Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown has deep roots in the Klein community and has most recently served as deputy superintendent for Klein ISD, a 54,000-student district in northwest Harris County. She is a dedicated leader who has also served Klein ISD in the roles of chief learning officer, executive director, principal, assistant principal, and classroom teacher.
As Chief Learning Officer and Deputy Superintendent, Dr. McGown had a pivotal role in developing unique pathways for students to earn advanced degrees before high school graduation, including the Advanced Nursing Pathway and the first-in-the state Geospatial Engineering and Land Surveying Pathway. She also initiated Innovation Challenges that enable students to solve real-world problems creatively— earning state and national-level recognition for STEM education by JASON Learning—as well as KleinTalks, an annual celebration for students to speak about their passions.
Dr. McGown was recognized as one of the top 40 professionals under 40 across all sectors in the greater Houston area by the Houston Business Journal in 2017 and the Houston BizWoman Headliner in Education in 2018. In 2019, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) named her the Outstanding Woman in Education, and just recently, she was named the Sam Houston State University Distinguished Educator of the Year for 2020. Dr. McGown serves on the Google for Education North America K-12 Advisory Board, the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts Board, and the Northwest Assistance Ministries Board.
In Klein ISD, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Klein Education Foundation. Additionally, Dr. McGown is a member of the Lone Star College Chancellor’s Advisory Council and a member of the JASON’s Superintendents Advisory Board.
Dr. McGown completed her undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University and received her Master’s and Doctorate in Education from Sam Houston State University.
Outside of professional life, Dr. McGown enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and children, Joshua and Mary Claire, both Klein ISD students. She and her husband are members of Faithbridge Church, supporters of the Klein Education Foundation, and are involved in the work of Bridging for Tomorrow and Love 146.