Jill Gaston
Lufkin ISD announced Tuesday the appointment of Jill Gaston as its new Chief Financial Officer. Gaston is replacing Charlotte Bynum, who recently retired.
Gaston is the current Superintendent at Wells ISD, and according to Lufkin ISD Superintendent Dr. James Hockenberry, her wealth of experience is a welcome addition to Lufkin ISD.
“Mrs. Jill Gaston is a forward thinker, resilient in her approach to any task she confronts, and brings an array of school experiences to Lufkin ISD,” Hockenberry said. “Her experience as a small school Superintendent is extraordinarily beneficial.”
Gaston earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Educational Administration from Lamar University, a Superintendent Certification from the University of Texas at Tyler and is working on her Doctoral degree of Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University Texarkana.
Gaston’s experience extends from the classroom to administration.
Before becoming the Superintendent at Wells ISD, she served as the Junior High/High School Principal there. At Center ISD, she was responsible for the development of the Rough Rider Academy from the ground up. As the Director of the Academy, she helped create a school offering an alternative to traditional school for students who were at risk of dropping out.
Gaston began her career in education as a teacher, teaching subjects from Advanced Chemistry to 3rd-5th ELAR to Agricultural Science. At Center ISD, she was an Instructional Coach as well as an Instructional Technology Coach.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Lufkin ISD in this capacity and give back to the community in which I grew up. It is truly an honor and a privilege,” Gaston said. “I look forward to assisting the district achieve its financial goals and ensuring that the District maintains a healthy financial future for our children and community.”
Hockenberry is confident in Gaston’s ability to lead the District forward.
“Serving as a small school Superintendent, you develop every aspect of your district, especially the financial program,” Hockenberry said. “Smaller schools do not possess the capacity to employ others to assist in most cases. However, the tasks are identical to those in larger school districts.
“In her tenure, Mrs. Gaston has faced the same issues confronting Lufkin ISD with declining enrollment and a reduction in revenue. She has navigated those challenges to perfection. I am extremely confident in Mrs. Gaston’s abilities to lead our district as Chief Financial Officer and look forward to her arrival soon.”
Gaston is married to Keith, and they have two daughters, Addyson (15) and Audrey (7). She and her husband grew up in Lufkin. Her first day will be June 6.