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Nivens named Superintendent of the Year Community Reports Lamar Consolidated Independent ISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens this week named the 2026 AASA National Superintendent of the Year. The announcement was made during the National Conference on Education, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The announcement marks the second time in its history the award has gone to a Texas-based superintendent, and the first Texas winner since 2001, when then-Houston ISD Superintendent—and later U.S. Secretary of Education—Rod Paige was awarded the top national honor. “This is a truly unbelievable moment, and I’m incredibly grateful and humbled,” Nivens said in a news release. “When I think of my own journey growing up and the incredible impact that dedicated, passionate educators made in my own life, it makes me thankful every single day that I’m able now to help pay that forward and lead a team in Lamar CISD that’s having that same kind of impact on future generations.” Now in its 39th year, the National Superintendent of the Year program is co-sponsored by AASA, Corebridge Financial and Sourcewell, recognizing exceptional superintendents for their outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing public education in their communities. In December, Nivens was named one of four finalists from across the country for the prestigious award, after being named the 2025 Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) in September 2025. Lamar CISD is currently the fastest-growing district of its size in Texas and has been designated a hypergrowth district due to the large number of new homes and families moving to the area. This school year, the district serves more than 49,000 students at 57 campuses, with enrollment forecasted to grow to nearly 70,000 within a decade. “The landscape of public education is evolving, and Lamar CISD is evolving right along with it, leading the way with innovation, integrity, high standards of accountability, and plenty of joy and heart as well,” Nivens said.
SEE NIVENS PAGE 2
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 51 • No. 7 • $1.00
Early voting in primaries continues through Feb. 27 By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Early voting began Tuesday in the March 3 primary elections, including local Congressional races in the 2026 midterm elections as well as state and county-level races. Early voting continues through Friday, February 27. Any runoff elections will be held on May 26. On the federal side, there are primary elections in both the Democratic and Republican parties for the U.S. Senate seat long held by Republican John Cornyn, who is facing stiff challenges from primary contenders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley
Hunt of the Houston-centered 38th District. On the Democratic side, the main contenders are U.S. Rep.. Jasmine Crockett of the Dallas area and Texas Rep. James Talerico, who represents part of central Texas. The three Congressional House districts that represent parts of Fort Bend County also have primary elections. They are the 22nd District seat held by outgoing Republican Troy Nehls of Richmond, the 7th District now held by Democrat Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, and the recently redrawn 18th District, which includes much of the Fort Bend territory that was
PUCKER UP! A
SEE VOTING PAGE 2
Early voting in the March 3 primary elections began Tuesday and continues through Friday, Feb. 27. File photo
pproximately 100 couples share their first kiss as newlyweds during the "From Sugar Land, With Love" mass wedding event in the Council Chambers of Sugar Land City Hall on Saturday, which happened to be Valentine's Day. See more photos from the event on Page 5. Photo by Ken Fountain
Missouri City rejects Sienna agreement renewal after gas leak incident By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Lamar Consolidated Independent Consolidated ISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens this week named the 2026 AASA National Superintendent of the Year. Courtesy Lamar CISD
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During a special meeting Monday, the Missouri City City Council voted unanimously not to renew the longstanding agreement governing the portion of the master-planned Sienna Development that lies outside the city limits but within its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The move followed an incident of a gas leak in the area on Sienna Parkway, one of the city’s busiest and most dense thoroughfares, last Friday.
Following a lengthy executive session during the special meeting. Council member Sonya Jones-Marshall made a motion, also approved unanimously, to allow the city’s legal department to hire outside counsel to look into the agreement, called the Sienna Joint Development Agreement between the city and the corporate entities Sienna/ Johnson North, L.P., and Dewalt Land Limited. During the regular meeting that
SEE RENEWAL PAGE 2
Missouri City City Engineer Vincenzo Corazza on Monday explains to City Council members proposed changes to the city’s infrastructure design manual following a gas leak incident last week. The council unanimously approved the changes. Photo by Ken Fountain
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