Today@Sam Article
Alumni Spotlight: Alfred and Ann Boudny
July 14, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins
Sam Houston State University alumni Alfred and Ann Boudny have dedicated their lives to future generations. The steadfast commitment to education that mirrors their alma mater is now entrenched in the Katy Independent School District’s new Alfred and Ann Boudny Elementary School.
“We were both shocked and honored at the same time,” said Al Boudny on the moment the couple heard that a school would be named for them. “Education has opened up so many doors for us. When you love to teach, it becomes more than a job. It’s a passion.”
Al Boudny received his bachelor’s degree in teaching with an English minor from SHSU in 1975. This led to his first teaching post at Eagle Lake Middle School, where he met his future wife.
“My time at Sam Houston State was wonderful and prepared me for my teaching career,” he said. “I lived on campus at White Hall and I still have friends that I met there today. It was an unbelievable experience.”
Ann Boudny earned her bachelor's degree from SHSU in teaching and library science with a double minor in English and history in 1978. This led to teaching roles at Eagle Lake as well as Sealy ISD.
“I enjoyed everything I learned at Sam and thought I was going to be a librarian,” she said. “The first job I accepted was at Eagle Lake as a teacher. I ultimately decided to stay with it and found my niche in the language arts.”
In 1982, the newly married couple helped open Memorial Parkway Junior High School in Katy ISD. Both served the district for over three decades as hands-on educators.
Al Boudny also assisted in opening T.H. McDonald Junior High School in 1991, where he served as chair of the social studies department for 15 years and garnered teacher of the year honors in 2000. His final role before retiring in 2014 was at West Memorial Junior High School, where he received an Honorary Life Membership from the PTA.
Ann Boudny remained at the school she helped establish for 33 years, serving as English department chair until her 2015 retirement. She contributed to multiple committees aimed at advancing the language arts curriculum and the betterment of students. She received an Honorary Life Membership from Memorial Parkway’s PTA.
In retirement, the Boudnys remain dedicated to their lifelong mission. Both are members of Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE), an organization that supports scholarships and community projects. They have represented the district at state conferences and work to mentor students and young educators.
“We did what we did because it was a passion. We looked at it as our community,” said Ann Boudny. “We had our immediate family and we had our school family.”
The Boudny legacy also persists through their two daughters, Erin and Alyssa, and three grandchildren. Alyssa currently works as an educator in Katy ISD.
The Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved the name for the Alfred and Ann Boudny Elementary School during its December 2024 meeting. It will officially open to students in fall 2025. Since the announcement, numerous former students and colleagues have reached out to offer their congratulations.
“That’s the neatest thing about it. When you see messages from students going back to the 1980s, you cannot overlook that,” said Ann Boudny. “If you have a passion for kids, you should consider the teaching profession. When you see a child grasp a concept or actively participate in a lesson, there is no better feeling.”
- END -
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office:
Director of Content Communications: Emily Binetti
Asst. Director Content & Social Media: Emilee White
Communications Manager: Mikah Boyd
Telephone: 936.294.1837
Communications Specialist: Campbell Atkins
Telephone: 936.294.2638