Karen Rue, Executive Coach

About Me

Giving back to our profession by helping others be successful is a privilege for me. I began my experience with executive coaching with my own coach while I was a superintendent, and I credit the ability of a coach to help me build my leadership in creating strong teams and meaningful accomplishments for students. I learned about myself and found greater confidence in my work with the help of an executive coach. In retirement, I began executive coaching and have found it deeply rewarding.

With over 40 years of experience, I am currently a TASA executive superintendent and active as an executive coach for TASA, having coached new and experienced superintendents over the last few years. I also serve North Texas school districts as a member of the ESC Region 11 Board of Directors.

A former professor of K-12 Educational Leadership at the University of North Texas, and in the Baylor University School of Education, I previously served as superintendent of Northwest ISD (from 2005 until my retirement in 2016) and Tuloso-Midway ISD, and as executive director in Katy ISD.

I served as president of TASA (2015-16), the Urban Superintendents of America Association, the Fast Growth Schools Coalition, and the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools. I also served as vice president for the Texas School Coalition.

I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, a master’s from Lamar University, and a doctorate from Texas A&M University. All three degrees are in education.

My husband, Gary, and I enjoy camping in our travel trailer and being Grammy and Grandad to our five grandchildren.