San Augustine Elementary School Home

Welcome to Wolf Nation

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself as Principal of San Augustine Elementary School. My educational career spans over twenty years including: twelve years as primary, elementary and middle school classroom teacher, four years as.... an educational leader, and five years as an educational consultant. I have been very fortunate to work in a variety of positions and diverse environments including: two large school districts, a private school, and two small school districts.

I am married to my wonderful husband Chris Cates. Together we have two daughters, Hollyn and Whitney Cates, two sons, Carter and Lane Lair, and one grandson, Braxton Pratt. We enjoy spending time at the lake, camping, fishing, and making memories. I am extremely blessed to have a large family and close group of friends who have supported me on my journey from classroom teacher to campus principal. My loved ones and educational experiences have truly shaped me as a servant leader.

As the newest member of Wolf Nation, I am most excited to serve the students, staff, and community of San Augustine. I believe schools take on the personality of their leader, and I am dedicated to educating students, energizing teachers, and building positive relationships with all stakeholders. I consider it an honor to serve as Principal of San Augustine Elementary School.

I am looking forward to the BEST year ever, as we work hard to Build Educational Success Together.

Niki Cates

MISSION - Our Children's Future... Our Inspiration

VISION: - Building a community of excellence by nurturing talents,
Inspiring learners, and developing leaders for an ever-changing world

Our mission

Our Children’s Future...Our Inspiration

Our Vision - Building a community of excellence by nurturing talents, inspiring learners, and developing leaders for an ever-changing world.

Recent news

January is School Board Appreciation Month - Our School Board is AWESOME!

Each January, we honor the dedicated individuals who tirelessly serve their communities as volunteers — our School Board members. School boards oversee the operation of local public schools and work to ensure that students are getting a high-quality education. School Board Recognition Month is an opportunity to show trustees how much we appreciate their work, leadership, and commitment to improving our schools. Please click on Read Full Story or on the headline to read more about our amazing School Board!

!! Congratulations to our AWESOME Elementary UIL Academic Meet 39-Medal Winners !!

Principal Niki Cates says "we are incredibly proud of our Wolf Pups who showcased their dedication, hard work, and talent at the 24AA UIL Academic Meet held at SFA. Competing against eight other schools, our students truly showed up and showed out!" Please click "Read Full story" or the headline to read more about our amazing students and see all the results! CONGRATULATIONS & GO WOLF PUPS! 🐾

!! Picture Retakes Thursday - December 5th !!

!! Thanksgiving Break !!

Schools and offices are closed from Nov 25th - Nov 29th for our Thanksgiving break week. We will see everyone back on Monday, December 2nd. Have an enjoyable and safe break!

San Augustine Elementary Gifted and Talented Student Referrals

San Augustine Elementary is now accepting referrals for students that have the opportunity to qualify for Gifted and Talented services for the 2025-26 school year. The program is designed for students who exhibit intellectual and creative thinking abilities at an extraordinary level not normally served in the regular classroom. Anyone wishing to refer a student attending San Augustine Elementary Kindergarten through 5 th grade may request a form from the SAES front office. Referral forms should be returned to SAES and are due by December 18th . For more information, contact Lisa Henly at San Augustine Elementary.

!! IMPORTANT !! Football Games Changed Up due to Bad Weather on Friday !!

The Varsity football game on Friday will be played tomorrow (Thursday) starting at the same time - 7:30 pm with the Senior Night festivities also starting at the same time - 6:50 pm. The JV game is cancelled.

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