, with her it’s all about the kids, and that is what we all have in common.”

James is also known to make regular classroom visits, especially in the pre-K and kindergarten classes, where she reads books to the students.

“Each day offers a new opportunity in this line of work,” she added in the press release. “Depending on the day, my greatest gift might be giving a hug, or just taking the time to hear and speak to a parent. Whatever it is, I try to just reach out whenever I can and touch other lives in a positive way.”

Nitsch Elementary School is located at 4702 West Mount Houston Road in Houston.