by KIM HILSENBECK
The wait is over. At a special meeting May 1, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name Michael McKie the lone finalist in the search for a new superintendent.
McKie hails from Fort Bend ISD (near Houston) and was most recently the interim superintendent for that district. The official statement from Hays CISD said McKie is a career educator with more than 30 years of experience.
Board President Willie Tenorio said McKie is a perfect match.
“We are incredibly excited about naming Mike McKie as our lone finalist,” Tenorio said. “Throughout our search process, we used the input from our community as our guide. Mr. McKie is a perfect match. He puts students first. He is a person with strong moral character and integrity. And, he’s a humble leader who inspires trust and treats people with respect. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his family as part of our community.”
McKie said, “I fully embrace the mission and beliefs of Hays CISD. I truly believe that all children have the right to an enriched and nurturing learning environment filled with opportunities for growth and personal development. My family and I look forward to meeting new people, making new friends, serving the district, and making the Hays CISD community our new home. I also look forward to developing personal and professional relationships with board members, teachers, and staff. Working together, we will meet the needs of the students and community we serve.”
About McKie
McKie began his career as a classroom teacher and most of his education career has been at Fort Bend ISD.
From 1988 - 1992, he was the assistant principal at Willowridge High School. From 1992 - 1995, he served as the associate principal for John Foster Dulles High School. From 1995 - 2006, he was principal at William P. Clements High School. From 2006 - 2011, he served as assistant superintendent for high schools for Fort Bend ISD.
In 2011, he was named an assistant superintendent for Fort Bend ISD, responsible for the daily operations and executive leadership for about a third of all campuses in Fort Bend ISD. In August 2012, he was named acting superintendent, and later interim superintendent, at Fort Bend ISD.
Fort Bend is the seventh largest school district in Texas, serving nearly 70,000 students at 11 high schools, 14 middle schools, 45 elementary schools, and four specialized schools.
McKie earned his superintendent certification from Region 4 Educational Solutions (Texas Education Service Center Region 4). He holds a Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University. He also participated in the Leadership Academy at Lamar University in Beaumont and was a delegate to China and a delegate to Germany as part of two educator exchange programs. He is also holds the following certifications: professional mid-management administrator, Classroom Walk-Through Training (CWT), Thinking Maps® (trainer of trainers), and Mentoring the Reflective Principal (a Carolyn Downey professional development program).
McKie describes himself as a “dedicated, visionary, knowledgeable, and action-oriented leader with extensive experience in supervision, curriculum, instruction, coordination, planning, and support of daily operational and administrative functions.” He further highlights that he is an analytical thinker, a motivator, an articulate communicator, and someone who enjoys fostering relationships with parents, students, political leaders, business professionals, and community members.
In an October 2012 article on ultimatefortbend.com, McKie talks about working his way through college. He was one of four siblings and did not have wealthy parents, so he had to take out college loans. The article highlights the achievement of paying them off: “‘I still have the $3.62 check that was issued to me for the overpayment of my student loan,’ he laughed.”
McKie serves on the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region 13 Music Executive Committee, the Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Council, and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center Board. He is also a member of several professional organizations, including: Phi Delta Kappa International, the Texas Association of School Administrators, the Texas Fast Growth Schools Coalition, the Texas Association of Suburban and Mid-Urban Schools, the Texas School Alliance, and the Rotary Club of Sugar Land.
He enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, jogging, reading, and woodworking. His wife Ann is an elementary teacher. They have four children – a daughter and son who are both Texas A&M graduates, a son who is currently studying at Texas A&M, and a son who is finishing his junior year in high school.
The search process
The Hays CISD Board launched its search for a new superintendent in January to replace Jeremy Lyon, who left to become the superintendent in Frisco ISD. The search process included ten community and professional focus groups and an online survey to develop a profile of the type of superintendent the community wants to lead its school district. More than 900 people participated in developing the profile, which was used to customize the job posting.
The job posting closed April 5, 2013, with 111 applicants. In early April, the Board narrowed the field of candidates and interviewed seven. Four candidates were invited to a second round of in-person interviews last week.
Now that McKie has been named lone finalist, the Board is required by law to wait 21 days before they can offer him a formal contract. That is expected to occur at a special Board meeting later this month.
Hays CISD serves 16,500 students at 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, two comprehensive high schools and two specialized campuses. Hays CISD is the sixth fastest growing Texas school district among districts with enrollments of more than 10,000 students.
