D’Hanis ISD Elementary Principal lone finalist for Superintendent post

PHOTO / JOE FOHN

Lauren Busse (left), the finalist for the Superintendent position, in front of the Cowboy Mural at the D’Hanis ISD office, with current Superintendent Brian Thompson.

By Joe Fohn

Anvil Herald Reporter 

The D’Hanis ISD board of trustees has named its Elementary School Principal, Lauren Busse, as the lone finalist for superintendent. 

The board vote was taken at an April 8 special meeting. 

Busse will succeed Superintendent Brian Thompson, who announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2026.

Busse, a Hondo native, previously has worked 16 years as a teacher, counselor and assistant principal in the Hondo ISD.

She has served the past three years as elementary  principal in D’Hanis. 

She and her husband John have twin daughters, Jaeleigh and Julianne, both sophomores at D’Hanis High School.  

Thompson, an Ingram native, came to D’Hanis five years ago from the superintendent position at Brazos ISD, a 3A district near Houston. In all, Thompson has 33 years in education, from classroom teaching to coaching to administration. 

With a daughter in school, he said, “I wanted her to reap the benefits of being in a small school,” where students have an opportunity to participate in numerous sports and activities.

He called the D’Hanis position “the best job I ever had.”

“Phenomenal staff. Phenomenal kids. Phenomenal community support. D’Hanis is a special place.”