TASBO honors Cypress-Fairbanks ISD CFO Karen Smith
Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer, won the TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26 at the TASBO Engage Conference in Grapevine.
March 6, 2026—The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) awarded Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer, with the Legacy Award at its annual TASBO Engage Conference on Feb. 26. Established in 2025, the award is given to members who have had an exceptionally distinguished career in school business and public education.
In addition to being the CFO for the third-largest school district in Texas, Smith has served as Texas’ first Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International board officer for more than three decades. Smith was selected based on her professionalism, dedication to public education, volunteer leadership and contributions to TASBO and ASBO programs and services.
The TASBO Board of Directors congratulates Karen Smith on her TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO executive director; Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent of schools; Heather Wilson, College Station ISD chief financial officer; Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer; Elaine Cogburn, Dripping Springs ISD deputy superintendent for finance and operations; and Phillip Ellison, Spring ISD executive director for procurement services.
“It’s not just Karen’s knowledge and experience that makes her special,” said Heather Wilson, 2025-26 TASBO board president. “It’s her willingness to share her gifts with others that make her really stand out.”
CFISD and TASBO representatives congratulate Karen Smith on her TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Dr. Mark Henry, retired CFISD superintendent of schools; Adam Leal, director of financial services; Melissa McAnear, director of business services; Dr. Doug Killian, superintendent of schools, Karen Smith, chief financial officer; Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO executive director; Amanda Boles, assistant superintendent of business and financial services; Angela Green, assistant director of risk management and insurance; Jennifer Land, Pflugerville ISD chief financial officer; and Julie Novak, Fort Sam Houston ISD chief financial officer.
Legacy Award recipients are selected by the TASBO Board of Directors, sponsored by the retirement planning company, Equitable.
Additionally, the CFISD finance team won the Award of Excellence for Financial Management, marking the sixth time the team has won the award. The procurement team won the Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations.
The CFISD finance team won the Award of Excellence for Financial Management at the TASBO Engage Conference in Grapevine on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Melissa McAnear, director of business services; Amanda Boles, assistant superintendent of business and financial services, Adam Leal, director of financial services.
TASBO honors Cypress-Fairbanks ISD CFO Karen Smith
Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer, won the TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26 at the TASBO Engage Conference in Grapevine.
March 6, 2026—The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) awarded Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer, with the Legacy Award at its annual TASBO Engage Conference on Feb. 26. Established in 2025, the award is given to members who have had an exceptionally distinguished career in school business and public education.
In addition to being the CFO for the third-largest school district in Texas, Smith has served as Texas’ first Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International board officer for more than three decades. Smith was selected based on her professionalism, dedication to public education, volunteer leadership and contributions to TASBO and ASBO programs and services.
The TASBO Board of Directors congratulates Karen Smith on her TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO executive director; Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent of schools; Heather Wilson, College Station ISD chief financial officer; Karen Smith, CFISD chief financial officer; Elaine Cogburn, Dripping Springs ISD deputy superintendent for finance and operations; and Phillip Ellison, Spring ISD executive director for procurement services.
“It’s not just Karen’s knowledge and experience that makes her special,” said Heather Wilson, 2025-26 TASBO board president. “It’s her willingness to share her gifts with others that make her really stand out.”
CFISD and TASBO representatives congratulate Karen Smith on her TASBO Legacy Award on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Dr. Mark Henry, retired CFISD superintendent of schools; Adam Leal, director of financial services; Melissa McAnear, director of business services; Dr. Doug Killian, superintendent of schools, Karen Smith, chief financial officer; Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO executive director; Amanda Boles, assistant superintendent of business and financial services; Angela Green, assistant director of risk management and insurance; Jennifer Land, Pflugerville ISD chief financial officer; and Julie Novak, Fort Sam Houston ISD chief financial officer.
Legacy Award recipients are selected by the TASBO Board of Directors, sponsored by the retirement planning company, Equitable.
Additionally, the CFISD finance team won the Award of Excellence for Financial Management, marking the sixth time the team has won the award. The procurement team won the Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations.
The CFISD finance team won the Award of Excellence for Financial Management at the TASBO Engage Conference in Grapevine on Feb. 26. Pictured, from left, are Melissa McAnear, director of business services; Amanda Boles, assistant superintendent of business and financial services, Adam Leal, director of financial services.