LUBBOCK, Texas — The Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees, on a vote of 5 – 0, approved a one-year extension of superintendent Kathy Rollo’s contract. The board authorized the chair to negotiate the extension with Rollo. The current compensation is $247,200 per year. Rollo also currently gets $300 per month for a cell phone and $500 per month for discretionary expenses. Rollo also gets health insurance and LISD pays for her monthly TRS contribution (Teacher Retirement System). The current contract also includes “pay-for-performance goals.”    (21) view article

Following board action to place Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez on administrative leave pending the outcome of an external investigation, the district's board of trustees will consider whether to appoint an interim superintendent as the investigation continues. During executive session of its Jan. 20 meeting, the board will consider two agenda items related to the superintendent. These agenda items include L1, to consult with legal counsel and the district's investigator regarding the status of the investigation, and L2, to discuss candidates and possibly name an interim superintendent.  On Jan. 6, the board approved a recommendation from Texas Education Agency monitor David Faltys to put Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez on administrative leave. Azaiez will remain on leave pending the outcome of an investigation of underlying conduct described in a protective order the Travis County District Court issued in July.    (21) view article

Ben Bolt - Palito Blanco (BBPB) Independent School District's Superintendent Michael Barrera publicly announced his retirement on Monday, Jan. 17. After four years of service at the district, Barrera is saying farewell. Barrera released a statement of accomplishments he contributed to the district. His retirement comes three months after turbulence with the school board. Board members were split with Barrera's performance; the majority of board members praised his contributions and a select few pushed to end his contract.    (21) view article

Charlotte ISD welcomes Jon Orozco as their new superintendent as the spring semester begins. Orozco comes to Charlotte from Waelder ISD in what is his 30th year as a school administrator. He first started his administrative career down the road in Pearsall where he served as an assistant principal under outgoing CISD Superintendent, Mario Sotelo. “It’s pretty neat coming back full circle, because I get to replace somebody who was influential in my career early on,” said Orozco of Sotelo. Since Jan. 6, Orozco has been working with Sotelo and visiting with the students, staff and teachers at the three campuses. He stated that Sotelo has done an incredible job in his time at Charlotte, and he doesn’t plan on changing everything, but rather build on it view article

The Atlanta ISD Board of Trustees has named Jason Harris as Lone Finalist for the position of superintendent following a special meeting Monday, January 3, 2022.“Our Board is elated over our unanimous selection of Jason Harris as the Lone Finalist for Superintendent to lead our district into our future. We ... view article

Steven Self is ready to retire, just as soon as the Muenster Independent School District board finds his replacement as superintendent. “I've been doing this for a long time and it's just kinda time to do something else and just kinda relax, for a few months anyway,” said Self, who announced his plans in November. “Over 45 years I've been in education and that's a long career, and I'm just ready to rest for a while.” Self has done it all in education over these last four decades.    (19) view article

During last week’s Rotan ISD Board meeting, trustees spent roughly three hours in executive session, reviewing its superintendent evaluations, whereupon returning to regular session, agreed to a contract extension and salary increase. Despite the district’s waning finances going into 2022, last week’s vote marked the first time a a full seven-member board has returned a unanimous decision since… view article

After more than 60 years with Denison Independent School District, Superintendent Henry Scott is hanging his hat and calling it a career. The long-time Denison ISD superintendent announced his intent to retire from the district's highest seat at the end of the school year after having taught generations of Denison children through a career that spanned across seven decades.    (20) view article

Pearland ISD in a Jan. 19 news release announced that Superintendent John Kelly intends to retire in the summer. Kelly has been the superintendent of the district for over 10 years and has been a superintendent in the state for over 30 years, previously working at Boerne ISD and Pearsall ISD, according to the news release. He is also the chair of the State Board for Educator Certification required by the Texas Education Agency. “During my 30-plus year educational career, my highest honor has been to serve the outstanding Pearland ISD community, including the dedicated staff, amazing students and their families,” Kelly said in the release. The district’s board of trustees will begin its search for a new superintendent, according to the release. The board is working to establish a timeline, but no plans have been made, Executive Director of Communications Kim Hocott said in an email. view article

Christie Whitbeck took the helm of Fort Bend ISD in September 2021. She took over the position from former superintendent Charles Dupre, who announced on November 16 his intention to resign by December of 2021. Whitbeck comes to the district having served four-and-a-half years as superintendent of 16,000-student Bryan ISD, deputy superintendent of Fort Bend ISD for four years, assistant superintendent of academics in Alvin ISD, and as a principal in Katy ISD. Whitbeck first began her career as a teacher and language arts specialist in Alief ISD. Community Impact Newspaper spoke with Whitbeck to hear about the current and future challenges facing the school district. view article

In the span of just over three months, eight superintendents across North Texas have announced they will be resigning.  As parents and teachers across the country continue to try and find the balance of dealing with the current COVID-19 pandemic and sending students into the classroom, many are having to deal with a shift in their district's leadership team.  North Texas is in the middle of its own transition period. Since November 2021, eight superintendents from eight local school districts have announced they are leaving, resigning or retiring from their leadership positions. Three happened on the same day -- Jan. 13, 2022.  These eight superintendents include: view article

Michael Hinojosa’s office, a corner suite at the top of Dallas ISD’s headquarters, already looks like that of a boss who’s left his job. Tidy. Sterile. “That’s how I have to have it,” Hinojosa said. It’d be easy to excuse the superintendent, at the tail end of his 13th year running DISD, for having filled the room with piles of papers, messy bookshelves or overstuffed banker’s boxes — totems that would point to his four-decade education career. But there’s none of that, and certainly no visible sign that within the week, he’ll announce one of the biggest moves in his professional life: leaving education for… something else. In a way, that fits with Hinojosa’s public persona. Amid the maelstrom of running an urban school district, Hinojosa keeps up an air of suavity, with an immaculate office, pinstripe suits and a neatly trimmed mustache. A portrait of Hinojosa’s two tenures in DISD shares this duality. view article

Trustees may search nationally for replacements but they’re looking at a time when educators are overwhelmed by stress.  North Texas’ two largest school districts will soon look for new leaders after superintendents Michael Hinojosa and Kent Scribner announced their departures on Thursday.  Dallas and Fort Worth, among the state’s largest and most influential school systems, will undergo searches for superintendents as many districts across Texas and country are doing the same.  Education observers fear an exodus of superintendents after two exhausting years upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Political tensions over mask mandates and the way schools examine racism put superintendent decisions under a harsh spotlight. view article

The session was held on Wednesday and parents expressed their hopes and concerns for the district.  The Texas Association of School Boards executive search services has started to work with Bryan ISD to find the next superintendent for the district. In a Q and A on Wednesday, parents got to express their hopes and concerns for the district.   "It was a great opportunity for us to provide some input, which is great that the district is willing to accept our thoughts and our opinions and our concerns and they're not afraid of that. I think some districts get kind of scared of what people are going to say and it becomes a pr issue," Bryan ISD parent Amy Dubose said. "I think that they're very open. They want parent engagement. They want community engagement to be able to get the best possible person in this position." view article

DALLAS - The longtime superintendent of Dallas public schools is leaving his role at the end of 2022. Dr. Michael Hinojosa spoke to the media Thursday and said he notified the Dallas Independent School District's board of trustees in writing that he plans to resign as superintendent. "Being the superintendent of Dallas for as long as I have been, I’m going to try not to get emotional because I’m a macho Mexicano and I shouldn’t do that. But it is special the journey that I’ve had the opportunity to be on," he said. He also clarified that he is not retiring because he said his wife won't let him. "I tried that one time, and she said, ‘Get a job!' he joked. Those words, coupled with a video highlighting his parents move from Mexico to Lubbock when he was 2 years old, seemed to stop just short of a campaign announcement. It’s rumored he is considering a run for mayor of Dallas. view article

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Many school districts are facing the issue of a teacher shortage due to the recent spike in COVID-19 infections. “That presents a challenge," Conrado Garcia said, superintendent of West Oso Independent School District. "We don’t have enough substitutes and so principals are having to find other ways to cover their classrooms, as well. But so far though, we’ve been able to manage.”    (14) view article

The board voted unanimously to approve a retirement/resignation agreement with Hernandez and voted to appoint Lillian Ramos, the district’s executive director of special education, as interim superintendent. “So Ms. Ramos, congratulations, and we look forward to working with you,” Board President Lisa Montalvo said. The new interim said she was honored by the decision and pledged to instill a spirit of open communication in the district.    (18) view article

Mesquite ISD has begun the search for a new superintendent. The Mesquite ISD Board of Trustees voted on Monday to post an open position for a new superintendent after Superintendent David Vroonland announced his retirement in December. At the proposal of Trustee Robert Seward, the board agreed to begin the search for a new superintendent by looking at possible candidates already working for the district. “We are in a fabulous position of excellence in Dr. Vroonland’s tenure, and we have a lot going on moving forward,” Board President Eddie Rose said. “I think the first plan is to look and see if we’ve got someone inside who can keep it going.” view article

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced on Thursday that he plans to resign later this year. Hinojosa addressed speculation that he could run for political office. “I was a government teacher for eight years and I’ve been testifying at the Capitol my whole career,” Hinojosa said. I enjoy that stuff but I am going to have my hands full for the next 6 months. After that we may engage in a conversation about it.” view article

During what’s being called the great resignation, leaders in public education are making waves as well. Dallas ISD superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa is one of the latest among a handful of North Texas Superintendents stepping aside from the position. “I am going to exit as superintendent. My last official day will be December 31 of 2022,” said Hinojosa at a press conference Thursday. Dr. Hinojosa’s press conference comes on the same day Fort Worth superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner says he’ll retire. view article

It should be a packed house at Thursday night’s CyFair ISD school board meeting following some remarks one board member made about black teachers that's gone viral.  — As expected, the superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District announced on Thursday that he will be leaving his position at the end of 2022. Dr. Michael Hinojosa made the announcement official during a press conference that followed DISD's monthly board of trustees meeting, where he formally tendered his resignation.    (14) view article

A group of conservative Round Rock ISD parents celebrated the district's decision last week to place Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez on paid leave as a small victory. For months, these parents have sought Azaiez's removal over allegations of infidelity and abusive behavior in his personal life. On Jan. 6, RRISD trustees deliberated in closed session over a letter by a monitor appointed by the Texas Education Agency (in response to discord among the trustees themselves), recommending Azaiez be placed on leave pending the findings of an external investigation. But many parents have argued over the course of several board meetings, noisy protests, and countless Facebook posts that he should be fired outright. As for the five trustees who defended his position? They should resign, critics say. view article

Overton ISD Superintendent Stephen DuBose announces retirement

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Overton ISD Superintendent Stephen DuBose announced he will retire from his position after 18 years of service to the district, effective at the end of June 2022. The Overton ISD Board of Trustees heard and approved DuBose’s resignation at their Monday meeting.  DuBose began working with the district as an assistant coach in 2004, later serving as an athletic director and head football coach until 2013, when the district’s Board of Trustees selected him as their superintendent.    (12) view article

Alice Independent School District's superintendent Carl Scarbrough received his evaluation during Tuesday's school board meeting and was offered a one-year contract extension. A favorable evaluation was given, according to Scarbrough. Board members voted four to three to extend Scarborugh's contract another year which is an additional year to the two-year extension awarded during last year's evaluation. The additional year extension will be from June 2024 to 2025. view article

Jim Wright-Obituary

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Services for James (Jim) Terry Wright, 80, of Tyler, Texas and superintendent of Bulllard ISD, were held on Monday, January 3rd, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Jackson's Burks-Walker-Tippit-Funeral Home with Reverend Mike Warner officiating. Jim passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 in Austin, Texas, at Elmcroft Memory care facility where he had been staying the past two months.   (12) view article

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is stepping down from the position after more than six years, multiple sources have told WFAA. Sources confirmed that Hinojosa, 65, will likely leave within the year, although his contract is not set to expire until July 31, 2024. view article

The district will have to search for a new superintendent for the first time since 2015. Dallas superintendent Michael Hinojosa will step down from his post leading the state’s second-largest school system by the end of this year. Hinojosa shared news of his resignation on a call with other Texas superintendents this week, according to a person who was on the call. He is expected to offer his resignation to trustees during Dallas ISD’s monthly board briefing Thursday. A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the district’s governance and training center.  Sometimes it’s really hard to be a prophet in your own land, but he certainly made his mark on Dallas,” Trustee Edwin Flores said. “This school district from 2005 to now is in the right place heading in the right direction.” view article

Michael Hinojosa spent two stints as superintendent of Texas' second-largest school district. Sources tell WFAA possible future plans include a mayoral run.    (13) view article

On December 13, the Stephenville ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Eric Cederstrom as the district’s new superintendent. Cederstrom most recently served as the Deputy Superintendent in Pine Tree ISD. Cederstrom reported to the district January 3, 2022.    (13) read more

CARTHAGE, Texas (KLTV) - The Carthage ISD Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to officially hire Jarrod Bitter to fill the role of superintendent. Bitter replaces John Wink, who stepped down from the role in November 2020. Longtime East Texas school administrator Jim Dunlap had been serving as interim. Bitter joins Carthage ISD from Tyler ISD where he served the Tyler ISD administration for five years as assistant superintendent, as well as executive director of school improvement. He also served as principal at Canton High School and the principal at Whitehouse Junior High School. He is a 1997 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School a graduate of the University of Houston and the University of Texas at Tyler. view article

Spring Independent School District's board of trustees named Dr. Lupita Hiñojosa as its lone superintendent finalist on Jan. 6. The appointment will make her the first Hispanic woman in Spring ISD's history to serve in the top role.  Hiñojosa's appointment cannot be made final until Feb. 1 due to the 21-day waiting period state law requires after a lone finalist is named. She currently serves as the district’s chief of innovation and equity.  Hiñojosa was chosen to replace Dr. Rodney E. Watson, who served as the district's superintendent since July 2014. Watson announced his departure in October and began his new role as the deputy executive director at Austin-based statewide nonprofit Texas Association of School Boards in the new year. His last day was Jan. 1, Community Impact reported Jan. 6. view article

The Itasca Independent School District Board of Trustees recently accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Mark Parsons, effective December 31. Parsons released a statement Sunday, January 2, explaining that he will be joining the team at Education Service Center Region 12 in Waco. Interim superintendent Keith Boles will serve the district beginning this week while the board searches for a permanent replacement.    (10) view article

The Spring ISD board of trustees named Lupita Hinojosa as the lone finalist for the district's vacant superintendent position in a unanimous vote on Jan. 6. Hinojosa, who currently serves as SISD’s chief of innovation and equity, will replace former Superintendent Rodney Watson—who resigned effective Jan. 1—as superintendent beginning Feb. 1. Hinojosa has served as a public education leader for about 30 years, according to a Jan. 6 SISD news release. The board conducted several rounds of interviews before selecting Hinojosa as the lone finalist, board President Justine Durant said at the board’s Jan. 6 workshop. “We are really excited about Dr. Hinojosa taking us to the next level and moving us ... into an environment where our students, teachers and staff have good morale, [are] safe, [are] secure and [are] learning,” Durant said. Hinojosa began working for SISD as the district's chief academic officer in 2014. Upon assuming her new position on Feb. 1, Hinojosa will be the first Hispanic woman to hold the title of superintendent in SISD's history.    (07) view article

ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees voted to place the district's superintendent on paid administrative leave Thursday night during the board's second meeting regarding allegations against the superintendent. The decision was made after a monitor with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) sent a memo to RRISD's board president recommending that the board place Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation regarding "the underlying conduct found in a protective order issued by the Travis County District Court."    (11) view article

CHANNELVIEW, Texas -- Channelview Independent School District Board of Trustees named Dr. Tory C. Hill as the lone finalist to become the district's next superintendent. KBS Law Group searched nationwide beginning in October 2021 for the Channelview ISD board and gathered input from the community and district employees. After narrowing down the selection, the board unanimously chose Dr. Hill. view article