Leadership

Dr. Stephens grew up in Temple, Texas, and was a product of the Temple Independent School District. Upon graduation from Temple High School, he attended Abilene Christian University where he earned a BS in Education.

He continued his education and earned a Master of Education Degree from Tarleton State University (TSU) in 1997. While at TSU, he served as a member of the initial cohort group of the New Century Educational Leadership Program (NCELP) at Tarleton State University.

In 2007, he received a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University. During his post-graduate studies at Prairie View, he was a member of the first doctoral cohort in educational leadership at Prairie View A&M University. 

Dr. Stephens and his wife, Becky, live in Magnolia and have been married since 1981. They attend Woodland Oaks Church of Christ. Becky is a retired kindergarten teacher. They have two children, Sam (graduate of Sam Houston State University) and Holly (graduate of Texas Tech University).

 

Dr. Jason Bullock - Deputy Superintendent

Dr. Jason Bullock joined Magnolia ISD as Assistant Superintendent for Administration in 2012. He was named Deputy Superintendent in 2020. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the district and oversees district administration. He is also responsible for district policy, principal mentorship, and leadership development. 

Dr. Bullock previously worked in Temple ISD serving in several positions during his time there including high school history teacher, department chair, advanced academic coordinator, Principal of Temple High School, and finally Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. He was named the Texas Foreign Language Association Secondary Administrator of the Year for 2011.

Dr. Bullock was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. He holds BA and MA Degrees in History from Abilene Christian University where he also played baseball. He later graduated with a doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. His dissertation research focused on college preparatory programs in Texas public high schools. 

He lives in Magnolia with his wife, Kendra, who works as a nurse in the district. They have three daughters. Brooke is a Magnolia ISD graduate who attends Abilene Christian University. Emma and Claire are current MISD students.

 

Dr. Erich Morris - Assistant Superintendent of Operations

Dr. Erich Morris took over the role as Assistant Superintendent of Operations in August of 2016. His responsibilities include oversight of the departments of finance and business, transportation, food service, and maintenance. Prior to this role and since arriving at MISD in 2008, Dr. Morris worked as Chief Financial Officer for the district.

Before arriving in Magnolia, Dr. Morris worked as the lead financial and operations official in three other Texas public school districts for a total of eight years. Prior to entering the field of school finance, Erich worked as a Financial Adviser in The Woodlands for a major financial institution.

Dr. Morris was born in the small town of Goldthwaite, Texas, and grew up in Livingston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration ('99) with a major in Business Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a Master of Science ('10) with a major in School Business Management from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a Doctor of Education ('16) with a major in Education Leadership. Dr. Morris earned his Texas Superintendent Certification through the Texas A&M certification program where he was awarded the Distinguished Honor Graduate designation ranking him as the top student of his graduating class from within the TAMU College of Education. His dissertation research focused on superintendent perceptions of critical facets related to successful and unsuccessful school bond elections in Texas public schools.

Erich lives in the Magnolia area with his wife, Stacye, and two infant twin boys, Luke and Dane.

Dr. Brandon Garza - Chief Academic OfficerDr. Garza assumed the role of Chief Academic Officer in June 2020.  His responsibilities include leading all facets of the district’s curriculum and instruction department, school accountability, and federal programs.

Dr. Garza has 21 years of administrative experience and most recently was the Director of Teaching and Learning for Magnolia ISD. He served as the principal of Magnolia West High School for 3 years and was also a principal in Humble ISD at Ross Sterling Middle School. Before becoming an administrator, Garza taught social studies, coached basketball, and served as a high school guidance counselor.

Garza holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree in Educational Management, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership, both from the University of Houston Clear Lake.  His dissertation research focused on teacher retention in low-socioeconomic schools.