A former Dripping Springs ISD administrator has been tabbed to fill another void in the district’s executive leadership team.

Joe Burns, who in June retired after serving as the Dripping Springs High principal for several years, was named as the interim Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Innovation, according to a press release. The action was done by a unanimous Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees vote Aug. 2.

Burns, who led Dripping Springs High from 2013-2019, fills the vacancy left by Nicole Poenitzsch, who left DSISD to become Bellville ISD’s superintendent.

Burns’ start date and schedule have not yet been determined.

The hiring process for a permanent assistant superintendent will occur after the district formally hires a new superintendent.

The search for an interim replacement for Dripping Springs ISD superintendent will now be in the hands of a third party. Trustees Aug. 2 also approved hiring Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services to help with finding the district’s next superintendent.

In late July, Bruce Gearing, who had served as DSISD superintendent from 2012-2019, stepped down to take over the superintendent role at Leander ISD.

TASB is expected to help the district in identifying an interim superintendent. A special meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 11 a.m., at which time theboard will interview candidates for the interim superintendent. The remainder of the timeline will be announced once it has been developed.