The Hays CISD board of trustees voted 6-0 Wednesday to name Dr. Eric Wright, current superintendent of Fredricksburg ISD, as the lone finalist for the district’s superintendent position.
The board, which cast the vote during a special called meeting, now must wait 21 days as required by law before they can offer Wright a formal contract. According to a district press release, the contract offer is expected to take place at a special called board meeting in December.
Meredith Keller, Hays CISD board president, said in a statement Wright is the “right person to lead our schools” as the district continues to grow in student population, as well as expand educational opportunities for students and maintain a strong sense of community and family.
“This is a dynamic time for our district and we have found a leader to match the excitement and challenges we face,” Keller said in a statement. “He will be able to help us thrive as we grow, while keeping us grounded in the core values that have made our school district a special place to live.
Wright, a career educator with 29 years of experience, has spent more than half of his career as a superintendent.
He began his career as a classroom teacher and coach in 1989 in various school districts in Texas, including Terrell, Channelview, West Hardin, Hardin, Marshall and Lufkin ISD’s, according to the release.
In 1996, Wight became an assistant elementary school principal in Lufkin ISD. The next year, Wright was named principal at an elementary school in Huntington ISD. During the 2000-2001 school year, Wright served as principal of Huntington High. From 2001 to 2004, he was an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Huntington.
Wright was named superintendent of school for Woodville ISD in 2004, then was superintendent of Huntington ISD from 2006 to 2014. In 2014, Wright was hired as the Fredricksburg ISD superintendent.
Fredericksburg ISD under Wright has met standard and consistently performed at or above the state average on the State of Texas Assessment for Academic Readiness (STAAR), SAT and ACT tests, according to the release.
“My vision as an administrator is to equip all students with the knowledge and values to be successful,” said Wright in a statement. “It is imperative that students learn from highly qualified role models and that their talents are recognized and used as a foundational cornerstone. Achievements are evident when you set a positive learning climate that is based on excellence, fairness, equity, justice, and trust.”
Wright went on to add that managing a school district is not a “solitary pursuit” and that people want to have a voice regarding their schools, including parents, students, employees, and community members.
“As an educational leader, my job is to communicate and challenge individuals. Working together, we are successful when our future graduates are well prepared to be happy, productive, and competitive in the global economy,” Wright said.
Hays CISD launched its search for a new superintendent in June to replace Michael McKie, who retired at the end of the school year.
The process for searching for the next Hays CISD superintendent began when the board hired Thompson and Horton, LLP as the consultant. The process also involved ten community and professional focus groups and an online survey to develop qualifications the community wanted to see in a candidate, according to the release.
More than 500 people participated in developing the qualifications were were used to customize the job. Top attributes included a background focused on academics and student achievement, a visit member of the Hays CISD community and a good communicator.
Wright was one of 34 applicants who vied for the Hays CISD superintendent position. In early November, the Hays CISD board narrowed the field of candidates and interviewed six of them.
Two candidates were invited to a second round of interviews last week.
On Tuesday, three current Hays CISD board trustees conducted a site visit at Fredericksburg ISD to observe Wright.
Wright earned his superintendent certification at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2003, where he also earned a doctoral degree in education leadership. Wright also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree education from SFA.
