Press Release – June 4, 2025

From: Byron Terrier, Executive Director

            Region 5 Education Service Center

            409-951-1855

REGION 5 ESC NAMES ALLEN

AS 2025 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

Region 5 Education Service Center is pleased to announce its regional winner for TASB’s 2025 Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Shannon Allen of the Beaumont Independent School District. Dr. Allen has served as Superintendent there for 6 years, with a total of 18 years of administrative experience.

Dr. Allen was chosen for her strong leadership skills, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the field of education.  Hired during 2019-2020 school year just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Allen stepped into her role facing monumental challenges. Despite the disruption to education and unprecedented uncertainty, she demonstrated exceptional poise and exhibited forward-thinking leadership.

Serving a community with the highest socioeconomic population within Region 5, as well as contending with a critical teacher shortage, Dr. Allen introduced innovative systems and sustainable programs aimed at closing opportunity gaps. Such systems/programs include BRACE (Beaumont ISD’s Responsive Academy to Certify Teachers); Equip Pathway and Elevate Pathway for current staff to further their education; placement of Behavior Interventionists on every campus to work directly with students who exhibit challenging behaviors; and placement of Wellness Coordinators on every campus to address mental health. The last approach acknowledges that when a student’s basic needs are unmet, learning becomes secondary to survival.

Her letter of nomination states that Dr. Allen repeatedly emphasizes that “we are here for the students, all students, and our work must be focused on empowering them through their education to break the cycle of poverty and be prepared for successful college, career, or military service.”

Her letter of nomination also applauds Dr. Allen for the district’s other successes under her leadership, including maintaining a Superior rating on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for six consecutive years; presenting a balanced budget every fiscal year; and the successful passage of a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE).

Dr. Allen was nominated for the position by the local school board, and a non-biased selection team of school board members from various districts made the final selection. She will be interviewed as a regional winner in late summer by the TASB State Selection Committee, at which time five finalists will be chosen to proceed in the process for the State Superintendent of the Year award.

Region 5 is very proud of Dr. Allen and her accomplishments! Please join us in recognizing her for this very prestigious award. Congratulations to Dr. Allen and Beaumont ISD!