San Saba ISD welcomes new superintendent

The San Saba ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire Mr. Keith Owen as Superintendent of Schools on January 8, 2024. He will replace Dr. Buck Gilcrease who stepped down from the position. Dr. Gilcrease stated, “I want to congratulate Mr. Owen and the SSISD school board. I have every confidence in these eight great leaders and their commitment to excellence for our students.” Mr. Owen has been a part of San Saba ISD since January 2023 as Assistant Superintendent.

After graduating from Texas A&M University, Keith has dedicated 26 years in rural districts as a teacher/coach, athletic director, assistant principal, high school principal, with the last six being an assistant superintendent in east Texas. His wife, Rebecca, finished the 2022-23 school year serving as middle school principal, and joined Keith here in June. She is now serving San Saba Middle School as a 7th grade teacher. Keith and Rebecca are very proud to have the opportunity to serve here. “I am grateful for all who have reached out to make us feel welcome here and am very impressed with San Saba ISD’s staff, students, parents, and school board. And I am excited for how we can continue to grow together going forward. I believe education serves students best by building leadership in all students through intentional thoughts, words, and actions of adults. All of us will be called on to lead in some capacity at some point, and I believe all aspects of public education is a great avenue to build those skills that will serve others as we grow.”

Outside of work, Keith enjoys hunting, golf, and traveling to see his sons whom he is extremely proud of: Jacob - a graduate assistant at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma; and Jonathan – a sophomore in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

On behalf of the community and school district, we welcome Mr. Keith Owen and his wife, Rebecca, and look forward to many years of partnering in service together.

Submitted by Machelle Perry, SSISD