Our District has a long-standing tradition of naming buildings after community members. We reserve the honor for individuals who have made significant and historic contributions to our schools. Round Rock ISD has seven facilities named after women — women who made it their life’s work to support and educate children.
Round Rock ISD first opened its doors in 1913, when Round Rock was a rural community where students and staff rode their horses to school. In 1957, 44 years later, Neysa Callison became the first woman to be elected to the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees. Callison served until 1963. In 2008, the District’s 29th elementary school was dedicated in her name.
North Oaks Elementary School became Kathy Caraway Elementary School in 2005. Caraway began her career with Round Rock ISD in 1973. She was an early childhood education teacher, librarian, and then in 1978 was appointed principal at North Oaks Elementary School, where she served for 24 years. Caraway built strong relationships with her students and their families, keeping up with them after graduation.
The District administration building, located at 1311 Round Rock Avenue, is named after Lillie Delgado. Delgado was a paraprofessional at Berkman Elementary School from 1970-1977 and served as the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools from 1977-2012. Highly regarded as the backbone of our District, Delgado was revered for her integrity, tirelessly serving many superintendents, campuses, and the community.
Elsa England was a District elementary teacher and school counselor widely admired for her fidelity to students. In 2012, the Round Rock Board of Trustees voted to name elementary school #33 after England. Both Elsa England Elementary and nearby Pearson Ranch Middle School were built on land once owned by England’s family. Today, these schools support and educate more than 1,900 students each year.
In 2011, Linda Herrington Elementary School opened. Herrington served as a principal at Purple Sage Elementary School and Grisham and Hopewell middle schools. Herrington was principal of Grisham Middle School from 1987 until she had the opportunity to open the first Hopewell Middle School in Round Rock in 1996. She also opened the second Hopewell Middle School in 2001, serving as principal until she retired from public education in 2003. Herrington spent a total of 39 years in the field of education.
Patsy Sommer was a Round Rock ISD director of elementary education. Her namesake campus, Patsy Sommer Elementary School, opened in August 2008.
“Patsy was very friendly and well known for her helpfulness,” said Bea Gonzales, Round Rock ISD front office assistant. Gonzales attended Round Rock ISD schools from 1959 until she graduated from Round Rock High School in 1972. She began working for the District in 1974 and knew most of the women with buildings named after them.
Xenia Voigt was Gonzales’ first-grade teacher. Gonzales recalls that Voigt recognized the exponential growth coming to Round Rock and that she understood the significance of marking moments in community history.
“I remember when Ms. Voigt took the class to watch the installation of the flashing light at the intersection of Hwy. 79 and Mays Street,” said Gonzales. “Voigt was strict, but her priority was that her students did their best.” Voigt had a 48-year career as a teacher and principal. In 1975, her service was honored with the naming of Voigt Elementary School, now known as Voigt Elementary Arts Integration Academy.
Round Rock ISD women and women worldwide from all cultures who serve and have served in education significantly impact the evolution of the next generation. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of the services and support available in our public schools. Women in public schools provide children stability, confidence, personal growth, goal-setting, productivity, social skills, wellness, and nutrition and can take students as far as they want to go.
Today, the schools and buildings bearing these seven remarkable and influential women’s names serve all students, fulfilling the legacy Callison, Caraway, Delgado, England, Herrington, Sommer, and Voigt made possible with their devoted service to children and advocacy for public education.
