The Texas Education Agency announced on Mar. 24 the appointment of a new Board of Managers and named Dr. Peter B. Licata as the new superintendent to lead Fort Worth Independent School District.
The decision marks a significant step in addressing academic outcomes for students in the district, following community engagement and state intervention efforts.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said, “Fort Worth wants the best possible academic outcomes for every student, as evidenced by the hundreds of community members that showed their willingness to serve.” Morath added, “Possessing a diverse range of experiences and expertise, the governance and leadership team appointed today is comprised of individuals with an aligned vision and collective belief that all students, when properly supported, can achieve at high levels. I look forward to seeing this belief in action and their leadership of Fort Worth ISD’s next chapter.”
Dr. Licata began working under a 21-day interim contract until formal approval from the Board of Managers at an upcoming meeting. He brings more than three decades of experience in education leadership roles including most recently serving as superintendent in Broward County Public Schools in Florida where he led the district to its first state ‘A’ rating in over fourteen years.
The newly appointed Board temporarily replaces the elected board of trustees and assumes responsibility for overseeing management of Fort Worth ISD. The Board will conduct public meetings with opportunities for public comment and is tasked with ensuring transparency through public hearings as well as posting required budgetary information.
Working together with Superintendent Licata, the Board will focus on providing resources needed by educators while gathering feedback from stakeholders across the district. They are also responsible for achieving exit criteria set by TEA before returning control back to elected trustees—criteria include having no multi-year unacceptable campuses, exceeding regional averages in key proficiency areas such as Reading Language Arts and Mathematics, and meeting standards outlined by Lone Star Governance Continuous Improvement Framework.
According to agency background provided in today’s announcement, TEA’s intervention was initiated under House Bill 1842 passed by lawmakers in 2015 after applications were solicited from local community members interested in serving on the board.
In selecting both board members and superintendent candidates nationwide were evaluated based on prior success improving student outcomes along with skills spanning curriculum leadership, support services management, talent development systems oversight, performance evaluation processes—and commitment to engaging communities.
