06 May . 2025
Meet Principal Felicia Ashabranner of Katy ISD’s new Boudny Elementary in Elyson
A full house of Elyson residents recently turned out to meet Felicia Ashabranner, the principal of Katy Independent School District’s new Alfred & Ann Boudny Elementary School in Elyson.
For those who didn’t get a chance to attend the meeting at Lakeside Landing, here’s an introduction to Principal Ashabranner.
“We’re one excited little school,” she said, referring to all the anticipation surrounding the upcoming opening of Boudny Elementary in August.
“Little” is a term of endearment – something you’ll often hear from Ashabranner – because Boudny (along with the new Cross Elementary) is actually Katy ISD’s largest elementary school built to date.
With a capacity for 1,386 students, Boudny Elementary has the same design as Youngblood Elementary at Elyson, but it will have 12 additional classrooms. It will also have some of the district’s latest innovations and improvements to help students flourish, including updated Learning Generation Initiative and resource spaces and a second-floor administrative and counseling suite.
Boudny Elementary will also have a special park, Ted Nelson Memorial Park, donated by Brookfield Residential, Elyson’s developer, in honor of the longtime leader of the company’s Houston division. After school hours, the park will be open for all Elyson residents to enjoy.
The school’s location at Katy-Hockley Cut-Off Road and Elyson Boulevard will be connected by sidewalks and trails to Elyson neighborhoods north of FM 529.
“Boudny is envisioned as an ‘all Elyson’ school, and parents are very excited about kids being able to walk and bike to school,” Ashabranner said.
Hiring for the staff was almost complete by the end of April. About 65 percent of the teachers are being hired from within Katy ISD, with the rest coming from outside the district.
The principal is proud that seven new Boudny teachers are coming to from Katy ISD’s Alternative Certification Program, which prepares professionals from other fields for new careers in education.
Ashabranner comes to Boudny from Katy ISD’s Mayde Creek Elementary, where she was principal for eight years.
Her 31-year career in education also includes roles as a classroom teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and bachelor’s degrees in education and sociology from Texas A&M University.
The Ashabranner family lives in Katy, and all three of their daughters graduated from Katy High School. Their oldest daughter is a teacher in Livingston. The younger daughters are twins and are heading into their junior year at Texas State University.
Ashabranner says one of her priorities at Boudny will be to ensure that the school is a place where families feel heard and valued.
“Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to fostering an environment where students are loved, respected, and encouraged to reach their full potential,” she wrote in a letter to parents. “As a leader, I believe in strong customer service and direct communication.”
“My goal is to cultivate a culture of kindness, respect, and academic excellence, where every student, teacher, and family member plays a vital role in our shared success,” she continued. “Together, we will create a school community where relationships thrive, learning flourishes, and each child’s unique strengths are celebrated.”