When Maxine Phelan Elementary opens its doors in the fall, Principal Kevin Croft will be there to greet young Veranda scholars.
Croft is an experienced educator with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. Croft is currently serving as the principal of Polly Ryon Middle School. Before that, he was an assistant principal and English teacher at George Ranch High School. Croft also taught in Junction ISD.
A graduate of the Holdsworth Leadership Program, Croft combines upbeat style with high expectations. He is experienced at building relationships and cultivating collaboration and is known throughout the district for his ability to keep students engaged.
Maxine Phelan Elementary is located on a 15.83-acre site along Great Blue Heron Lane in Veranda. Students in our community will be able to walk or ride their bikes to the campus, which features several outdoor play areas in gated yards.
The school is named after Maxine Phelan who taught English at Lamar Consolidated High School from 1971-2003. In 2019, Rosenberg Mayor Bill Benton declared April 30 as Maxine Phelan Day in honor of her steadfast commitment to educating her students, pushing them to exceed expectations.
Currently, Veranda students attend Hutchison Elementary, the sixth grade-only Wessendorff Middle School, Lamar Junior High School and Lamar Consolidated High School.
The fast-growing Lamar CISD has made a commitment of smaller campus enrollments — especially at the high school level. It aims to maintain its plan of sixth grade-only middle schools to ease the transition from elementary to junior high. Recently, the district was honored with a Best Communities for Music Education designation for a second consecutive year by The NAMM Foundation.
