Katy ISD Position 4 Trustee Leah Wilson said late Thursday that she will not seek a second term to the school board this May, citing a growing trend in school board politics where a more partisan, and less of a trustee-style approach, is being pursued.

“It isn’t about whether we’re good stewards and good trustees for the district, but it’s becoming about political ideology,” Wilson said.

She said the trend is not happening just in Katy ISD, but in other area school districts as well.

“It’s not just Katy, or uniquely Texas,” Wilson said. In the last Cy-Fair ISD school board election, she said, the three trustees races went to candidates who she said fit that description. Fort Bend ISD has had the same issue, she said.

“This isn’t uniquely Katy, it’s not just Texas; we’re watching this nationally,” Wilson said. “I think it’s going to make it very difficult for people in the future to run if you have groups coming in and spending $10,000-plus dollars on that. It’s not something I agree with.”

Wilson said trustees should be nonpartisan.

“I don’t believe that a right- or left-wing political structure deserves to exist there,” Wilson said, adding that in her view what was most important is making sure the district had the funds to build schools, hire the best teachers, and provide public education in a safe environment.

“I love this district and there are so many great people who work in our district,” Wilson said.

Earlier Thursday, Position 3 Trustee Ashley Vann said she would not seek another term to the school board. She said she felt she had done good work in her three terms on the board, and that it was time for someone else to serve.

Vann was first elected in 2014, and re-elected in 2017 and 2020. Her 2020 bid was unopposed. She previously held other volunteer roles related to education, including roles with the Katy ISD Education Foundation and PTA roles with her children’s elementary, junior and high schools.

Vann’s decision not to seek another term comes as the filing deadline for Katy ISD school board and Katy City Council seats approaches. Filing deadline for both elections is Feb. 17. Election Day is May 6.

Four candidates have filed for Vann’s position 3 seat. They are Bruce Bradford, a mortgage loan originator; Shawn Miller, a college professor; Shana Peterson, who is retired, and Amy Thieme, a realtor.

Three candidates have filed for Wilson’s position 4 seat. They are Erica Brettell, a stay-at-home mother; Morgan Calhoun, a stay-at-home mother, and Cicely Taylor, an education administrator.

Position 5 Trustee Greg Schulte, an engineer and business owner, has filed for re-election. He is seeking his second term. He has drawn one opponent, Mary Ellen Cuzela, a Katy ISD substitute teacher.

Meanwhile, the Katy city secretary’s office said Thursday that nobody had filed to challenge incumbents Chris Harris, Janet Corte and Rory Robertson.

Harris is council member-at-large. Corte is a Ward A council member. Robertson is a Ward B council member. All have filed for re-election.

If re-elected, they would serve three-year terms and would not be eligible for re-election in 2026 due to term limits.

EDITOR's NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect Position 4 Trustee Leah Wilson's decision not to seek re-election.