Tomball Independent School District has received state and national recognition for its commitment to superior educational outcomes. And Tomball Education Foundation continues in its mission to provide TISD schools and students with the tools they need for success. The 2025-2026 school year has just begun, and already, TISD and TEF are celebrating wins that benefit our students.
Peace, Love, & Tomball!
The ’70s were a time when a liberated, innovative culture was cultivated. That kind of academic freedom is what Tomball Independent School District is encouraging its staff and students to explore during its 2025-2026 school year. In August 2025, that era’s energy was celebrated at the TISD Convocation. Tomball Education Foundation’s Convocation celebration was August 4, 2025 at Champions Forest Baptist Church.
Dr. Z Honored
Leadership is a significant reason TISD has become a destination district for families seeking the best public-school education. This year, the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators recognized Tomball ISD Superintendent Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora (“Dr. Z”) for promoting educational excellence and commitment to every student’s success. She was honored with the 2025 Gwen Taylor Pinnacle Award at the 4th Annual HAABSE Summer Conference in Galveston.
Welcome Home, New Teachers
The 2025 New Teacher Breakfast celebrated nearly 200 new Tomball Independent School District teachers!
Every year, educators from throughout school districts develop Amazon Wish Lists for donations of additional items that support their classroom curricula. Tomball Education Foundation held a favorite teacher contest and awarded Amazon gift cards to educators Ashley Loftin, April Roberts, Chad Schmidt, Terri Taylor, Kari Walton, and Coach Samm Wiggin. At the Teacher Breakfast, the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce donated gift-goodies to the newcomers, and the TISD leadership expressed its gratitude and optimism: “Welcome to Tomball. You are finally home.”
Portillo’s Supports Tomball Schools
Portillo’s Restaurant Group is recognized for supporting local communities. The Portillo’s of Tomball grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was an example of this principle, as they donated over $10,000 to TEF. This restaurant specializes in Chicago street-food and charitable campaigns. They have promoted fundraisers for animal shelters, band boosters, cancer research, clubs and support organizations, fraternities and sororities, libraries, parent-teacher organizations, park districts, local sports teams, women’s shelters, youth programs, and this year, Tomball schools through TEF.
TAEA 2025-2026 District of Distinction
The Texas Art Education Association is the largest U.S. state professional organization for art educators. TAEA’s mission is to empower art teachers in promoting quality visual arts education. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas’ District of Distinction Award honors school districts that offer flagship visual arts programs and promote participation in Visual Arts Scholastic Events (VASEs) and Texas Elementary Arts Meets (TEAMs). Tomball ISD was among the 2025-2026 TAEA District of Distinction schools.
TISD Director of Fine Arts Paulette Tomlinson said the award recognized and honored students’ and teachers’ hours of lessons, shows, contests, and community events. Eligible districts submitted documentation of ways their curricula and activities met TAEA’s high standards of educators’ dedication to superior, comprehensive art classroom experiences. Tomball ISD will be among the 109 districts honored at the TAEA Fall Conference November 21, 2025 in Round Rock, TX.
TMHS Music Education 2025 National Winner
Tomball Memorial High School’s Chamber Orchestra has been named a national winner in the Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence competition. The contest received entries from 40 states. This year’s National Winner title is the school’s first since 2021, and TMHS is one of only eight, nationwide, selected in 2025.
This win acknowledges that Tomball Memorial’s music education program and its talented student musicians are among the best in the country. TMHS orchestra director Peter Jadeo said Tomball students often begin studying as early as elementary school; by high school, they have been well-trained to compete on a national stage.
425 National Merit & Recognition Tributes
In September, TISD reported Tomball High School, Tomball Memorial High School, and Tomball Star Academy students were acknowledged for their exceptional academic efforts:
- 10 students were named National Merit Semifinalists.
- 29 students were named National Merit Commended.
- 57 students earned National First-Generation Recognition.
- 329 students earned National School Recognition.
U.S. News & World Best High Schools
For the 2025-2026 year, the three Tomball high schools again earned placement in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best High Schools in the US.” The report was released on August 19, 2025. Nearly 24,000 high schools were evaluated, and about 18,000 were ranked for the 2025-2026 academic year. Tomball high schools placed:
- 957 – Tomball Star Academy
- 1,457 – Tomball Memorial High School
- 2,315 – Tomball High School
Rankings are determined by schools whose students surpass expectations in math, reading, and science as well as the percentage of high school graduates. Tomball high schools are among the top 10% in the nation.
Looking Ahead: TISD Classes of 2030 and TAFE
TISD’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) plans to launch a Tomball Academy of Future Educators (TAFE) curriculum for the 2026-2027 academic year. These types of programs offer college-bound high school students the opportunity to pursue a diploma and work-based education in several fields. The TAFE program begins in August 2026 at the future Tomball West High School and will prepare students for careers in education and teaching. It will be modeled after the Tomball Academy of Healthcare, which began in 2023-2024 at Tomball Star Academy.
Thanks to its partnership with Lone Star College-Tomball, all TISD eighth graders (Class of 2030) can pursue a path in education that merges high school learning with the first two years of college education. Students will be eligible to earn an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree and Texas Education Agency Education Aide I certification in addition to a high school diploma. A lottery for TAFE will be held in December 2025.
FAQs
Some of the frequently asked questions we receive about Tomball Education Foundation include:
Business location is not a prerequisite for subsidizing TISD K-12 public school educational organizations, including Tomball Education Foundation. Sponsorship levels are:
- Advocate - $1,000
- Ambassador - $5,000
- Innovator - $10,000
- Partner - $20,000
