KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
January 28, 2019
By Jennifer Lynn Greenway and Katrina Katsarelis
Longtime Katy resident and attorney, Duke Keller, filed to run for Katy ISD Board of Trustees Position 1, the day after current board member George Scott announced he will not seek re-election.
On Sunday, January 26, Duke Keller announced on his personal Facebook page he will be running for position 1. Keller will be positioned against outspoken Katy ISD critic, Sean Dolan, who filed on January 16. Dolan is also a longtime critic of former Superintendent Lance Hindt. Hindt took an early retirement package after Dolan and his group A Better Legacy brought forth repeated derogatory allegations about Hindt as a youth including claims that Hindt bullied a classmate in junior high, assaulted a man a teenager, and more.
"I personally decided to run because I saw the turmoil in our district,” says Keller. “It had nothing to do with whether Mr. Dolan was running. I have made myself available to serve on the Board of Trustees in a district that has suffered some serious distress in the last year and trust the voters will see the value I bring." Keller continues.
Keller says he also chose to run because of his love of Katy and his desire to make a positive difference for the kids, teachers, and staff, and give back to the community.
Keller's official announcement is below:
Friends, I have filed to run for the KISD Board of Trustees - Position 1. I have considered running for the Board for many years. I felt very strongly about it, as Katy is a very special place for me and my family. Last summer, like many of you, I became concerned with what is happening within our school district. I decided late last summer to run in this election.
No one recruited me to run. I reached out to a few people and asked what was involved in the process and how to do it.
I only casually know one of the current Board members. I have never personally spoken to any of the other Board members. I have not been involved in Katy politics, and as far as I know I do not personally know any of Katy’s current politicians.
This is not about anyone else that is running, or even me. It is about our kids, our teachers, and our staff. I am not doing this for personal recognition. I just felt like it was time to give back to a school district and town that has given so much to me and to my family.
If you know me personally, you know I am not a “yes” man. I will do what is fair and right, and don’t mind being criticized if it is the right thing to do for our kids, our teachers, and our staff.
I appreciate the support and the kind words, and I ask for your vote in this critical election.
Please feel free to share this if like.
Keller hopes to bring his experience and strong work ethic to the Katy ISD school board where he says he will focus on the business of the district, providing oversight and lending his expertise to the skill sets already in place.
Attorney and Longtime Katy Resident Keller is a licensed attorney and shareholder with the law firm Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, PC where he practices real estate, land development, and business law.
In 1978, Keller moved with his parents to Katy and graduated from Katy High School in 1982. Keller was a Sergeant in the US Army from 1983 to 1985, and also served in combat in the Texas Army National Guard, Military Police Corps from 1987 to 1992, and 1993 to 1994). Keller received the U.S. Army's Top Clearance from the Department of Defense.
Keller obtained a degree from University of Houston - Downtown, B.G.S. (Prelaw) in 1993. He also received a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1998 from South Texas College of Law. He is a Member of the Houston Bar Association.
Husband and Father of Three
Keller says he is first and foremost a family man. He has been married to wife Jennifer, a Katy real estate executive, for 24 years and the couple has three children, all of them are/were Katy ISD students. The Kellers' oldest daughter Maddie is a student at Texas Tech University, daughter Lauren is a junior at Katy High School, and son Ham is a fourth grader at Wolman Elementary.
Keller says he takes great pride in the success of his hometown and the opportunities Katy ISD offers his own children.
Community Service
Over the years, Keller has served the community in several ways:
• Katy Youth Basketball Board of Directors - 2013 - 2017
• Katy HS Athletic Booster Club member
• Katy HS Bengal Brigade and Cheerleader Booster Club member
• MUD Director - Serving on two MUD boards for 14 years
• American Legion Post 77 member since 1997
• Former Trustee and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Houston Lawyer Referral Service
• Former Director and General Counsel - Houston Masonic Library and Museum
The Katy ISD Board Election will be held on May 4.
For more information on Duke Keller, you can visit his Facebook page, Duke Keller for Katy ISD Board of Trustees.
It's exciting to hear that Attorney Duke Keller is running against Sean Dolan in the Katy ISD Board race. Having a legal background can bring valuable insights into the school board, especially when dealing with complex policies and regulations. As someone familiar with the legal field, particularly personal injury law, I understand the importance of having knowledgeable representatives in all areas of governance. Just as a skilled personal injury attorney can navigate the intricacies of the law to secure rightful compensation for clients, a well-informed school board member can effectively advocate for the community and ensure that policies are in the best interest of students and parents alike.