Paulette Tomlinson Set to Become New Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts

TOMBALL - Tomball ISD has named Paulette Tomlinson its new Director of Fine Arts. She will take over for long-time fine arts educator JD Janda as he announced his retirement at the end of the school year.

“We are excited to welcome Paulette Tomlinson as the Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts,” said Dr. Steven Gutierrez, Chief Operating Officer. “Her experience and leadership will continue to elevate our Fine Arts programs across the district.”

Tomlinson brings to TISD over 15 years of fine arts education and leadership experience. As an educational leader and arts advocate, Tomlinson joins us directly from Flour Bluff ISD in Corpus Christi where she served as the District Fine Arts Administrator. In that role, she supervised fine arts educators and programs EC-12 in music, theatre, visual art, and drill team as well as oversaw and evaluated the district’s Fine Arts Department budget.

Prior to her role in Flour Bluff, Tomlinson was the Director of Fine Arts for Nacogdoches ISD from 2019 to 2022. Not only was she the District’s first Director of Fine Arts, she managed tremendous growth within all fine arts programs, led in curriculum alignment, supervised the budget, and was awarded several accolades and distinctions for her strong leadership.

Along with dedicating four years overseeing two different fine arts departments, Tomlinson also has experience as the Director of Bands over several stops, including San Augustine ISD (2018-19), Florida State University Schools (2014-18), and Sanders Middle School  (2012-14) and Great Falls Middle/High School (2009-12), both in South Carolina.

During her time as the Director of Bands, Tomlinson led ensembles to superior and first division ratings, achieved area and state level participation in Florida and Texas, and was awarded two Florida Music Educators Association Enrollment Awards for attaining over 35% district student enrollment. 

Her leadership expands outside of her district administrative role as she serves as the Regional Representative on the Texas Arts Education Campaign Board of Directors and was the Texas Fine Arts Administrators, Small District liaison.

As a Fine Arts administrator, Tomlinson has earned NAMM Best Communities for Music Education Recognition in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She also earned TAEA District of Distinction in 2020, along with several Florida Music Association honors throughout her career.

Tomlinson earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Furman University and her Master of Music Education in Instrumental Music from Florida State University.

What made you interested in working in Tomball ISD?
“Tomball reminds me a lot of home - I grew up in Marietta, GA, a town like Tomball in Northwest Metro Atlanta. I love the small-town feel with access to big city opportunities. It’s the perfect place to lay down roots! What sealed the deal for me is Tomball ISD’s commitment to excellence for every child, and the inspiring leadership within the District toward that common goal.”

What is it about the role of Director of Fine Arts that intrigued you?
“Being a Fine Arts administrator is the best job in the world! I firmly believe in the value of all the fine arts disciplines and what involvement in them does for students. The ability to work to empower teachers and staff to educate and inspire our students is an absolute joy. I have witnessed the incredible teaching that goes on every day in the Tomball Fine Arts department, and I have the highest respect for Mr. JD Janda, the current Director. It will be the honor of my career to take the reins when he enters his well-deserved retirement and work with the department to move into the next chapter of our history.”

What do you love most about fine arts in public education?
“The fine arts are integral in education - what we teach in our classrooms reaches the whole student. Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre are essential disciplines that connect us as human beings. Our programs give students a place to belong and a reason to come to school. The skills students learn in our classes not only make them into lifelong lovers of the arts, but into highly functioning members of society. Creativity, intuition, logical reasoning, and imagination are essential skills for successful careers and relationships, and are all muscles strengthened through involvement in the arts.”

What can our campuses and fine arts teachers and students expect from you as the leader of that department?
“Fine Arts education advocacy, both locally and at the state level, is something that is extremely important to me. As the leader of the Tomball ISD Fine Arts department, I will ensure Fine Arts voices are heard and teacher/student needs are met. I will be their biggest supporter! My mission is to empower teachers to do their very best work for our students and to be involved in decision making that keeps fine arts student well-being and success at the forefront. I will also be a partner to campus administrators in ensuring the advancement of their fine arts programs. I am thrilled to be joining this team, and I cannot wait to get started this summer.”

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates nearly 22,000 students at 22 campuses.