ASBO International recently named Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's Karen Smith as one of three 2021 Distinguished Eagle Award recipients.
ASBO International recently named Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's Karen Smith as one of three 2021 Distinguished Eagle Award recipients. ASBO International honors school business professionals who stop at nothing to be change-agents for the students in their district and beyond. She will be honored at the ASBO International Annual Conference in Milwaukee this coming October, along with Harris County Department of Education's Jesus Amezcua - a Pinnacle Award of Achievement Recipient.
Karen is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in the Houston area. She was President of the TASBO Board of Directors in 2016-17 and was named the TASBO Commitment to Excellence Recipient in 2020, when the conference was held in Houston.
A recognized leader in the field, Karen Smith has 29 years of school business under her belt and currently oversees school business operations in the third-largest district in Texas. Recognizing the importance of collaboration across the district, she developed a training program to teach new principals their fiscal responsibilities and district financial processes. She also mentors new school business officials and presents at local and national conferences.
Smith is passionate about advocacy and helps state legislators understand the needs and concerns of school districts and their students. She was invited to testify before the Texas Legislature on funding for special education, bilingual education, and at-risk students. Parts of her testimony were included in subsequent legislation.
The Eagle Award is sponsored by Equitable - who also sponsors the TASBO Commitment to Excellence award program. Each Distinguished Eagle Award recipient's district is awarded $2500 for a high school senior. For a list of additional recipients and the Eagle Award Recipient, visit the ASBO International Eagle Awards Page.
