05/08/2026
Our Board of Directors recently selected Mrs. Cathy Choate to serve in the newly created position of “Head of Schools.” This K–8 leadership role will help ensure our schoolwide and organizational goals remain aligned with our mission while continuing to honor the unique priorities and needs of both the elementary and middle school campuses. As we look to the future, this structure positions Rowlett to build upon the tradition of excellence our community has come to expect.
With that said, we wanted to provide a brief timeline outlining how we arrived at this point, along with a short FAQ to help answer common questions.
Head of Schools Timeline
April 2023
Dr. Chuck Fradley presented a proposal to the Rowlett Board of Directors outlining the potential need for a K–8 Head of Schools position. The Board formed an exploratory committee to research and review the possible need for such a role.
May 2023
The exploratory committee reported its findings to the Board. The committee suggested an alternative structure to meet school needs: a Director of Operations position that would serve in a lateral position alongside the REA and RMA Principals.
June 2023
The Board of Directors hired Dr. Chuck Fradley as Director of Operations.
October 2025
Dr. Chuck Fradley resigned from his role as Director of Operations at Rowlett Academy K–8 after accepting the position of Executive Director of Middle Grades with Manatee County Schools.
November 2025
The Board of Directors met to discuss next steps and review Dr. Fradley’s recommendations regarding the role. Based on his experience in the position, he felt a Head of Schools model, as originally proposed, would be more effective. A committee was then tasked with reviewing and making recommendations regarding the K–8 Organizational Structure.
January 2026
The Organizational Structure Committee presented its recommendations, which included the creation of a K–8 Head of Schools role.
February 2026
An updated organizational structure was approved by the Board of Directors. The Head of Schools job description was approved, and a Search Committee was formed.
March 2026
The Search Committee conducted an extensive review of both internal and external candidates.
April 2026
The Search Committee presented its top candidates to the Board of Directors for consideration. After an in-depth review of supporting materials and candidate interviews, the Board selected Mrs. Cathy Choate to serve in the newly created position of “Head of Schools,” effective July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Head of Schools?
The Head of Schools is the lead administrator for our K–8 organization. This role supports both the elementary and middle school while making sure each campus continues to meet the unique needs of its students and families. Additionally, the Head of Schools oversees all of the organizational departments, including HR, Finance, Facilities, Transportation, and Food Services.
In this role, the Head of Schools:
Guides the overall vision and long-term planning for the organization
Ensures both campuses are working together with consistency and shared expectations
Oversees charter compliance, accountability, and the renewal process
Manages financial planning to support sustainability and growth
Supports and develops campus principals and leadership teams
Overall, the goal is to keep our schools connected, well-supported, and positioned for continued success, now and in the future.
Why was this position created?
As Rowlett Academy K–8 has continued to grow and evolve, the Board of Directors recognized the value of a leadership structure that supports both campuses through a unified K–8 vision. The Head of Schools role is designed to strengthen collaboration, communication, long-term planning, and organizational consistency while preserving the strengths of both campuses.
How is this different from the previous Director of Operations role?
The Director of Operations role primarily focused on operational support for HR, Finance, Marketing, Custodial, and Cafeteria Services, Transportation, and creating organizational systems.
The Head of Schools role expands upon that structure by including broader leadership responsibilities related to academics, strategic planning, school culture, and K–8 alignment, in addition to the operational oversight.
Will Rowlett still have separate elementary and middle school principals?
Yes. Both campuses will continue to have dedicated site-based leadership focused on the daily operations, students, staff, and families of each school.
Who will oversee day-to-day campus operations?
Daily campus happenings will continue to be managed by each campus administration team, including principals and assistant principals, with support from the Head of Schools. Families should continue to communicate with their campus administration as they normally would. The Head of Schools will oversee facilities, finance, and other operational issues on behalf of the organization.
When will Mrs. Choate officially begin serving as Head of Schools?
Mrs. Choate will officially begin serving as Head of Schools on July 1, 2026, though she has already begun taking on some of the responsibilities to ensure a smooth transition.
Will Mrs. Choate continue serving as Elementary Principal?
Mrs. Choate will continue serving as Elementary Principal through the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year while also beginning the transition into her new role. A search process for the next Elementary Principal will take place prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
Ms. Daniel, Elementary Assistant Principal, has expressed her desire to remain in her current role and help support the transition to a new Elementary Principal.
How will the next Elementary Principal be selected?
A formal search and interview process is underway to identify the next Elementary Principal. The position has been shared on the school website, social media, and various educational job platforms. Interested candidates may review the posting and apply through the Rowlett Elementary website.
Was a search conducted for the Head of Schools position?
Yes. The Search Committee conducted an extensive review process that included both internal and external candidates before presenting finalists to the Board of Directors for consideration.
Who made the final decision?
The final decision was made by the Rowlett Academy K–8 Board of Directors following recommendations from the Search Committee and an extensive review of the presented candidates.
Will this change affect students’ daily experience?
Students should not experience major day-to-day changes as a result of this transition. The purpose of the role is to strengthen organizational alignment and support long-term success across the K–8 model.
Will school policies or procedures change?
The Dispute Resolution Policy will be updated to replace the Director of Operations role with the Head of Schools role as a step in the process following the principals and prior to the Board of Directors. No other immediate policy or procedural changes are planned as part of this transition.
How will this benefit students and families long term?
The Head of Schools model is intended to support stronger K–8 continuity, improved collaboration between campuses, consistent leadership development opportunities, and long-term strategic planning that benefits students, staff, and families across the organization.
Rowlett remains committed to maintaining the strong sense of community, leadership, academics, and arts programming that families value across both campuses.
Will teachers or staff be impacted by this change?
At this time, the creation of the Head of Schools role does not result in major changes to daily staff responsibilities. The goal is to provide additional organizational leadership and support across both campuses. While campus administrators will report to the Head of Schools, each principal will continue overseeing the day-to-day management of their campus, staff, and students.
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