Keitha St. Clair first became a principal when the Blanco High School Class of 2020 was in the sixth grade.

“They’re my babies. They’re special to me,” she said of the soon-to-be graduating class.

St. Clair was their middle school principal for three years, then moved with them for four years of high school, serving as BHS principal since the fall of 2016.

Now, she’ll leave campus with them. St. Clair recently announced that she’ll leave her post as BHS principal at the end of the current school year to become an assistant principal at Lake Travis Middle School.

“It’s a little bitter sweet,” she said. “I love my job and it’s been an amazing experience. That said, it’s time to slow down a little bit and spend some more time with my family.”

At her new post, St. Clair will be one of three top administrators on campus. In addition to the principal, there are two assistant principal positions, with St. Clair set to be one of them. The extra administrators, plus a limited amount of activities and sports allowed for middle school students, will allow her to slow down more.

St. Clair started at Blanco ISD as student success coordinator. After three years, she became middle school principal for another three, before holding the high school principal job for four years.

“It’s been great to be here for 10 years,” she said. “It speaks volumes to how wonderful Blanco is and how great everyone is here.”

St. Clair is originally from Spur, in the Texas panhandle. She moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas, and has never left the general area.

“I really enjoyed the terrain and climate around here,” she said.

In addition to time in Blanco, she spent a decade in Judson ISD in San Antonio as a social studies teacher. She also coached at times. St. Clair also spent three years as the at-risk specialist at Canyon Lake High School.

Early on, St. Clair felt a draw to students who might need some extra help.

“I really started developing a love for at-risk kids,” she said. “I’ve never regretted it. They’re special kids who sometimes just need a little extra help on getting to success.”

As St. Clair moves on, she’s also returning to her middle school roots. She’s spent the majority of her career at that level, from a decade at Kitty Hawk Middle School in Judson ISD to six years at Blanco Middle School.

“I feel very comfortable going back to the middle school level,” she said. “The kids there are always full of joy and are always excited to see you. I’m excited to go back to the middle school setting.”

St. Clair said she’ll miss a lot about Blanco. The teachers, staff and administrators have worked to make the climate in the school district second to none. She’ll also miss the “wonderful” students.

“Our students are so unique,” she said. “They’re incredibly respectful, they choose to be compliant, and they really seek out meaningful relationship with teachers and staff. They’re such a joy. It’s been an amazing last four years.”

Even though she’ll be gone from Blanco ISD, don’t expect St. Clair to be a stranger.

“I hope to come back and see the kids compete in big events from time to time,” she said. “I’ll still be around.”