The Austin Independent School District's Board of Trustees voted March 18 to name AISD’s new north central elementary school in honor of Dr. Janis Guerrero Thompson, a longtime educator whose work in the district included 17 years of service as a teacher and the former executive director of planning and community relations for AISD’s central office. 

An Austin native and AISD alumna, Guerrero Thompson graduated from Crockett High School and taught in AISD high schools for 17 years, before being asked to coordinate the central administrative office and school principals' efforts to implement state requirements for gifted and talented education in secondary schools. She also worked in leadership positions for the University of Texas College of Business, the Texas Education Agency and served as a program director for UT’s Dana Center. In 2003, Guerrero Thompson returned to AISD as executive director for the Department of Planning and Community Relations in the district’s central office.

Guerrero Thompson was an active volunteer, serving as vice chair of the Board of Directors for Central Texas Goodwill Industries, president of the Board of Directors for Executive Women in Texas Government and on the boards of various city, church and community organizations.

She passed away in June 2011.

The newly named Dr. Janis Guerrero Thompson Elementary School is located at 102 E. Rundberg Lane and sits on approximately 17 acres. When completed, the school will be a 98,000 sq. ft. facility with 40 classrooms. Construction began in August 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2013.