09 May . 2025
Meet the Boudnys, namesakes for Elyson’s newest Katy ISD elementary school
The Katy Independent School District has a wonderful tradition of naming the majority of its new schools for retired educators who have given decades of service to the district and its students.
The tradition continues at Alfred and Ann Boudny Elementary School, opening in Elyson in August as the community’s third Katy ISD elementary school. (It’s actually our fourth elementary, if you include Harmony School of Excellence – Katy.)
If Katy ISD is a family, then namesakes such as the Boudnys are doting grandparents, adding an extra layer of love and support for the students, as well as the newest members of the teaching staff.
“The Boudnys are educators at heart. I can see them being very supportive and visible throughout the school, reading to the students and mentoring them, and supporting teachers with their incredible combined wealth of experience,” said Felicia Ashabranner, principal of Boudny Elementary.
Being selected as a namesake often comes as a surprise for the honorees, and it was no different for the Boudnys.
“Heavens no,” Al said, when asked if he ever dreamed of becoming a namesake.
“Ann and I both went into teaching because we love working with kids,” he said. “However, we both worked so many late hours, we often joked they should name a hallway or something for us.”
Boudny Elementary is much bigger than a hallway. With capacity for 1,386 students, it’s tied with new Cross Elementary, its architectural twin, as the largest elementary school in Katy ISD. It has 12 more classrooms than Youngblood Elementary, which it was modeled after, along with many updates such programmable mood lighting in every classroom.
“The school is so amazing, it’s almost unbelievable,” said Ann. “Every time we think about it, we get goosebumps.”
Ann and Al see themselves spending a lot of time at Boudny, while also continuing to volunteer with the Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE) and other organizations.
“Our intention is to make Boudny Elementary a family,” Al said. “We’re all in this together, so let’s work together.”
While they’re visiting Boudny Elementary, Al and Ann won’t be the only Boudnys in Elyson. One of their two daughters, Alyssa, teaches at Katy ISD’s Nelson Junior High School in the community.
A biography of the Boudnys
In announcing the school’s name, Katy ISD provided this bio of the Boudnys. Alfred (Al) Boudny always aspired to teach, starting his career in 1975 at Eagle Lake Middle School, where he met Ann. He later joined Katy ISD at West Memorial Elementary. In 1981, he opened Nottingham Country Elementary with Richard Bruce as the 5th grade team lead, and in 1982, he and Ann helped open Memorial Parkway Junior High. Al served as department chair and contributed to the District Realignment committee for 5th and 6th grade centers.
In 1987, Al received a Katy ISD Certificate of Recognition for leading students in district-level history competitions. In 1991, he helped open McDonald Junior High, where he was social studies department chair for 15 years and was named Teacher of the Year in 2000. He earned a Certificate of Recognition from the Katy VFW and a Celebration of Excellence Award in 2001.
His final role before retiring in 2014 was at West Memorial Junior High, where he received an Honorary Life Membership from the PTA. Al retired with 39 years of teaching, 34 of them in Katy ISD. In retirement, he tutors at Katy Elementary, serves as a KEYS mentor, and volunteers at several schools, including McRoberts, Memorial Parkway, and Tom Wilson elementary schools. He remains active in the Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE), supporting scholarships and community projects.
Ann began her education career at Eagle Lake Middle School. From 1979 to 1982, she taught language arts at Sealy Junior High and Sealy High School. In 1982, Ann joined Katy ISD with the opening of Memorial Parkway Junior High, where she served as department chair for 30 years, retiring in 2015 after 33 years at the school. She contributed to the Blue-Ribbon Writing Committee, Textbook Adoption Committee, and Language Arts Curriculum Committee. Just before retirement, she received an Honorary Life Membership from the Memorial Parkway Junior High PTA. Ann is an active member of the Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE) organization.
Al and Ann also represented Katy ISD at Texas Middle School Association conferences, mentored new teachers, and regularly served as cooperating teachers for student-teachers.
Al and Ann have two daughters who graduated from Katy ISD schools. Erin Boudny-Young, now married with two sons and a daughter, works as a land representative at ExxonMobil. Alyssa Boudny attended Diane Winborn Elementary, King Elementary, Katy Junior High, and Morton Ranch High School. She recently earned her master’s through the Katy ISD Aspiring Assistant Principal Program with the University of Houston-Victoria. Alyssa has taught at McRoberts and Tom Wilson elementary schools and is currently on the inaugural staff at Nelson Junior High.
Al earned an Associate of Arts degree from Wharton County Junior College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching with a minor in English from Sam Houston State University in 1975. Ann received an Associate of Arts degree from Blinn Junior College in 1976 and a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching and Library Science, with minors in English and history, from Sam Houston State University in 1978.