Leander ISD announced a new Chief Financial Officer Thursday after the Board of Trustees approved Pete Pape, a certified public accountant who brings 21 years of school district financial leadership and operations experience to fill the role.

Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., said he is thrilled to welcome Pape to the LISD family, and he is confident that Pape’s expertise will be a tremendous asset to the LISD community.

“Pete’s qualifications, experience and passion for public education make him a great fit to lead the business and finance division of our great district,” Gearing said. “We are looking forward to working with Pete to continue to be effective stewards of our taxpayer dollars while providing the level of excellence our community has come to expect.”

Pape comes to LISD from Mesquite ISD, where he has been the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations since 2020. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer and in business, administrative and financial roles in Deer Park ISD, Goose Creek CISD, Sealy ISD, Grape Creek ISD and Education Service Center Region 12 in Waco.

Pape said that he is grateful for the opportunity to join the LISD team, and is eager to get to know the LISD community as he begins his role.

“My personal goals are to meet every #1LISD employee, be involved in the community, be transparent and ensure decisions are student-centered and data-informed,” Pape said, “and to do all of these things with an emphasis on supporting the recruitment, retention and development of all staff to further achieve the district’s vision and mission.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration with a specialization in accounting from Angelo State University, Pape is scheduled to complete his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston – Clear Lake in May of 2023.