SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES Four months after Michael Hinojosa announced he was leaving his role, Dallas ISD announced it had selected Stephanie Elizalde as its lone finalist for the superintendent position. Richardson ISD’s former Superintendent Jeannie Stone resigned in December, and district officials said they would like to fill the position in August.
DESIGNED BY CHELSEA PETERS & BREANNA FLORES
Key
FINALIST QUALIFICATIONS After first being hired by Dallas ISD in 2011, Stephanie Elizalde is expected to return as the district’s next superintendent after serving two years in that role with Austin ISD. 1987: Hired as anatomy and physics teacher in Southwest ISD 2003: Hired as San Antonio ISD administrator
Dallas ISD Richardson ISD
Jan. 13 DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announces he will close out his 13-year tenure during the school year.
Feb. 17 Austin-based law firm Walsh Gallegos is hired to lead DISD’s search.
March 14 The application is posted for the superintendent position.
April 25 The application process closes, and eight candidates are selected for interviews.
May May 9-12: DISD and Walsh Gallegos conducts interviews. May 18: Austin ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is named the lone finalist.
June 8 DISD expected to vote on Elizalde’s hiring.
2022
2011: Hired as director of mathematics for Dallas ISD 2015: Hired as chief schools officer for Dallas ISD 2020: Hired as Austin ISD superintendent 2022: Named Dallas ISD superintendent lone finalist
Dec. 13, 2021 RISD Superintendent Jeannie Stone resigns, and Tabitha Branum fills the interim role.
April 19 Law firm O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo is hired to lead the search.
May May 3: The RISD board and law firm finalize a superintendent search timeline. May 31: The RISD board develops a candidate profile.
June 1-28 Applications are open for RISD superintendent.
July 18 The RISD board is expected to name a lone finalist.
Aug. 9 The new
superintendent will have his or her first day of employment.
SOURCE: DALLAS ISD, RICHARDSON ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Stephanie Elizalde
the tools and experience to conduct a competent search for their next leader,” Ramirez said. According to Ramirez, the search process at his firm is conducted in three steps: creating a superintendent profile, helping coordinate the appli- cation process and then assisting with interviewing candidates. The search firm also collects input from community stakeholders, including public feedback, to assem- ble a superintendent profile. RISD held a series of town hall meetings in May to gather input on desirable traits to look for in its next superintendent. Once a profile is created, the firm assists in accepting applications and scheduling interviews, Ramirez said. During the interview process, the firm will conduct background searches and review references. Certain firms are also equipped to develop interview questions and cre- ate a rubric for grading them, organiz- ing schedules and helping the district in naming finalists, Ramirez said. The high number of superintendent vacancies has created a challenge in fielding the best candidates, he said. This has made the search firm’s role more important in helping narrow down a superintendent profile to best fit the specific district, Ramirez said. Dallas ISD names lone finalist Requirements for the DISD posi- tion included experience as a cam- pus principal, a central office senior administrator and a superintendent as well as holding a Ph.D. After posting the job opening, the search firm and the board participated in community engagement initiatives throughout April.
“We greatly appreciate the time taken by the community to respond to the online survey and attend the input sessions and town halls,” dis- trict officials said in a statement. After she was named DISD’s lone finalist, Elizalde sent a letter to her AISD staff addressing her departure on the morning of May 18, according to AISD representatives. “It has been my honor to lead Aus- tin ISD these past two years,” Elizalde wrote. “Dallas has always held a spe- cial place in my heart, and I am not making this decision lightly.” Elizalde could not officially be offered a contract until June 8 because of a state-required 21-day review period for the position, according to DISD. If she is hired, Elizalde would become the second female superin- tendent in DISD’s history, according to the district. Officials said Hinojosa is expected to remain with DISD until December to help with the transition. “It’s been such an honor to work alongside some of the sharpest minds and talents,” Hinojosa said in a state- ment earlier this year. Richardson ISD’s timeline The RISD board finalized its time- line for hiring a full-time superinten- dent during its May 3 meeting. “We know this has been a long semester, and we are pleased to be at this point,” board President Regina Harris said in a statement. “We antic- ipate interest from quality candidates and are confident that, through this process, we will be able to identify the best possible fit [for] RISD’s next superintendent.” The board used community input from focus groups, surveys and town
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resignation of former Superintendent Jeannie Stone. The board then named Tabitha Branum as interim superin- tendent for the remainder of the 2021- 22 school year. DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced in January that he planned to leave his position with the district at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. Both school districts are hiring can- didates at a time when there are a high number of superintendent open- ings across the state and nation. Kevin Brown, executive director for the Texas Association of School Adminis- trators, said there were more than 65 superintendent vacancies throughout Texas during the 2021-22 school year. “It’s been a difficult time across the board,” Brown said. “I believe we are losing some outstanding leaders.” Superintendent searches To help fill their vacancies, DISD hired law firm Walsh Gallegos, while RISD secured the services of law firm O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo. “The highest priority for the DISD board of trustees is to run a smooth and efficient process and identify the absolute best superintendent for the [district’s] students and families,” DISD officials said in a statement. Eden Ramirez Jr., associate attorney with O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, said bringing in assistance for super- intendent searches is a necessary step for school districts across the country. He said the law firms assist multiple districts a year in hiring candidates. “We come in and provide [districts]
SOURCE: DALLAS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
hall meetings to develop a candidate profile during its May 31 meeting. Branum told Community Impact Newspaper in May she plans to apply for the permanent superintendent position. “I am very passionate about this district,” Branum said in January. “I don’t want to go anywhere.” With the superintendent change, three members of RISD’s eight-person leadership team will be new by the beginning of next school year. District 2 Trustee Eron Linn, the board’s most tenured member at seven years, was defeated in his bid for re-election in May. That leaves Harris, who was re-elected to her District 4 seat on May 7, as the only trustee who was serving prior to the COVID-19 pan- demic. Rachel McGowan won the vacant District 5 seat during that elec- tion. And voters will decide between Sherry Clemens and Vanessa Pacheco in the District 2 runoff on June 14. McGowan credited the board of trustees for having fresh and new ideas, noting she believes those are more vital than overall experience. “I think we have good people in place and the people that we need to pick a fabulous superintendent,” McGowan said.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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