Katy ISD has selected Lori Maurer to lead its newest elementary school, which is under construction in the Sunterra community. Maurer, currently principal of Morton Ranch Elementary, will be the founding principal of Elementary No. 49. The school is scheduled to open in fall 2027 on Pitts Road. Superintendent Ken Gregorski announced the appointment Thursday, Oct. 29. Maurer will start in the new role Jan. 4.
Gregorski said Maurer brings more than a decade of leadership experience in Katy ISD. He said her commitment to academic excellence, data-driven leadership and relationships with families will help build a strong foundation for the school. Maurer has led Morton Ranch Elementary since 2023. She began with the district in 2013 as a math and science teacher at WoodCreek Elementary, became an instructional coach in 2016, and later worked as an assistant principal at Mayde Creek Elementary and Rhoads Elementary.
Maurer said she is honored to lead the school as it opens and builds a new community. She earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Houston-Victoria. The school is being built in the northeastern part of Sunterra to serve families in the district's northwest area. Construction is funded through the district's $840.6 million school facilities bond, which voters approved in 2023.