Superintendent Connection
Dr. Patterson & Kelsey-Seybold
Dr. Patterson proudly attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, celebrating a milestone in community healthcare. She praised the clinic’s commitment to accessible, high-quality care and its positive impact on local families. #BuildingCommunityRelationships.
The Night Before Christmas
Dr. Patterson brought holiday cheer to Mrs. Benjamin's kindergarten class by reading a festive story aloud, delighting the children with animated voices and warm smiles. Her visit sparked excitement for the season and encouraged a love of reading in the classroom.
Fall Salute 2025
Dr. Patterson and the Board of Trustees Celebrated many groups and individuals throughout the Fall. From Academics, to Athletics, to Cougar Excellence, our Crosby Cougars showed how committed they are to growth and gains.
Jared Jamail Memorial Golf Classic
For nearly three decades, the 27th Annual Jared Jamail Memorial Golf Classic has raised and awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to Crosby ISD students. The tournament honors Jarred Jamail’s legacy by supporting local youth and investing in their future educational success. We thank all participants, sponsors, and volunteers whose generosity makes these opportunities possible.
Crosby Area Retired Teachers Association
Dr. Patterson attended the Crosby Area Retired Teachers Association meeting on September 10, 2025, where she warmly thanked members for their ongoing dedication and invaluable support of our students. Her remarks honored their legacy of service and highlighted the continued positive impact retirees have on our schools.
Crosby ISD selected for Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative to build a bench of outstanding principals for Crosby ISD schools
The Holdsworth Center, an Austin-based nonprofit focused on leadership in public education, has selected Crosby ISD to join the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative, an 18-month program that will help Crosby ISD build a strong bench of aspiring principals who are ready to step into school leadership positions when they arise.
Crosby ISD is among 17 districts across the state chosen for Holdsworth’s world-class leadership development program.
“Crosby ISD demonstrated a strong commitment to developing principals and a growth mindset around learning new concepts,” said Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center. “Great leaders draw out the best in people and inspire them to achieve the unimaginable. Every student in Crosby ISD deserves a strong principal at the helm of their school.”
As part of the Collaborative, a team of three – Superintendent, Mrs. Paula Patterson, and two district leaders, Assistant Superintendent of Administration, Ms. Jewel Whitfield, and Executive Director of Human Resources, Ms. Christy CoVan – work with Holdsworth staff to define what great leadership looks like in Crosby ISD. The team of three will use this definition to design systems and structures to strengthen the principal pipeline.
Research shows that effective principals can significantly impact student outcomes by creating the conditions for teachers to thrive. Because principals influence the working conditions and skill level of every teacher in the building, their impact is outsized.
“We don’t believe there are any quick fixes in education. Investing in the skill and capacity of the people working in our schools is the only way we will see true transformation,” Whorton said.
Since its founding in 2017, Holdsworth has served 1,371 educators across 50 districts in more than 200 schools in Texas.
In surveys, 100 percent of superintendents surveyed rate their leadership pipeline as stronger after partnering with Holdsworth for at least three years.
Click here for more impact stories and data.
Committed to Students
Superintendent Patterson graduates leadership program
Crosby ISD is excited to announce Superintendent Paula Patterson has been selected for the prestigious Superintendent Leadership Program with The Holdsworth Center in Austin. Superintendent Patterson is among the first group of leaders chosen for the 18-month program and will work with fellow superintendents across Texas. The Superintendent Leadership Program is designed to deepen everyday leadership skills in service of Crosby ISD's students, staff and community.
As the leader of Crosby ISD, Superintendent Patterson plays a key role in helping staff, students and community members forge a new path. The training and mentoring help craft a vision, perfect communication and build a high-performing executive team. Superintendent Patterson is committed to growing and learning to best serve the students, staff, and communities of Crosby ISD.
The Holdsworth Center's program helps Crosby ISD create systems to ensure we have a strong pool of leaders who will grow and lead the district in the future. This is a critical moment for public education in Texas, with historic challenges that will take extraordinary leadership. Navigating recovery and seizing opportunities for transformative change will be critical and necessary for stronger and more innovative schools.
The Holdsworth Center was created by Charles Butt, the chairman of HEB, in 2017 near Lake Austin. He named the nonprofit organization for his mother, a former schoolteacher and lifelong advocate for social justice. The Holdsworth Center is dedicated to Excellence in Education Leadership.
For these inaugural programs, The Holdsworth Center will cover the costs of programming, thanks to the generosity of its founder and other philanthropic supporters. The center’s mission is to improve the quality of public education by supporting and developing educational leaders. The Austin-based nonprofit works with partner districts for five years and makes a deep investment in leaders at both the district and campus levels.
You can read more about the program here: https://holdsworthcenter.org/blog/two-new-programs-launch/ and www.holdsworthcenter.org
Dr. Patterson receives Bravo Award
Dr. Patterson received the Bravo Award from the Texas Council of Women School Executives (TCWSE) on January 26, 2025.
The Bravo Awards are presented at the TCWSE Annual Conference for exemplary practitioners, innovative programs, and initiatives that promote community and parental involvement. Congratulations, Superintendent Dr. Patterson. Read more here.
A Love Letter to Crosby ISD
A Love Letter to Crosby ISD
Dr. Patterson shared her journey to leadership with the The Schools of Thought blog run by the American Association of School Superintendents (AASA). Read her blog post here.
Superintendent Patterson's Story
Superintendent Patterson shares her Crosby story
In August 2021, Superintendent Paula Patterson sat down with ABC13 anchor Melanie Lawson to talk about her Crosby roots. Superintendent Patterson also discussed her vision for the future of Crosby ISD. The story debuted on the first day of school for the 2021-2022 school year.
Watch story here
Watch full interview here
Portrait of a Graduate
Superintendent Patterson's 2024 Commencement Address
Superintendent Patterson's 2023 Commencement Address
Superintendent Patterson's 2022 Commencement Address
Superintendent Patterson on what it takes to lead
July 2021 appearance on a leadership podcast streamed worldwide.
Women in Leadership
January 2022 appearance on the Education Leadership Podcast. Superintendent Patterson was a special guest on the Educational Leadership Podcast in January 2022. This edition of the program with Gary Dennis and Corinne French focused on Women in Leadership. Superintendent Patterson shared her background and roots in Crosby ISD as well has her vision for the district.