BERGER TIME Superintendent Larry Berger has been with Pearland ISD since 2007.
2007
Larry Berger joins Pearland ISD as the assistant principal of Pearland High School.
2009
Berger is named the Pearland High School principal.
2016
The PISD board of trustees promote Berger to director of maintenance. Berger is named assistant superintendent for support services. Jan. 19 Pearland ISD announces Superintendent John Kelly intends to retire in August. March 1 The board of trustees grants Superintendent John Kelly’s requested early leave of absence. March 22 The board of trustees names Berger as the lone nalist for the superintendent position. April 12 The PISD board of trustees unanimously approves Berger to be the new superintendent.
Larry Berger New Pearland ISD superintendent aims to capitalize on optimism PEOPLE P earland ISD has a new leader academics, discipline, mental health and athletic programs, he said. Once he moved to the main- tenance side, he was able to see BY ANDY YANEZ
Pearland ISD Superintendent Larry Berger said visiting campuses is the highlight of his day because everything on the campuses a ects students. Berger became PISD’s new superintendent in April.
COURTESY PEARLAND ISD
2020
2022
focused on di erent aspects, such as academics and mental health, and were looking for a leader to guide the district into the future, he said. Berger was that leader, trustees said. “His proposed vision to us as a board and where he wants to take us as a leader, the next steps, were really great, and that’s where the board kind of aligned with his vision of where we wanted to be and where we saw him as our next leader,” board President Sean Murphy said. Berger has seen plenty of support around his hire. His goal is to build on the optimism, he said. With the district dealing with several concerns, including decreas- ing attendance numbers since the pandemic, increased burdens on teachers and nancial responsibil- ities, Berger’s goal is for PISD to get back to the basics, he said. “We are the Educational Support Center,” Berger said. “Support is our key term. We have to make sure that we are supporting the classroom.”
spearheading the way as the district continues to navigate out of the COVID-19 pandemic, nan- cial burdens and other concerns. The board of trustees April 12 o cially approved Larry Berger’s three-year superintendent contract with an annual salary of $260,000. He follows former Superintendent John Kelly, who announced his retirement in January. “I’m honored the board has the trust in me to take this seat, but it is [humbling] because it is a service seat,” Berger said. “I want to serve the district. I want to serve the people. I want to serve the team.” Berger enters the position with 15 years of experience with the district, which includes being principal at Pearland High School and transition- ing to administration with roles such as PISD’s director of maintenance. At PHS, he supervised 3,000 stu- dents and had a front-row look at
di erent departments, which Berger believes will make himwell rounded when making decisions. Still, he said he knows there is much to learn. “Although I have been in the district for 15 years, I don’t know everyone, and everyone doesn’t knowme,” Berger said. “So I don’t know everyone’s experiences. ... My reality might not be their reality.” Berger sees himself as an ambassa- dor for the district. He said he wants to go out and meet with students, parents, teachers and Pearland City Council members in the community and build partnerships. “I want to hear and empower voices to speak their truth about Pearland ISD because unless we know the truth, we can’t x the obstacles in front of us,” Berger said. As he went through the interview process with the board, the trustees
SOURCE: PEARLAND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“I WANT TOHEAR AND EMPOWER VOICES TO SPEAK THEIR TRUTH ABOUTPEARLAND ISD.” LARRY BERGER, PISD SUPERINTENDENT
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