He once got sent to the principal’s office — now he’s the one sitting behind the desk at Nitsch Elementary in Klein ISD.
KLEIN, Texas — When students return to Nitsch Elementary next week, they’ll be greeted by a familiar face — one who used to walk the same halls as a young student named Leo.
Now, he’s Mr. Castleberry, the school’s new principal.
With more than 50,000 students heading back to class across Klein ISD, families may see several new faces in schools this year. But for Castleberry, the transition into his new role is deeply personal.
“If somebody would have told 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade me, ‘Hey, one day you will be the principal,’ I would have said: I don’t believe you,” Castleberry laughed.
Castleberry has already made an impact at Nitsch Elementary. As Dean of Instruction, he helped the Title I school raise its accountability rating from 71 to 95. He was also named Assistant Principal of the Year for the district while serving on the same campus.
His journey into education had an unexpected beginning. As a student, he had no interest in music — until his mother stepped in.
“I said, ‘No, absolutely not. I’m not playing an instrument,’” he recalled.
“Lo and behold, on day one, on my schedule I’m in band.”
“Wait, mom snuck that in?”
“She snuck it in, yep.”
That moment led him down a path to study music and eventually become a band director, beginning a career in education that would bring him back full circle — to lead the very school he once attended.
“When mom found out [about the new role], she said, ‘I told you.’ She knew that someday I would take over a campus.”
And yes, he admits he did get sent to the principal’s office back in the day — but now, being called to that office has a much better ring to it.