LUBBOCK, Texas (LISD) – Today (Feb. 26), the Lubbock Independent School District (Lubbock ISD) Board of Trustees announced two district-level leadership hires and recognized more than 100 students for their excellence in music, athletics and career and technical education.
Dr. Christopher Anderson named as next Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Christopher Anderson was named as Lubbock ISD’s Chief Operations Officer, effective March 9. He will fill the position held by Rick Rodriguez, who will begin his retirement on March 13, 2026.
In this role, Anderson will be responsible for the overall management, strategic planning, development, evaluation and implementation of district facilities; maintenance of district facilities; human resources, technology, warehouse and distribution, transportation, communications, finance, procurement services and payroll operations.
Anderson is no stranger to Lubbock– he served as the executive director of fine arts at Lubbock ISD from 2014-2018 and was key in the development of the district’s partnership with the Buddy Holly Hall. Anderson also served as the director of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland at Texas Tech University from 2003-2009. He has most recently served as the director of fine arts at Arlington Independent School District (Arlington ISD) since 2018.
“I am thrilled to return to Lubbock and humbled to serve in this new position,” Anderson said. “I am excited to build on the great work that has been done in Lubbock ISD and look forward to focusing my energy on providing incredible experiences for our students and staff.”
In 2020, Anderson launched the Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Arlington ISD’s comprehensive fine arts facility designed to showcase student performers and artists; encourage art education through state-of-the-art classrooms; and offer unparalleled visual and performance experiences to visitors. During his tenure as the district’s fine arts director, he worked closely with senior staff and administrators on capital construction planning and execution; districtwide crisis planning; and the redesign of human resources processes and recruiting strategies.
Anderson brings a wealth of experience in education to this new role. He holds superintendent certification from Lamar University, a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University.
Jeremy Sagebiel named as new Executive Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction Operations
Jeremy Sagebiel has been named as the district’s new Executive Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction Operations, effective April 20. In this role, he will direct and manage maintenance of the district’s facilities operations and construction projects while providing students with a physical learning environment that is safe, clean, attractive and functional.
“One of my favorite quotes is one that says, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it,’ and that’s exactly what Lubbock ISD does,” Sagebiel said. “I have an extensive background in construction, and I’m overjoyed to shift my career to help construct the future for students and everyone else within Lubbock Independent School District.”
Sagebiel comes to the district with extensive experience in budget preparation, capital improvement planning and departmental operations. He is skilled in developing long-term strategic plans and leading complex construction and renovation projects from concept through completion. He is also known for his collaboration with architects, engineers and stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality control and cost efficiency.
Since 2017, Sagebiel has served as a developer with Betenbough Homes, where he has overseen projects focused on maintaining budgets, schedules and operational efficiency and was recognized for developing and implementing procedures to streamline various processes.
Prior to this role, he was an engineering technologist project manager for the City of Powell River and a site inspector and materials tester for McElhanney, both in British Columbia, Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture with a strong emphasis in structural/civil engineering and technical writing.
More than 100 students recognized for excellence in music, CTE and athletics
The meeting also featured recognition of 101 students who recently received all-state honors or advanced to state-level competition, including:
Fine Arts – 48 students
Eight Lubbock ISD band, choir and orchestra students from the Talkington School for Young Women Leaders and Coronado, Monterey and Lubbock HIgh Schools earned all-state honors from the Texas Music Educators Association.
Forty Lubbock ISD students from Mariachi Mesteno at Coronado High School and Mariachi De Oro at Lubbock High School earned sweepstakes ratings at the 2026 UIL West Texas Region Contest, and both groups qualified for the 2026 UIL State Mariachi Festival.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) – 18 students
Eighteen Lubbock ISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) students who competed in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA): Future Health Professionals Area 4 competition advanced to the state contest. Students competed in medical reading, pathophysiology, pharmacology, phlebotomy, healthy living, mental health promotion, community awareness, emergency medical technician and the HOSA bowl.
Athletics – 35 students
Twelve Lubbock ISD students from Coronado, Estacado, Lubbock and Monterey High Schools who competed at the UIL Region 1-5A Wrestling Championship earned the opportunity to compete at the 2026 UIL Wrestling State Tournament.
Twenty-three Lubbock ISD students from Coronado, Estacado, Lubbock and Monterey High Schools who competed at the UIL Conference 5A-Region 1 Swimming and Diving Regional earned the opportunity to compete at the 2026 UIL Swimming & Diving State Meet.
About Lubbock ISD
Lubbock Independent School District is the largest K-12 public education provider in the surrounding area, educating more than 23,000 students. Its mission is to nurture, develop and inspire every child, every day. Guiding that mission are three leadership pillars – Develop Leaders, Love People and Value Data – which aim to empower staff to their full potential, embrace our community and cultivate student success at every level. With a wide range of academic and career programming, the district has innovated itself to provide growth opportunities for students and staff alike.
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