French Receives the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award

Kathryn French, Curriculum Coordinator for Bridge City ISD, successfully defended her dissertation on February 28 and was awarded a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Lamar University. She will receive her diploma on May 13, 2017.

Dr. French was recognized and awarded the 2017 Outstanding Doctoral Student from the College of Education and Human Development. Her award was presented on April 17 at the Mary and John Gray Library. Her dissertation, “Superintendents’ Leadership Strategies to Effectively Sustain Professional Learning Communities”, focused on superintendents’ leadership efforts to provide collaboration opportunities to enhance student learning throughout their districts.

Curriculum Coordinator for four years, her district responsibilities include supporting and training teachers, developing curriculum, supporting special student services and programs as well as deciphering data. She joined BCISD after working as an instructional coach with another local area district. She also has experience as a classroom teacher. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas. She later earned her Master’s Degree of Education Administration from Lamar University of Beaumont.

She is passionate about igniting the learning in all children and watching them succeed both in and outside of the classroom. She also enjoys collaborating with educators at all levels to enrich classroom experiences for children. Being an educator is a way French believes she is serving her community.

French said she has aspirations of becoming a principal and eventually an assistant superintendent or work in higher education in the future. For now, she is enjoying her position in curriculum and instruction. Her ultimate goal is to positively influence the lives of children.

She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Texas Elementary Principals, and Supervisors Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, South East Research Association and Kappa Delta Gamma Society International.

French is appreciative of the support she received from her family, friends, and a network of dedicated educators while working on her doctorate. She is married to a Bridge City graduate, Brian French, and has two children, Brayden and Anna. Her son attends school at Bridge City Elementary.