District names new elementary schools to honor local educators

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 1/26/23

Katy school trustees have named the district’s two newest elementary schools to honor two couples who have dedicated their careers to serving Katy ISD students.

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District names new elementary schools to honor local educators

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Katy school trustees have named the district’s two newest elementary schools to honor two couples who have dedicated their careers to serving Katy ISD students.

The schools, which are expected to open this fall, are the 45th and 46th schools as the district continues to grow. Elementary 45 is being named David and Terri Youngblood Elementary. Elementary 46 is being named Russell and Cindie Faldyn Elementary.

The Youngbloods have a combined 77 years of service to support public education in Katy ISD.

“We’re daunted by this,” David Youngblood said. “It’s something we never really thought about. It’s very fulfilling to know that we’ve made a difference in the district with a lot of kids. It’s very exciting.”

Terri Youngblood said it was unbelievable to think that they’d be considered for such an honor.

“We’re just beyond grateful and appreciative so excited to start this new journey with a new school and the students,” she said.

The Faldyns have a combined 66 years of service to support public education in Katy ISD. Russell Faldyn shared the sentiments of the Youngbloods. The families have known and worked with each other for years. In some cases, they taught the other family’s children.

“It’s the ultimate honor as an educator,” he said. “It’s an ultimate honor as a lifelong resident, to come back and work in a district that you were raised in.”

Cindie Faldyn said when they received t he news they would be a school namesake, they were overwhelmed with gratitude.

“We just went to work every day and did our ministry, which is mentoring elementary and high school students,” she said, adding that she worked with elementary schools while Russell worked with the high school students. “We felt, ‘we’re just regular, we’re just regular.’”

All four remain involved in the district. All four said they wanted to be involved in their namesake schools. Cindie Faldyn said she was involved with one school opening earlier in her career. Opening one’s namesake school is special, and all four were excited about what lies ahead.

Cindie Faldyn said the experience has been like was like Christmas, and that she had been crying a lot when thinking about the honor. She said it was important to create a new atmosphere at the new schools.

“I cannot wait to greet those lovebugs and see them at that school,” she said. “I want to be there all the time for everything. I want to serve the teachers. Being a teacher, I want them to know they can lean on me and we can lean on them.”

Trustees at their December board meeting set up two advisory committees for naming the schools.

David and Terri Youngblood Elementary will be located at 25600 Longenbaugh Road. Russell and Cindie Faldyn Elementary will be located at 25615 Clay Road. Both locations are in the northwest quadrant of Katy ISD.

Katy ISD, David and Terri Youngblood, Russell and Cindie Faldyn