Superintendent's Bio
Dr. A. Katrise Perera joined the Lancaster Independent School District in Lancaster, Texas, as the Superintendent of Schools in April of 2021. Since taking the leadership role in the Dallas-Ft. Worth suburban school district, Dr. Perera intentionally embraced opportunities to listen and learn from the district's stakeholders and made an immediate positive impact on the students, staff members, and the Lancaster ISD community. Dr. Perera's career includes more than 28-plus years of public service in K12 education.
Before joining Lancaster ISD, she served as the superintendent of the Gresham-Barlow SD in Oregon (2017-2021) and Isle of Wight County Schools in Virginia (2011-2015). In addition to her servant leadership roles as a superintendent, she served as a corporate executive with a national publishing company as their National Director for Urban Markets (2015-2017); a school improvement area superintendent in Texas’ largest school district- Houston Independent School District (2010-2011); as a district-level administrator, principal, and teacher for Henrico County Public Schools (2000-2010) in Richmond, Virginia. Her career in K12 education began in 1994 as a teacher in Charlottesville City Public School (1994-2000) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Perera’s career experiences inspired her to advocate for equity, inclusion, access, and S.T.E.M opportunities for all students and to build capacity in female leaders.
She earned her doctorate in education leadership and policy study from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in May 2014. She also completed the National Superintendent Certification Program in 2016 through the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). In 2018-2019, she was selected to serve alongside select education leaders on the National Women's Leadership Consortium. She was recognized for her leadership and equity work by her peers in 2015, when she was named the Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS). In 2020, the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators (OALA) recognized her as their ALLY of The Year, to name a few.
Dr. Perera is an active member of state and national professional organizations, where she serves as an advisor and/or committee member. Additionally, she serves as a collegial mentor, experienced learning facilitator, thought partner, and frequent presenter during state and national conferences. She continues to serve as an aspiring superintendent mentor through the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Likewise, she has composed and contributed several excerpts for professional books and articles for professional education leadership magazines.
Dr. Perera is the proud mother of twins and has been married to her college sweetheart, Rajiv Perera, for 31 years.
