Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner says he'll retire at the end of his current contract, which is two years away.
Scribner, who has been with the district since 2015, made the public announcement on Twitter Thursday morning but said he told the district's board of trustees of his plan last month.
Scribner's current contract with the district expires on Aug. 31, 2024. He said he was making the announcement now to provide the district with enough time to find a suitable replacement.
"While we have accomplished a great deal, there is much more to be done," Scribner said Thursday. In his letter to the board, Scribner said, "I am most proud of our work in the area of racial equality." He goes on to write, "we have taken actionable steps to address gaps in academic achievement and dismantle systems that have historically reinforced those disparities."
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Steven Poole, executive director of the United Educators Association, said the announcement did not come as a surprise.
"Seven years is a long run for an urban superintendent," Poole said. "My guess is the school board is going to work with him on some kind of transition to a new superintendent and possibly buy out of his contract."
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Last fall, Scribner completed one of the largest accomplishments during his tenure when he helped oversee the passage of the largest bond proposal in the district's history that focused on upgrading aging campuses, many of which were built before 1960. He also worked on upgrading technology and improving WIFI access for students.
Scribner worked to not only prepare students for college but developed partnerships with businesses to help those who take alternative paths find careers that offer a livable wage.
"My time in Fort Worth has been the high point of my career, both personally and professionally. One of the primary reasons I entertained the move to Texas was that it allowed me to be near my aging parents. Losing both my mother and father in the past year has reinforced that coming to Fort Worth was the right decision for our family," Scribner wrote in his statement.
Poole said he hopes the next superintendent will have experience with Texas public schools.
"I’m hopeful the school board is going to take a very big look and throw the net wide on a superintendent search," he said. "Fort Worth is a diverse city and a very diverse school district, so we’re going to need a leader who is receptive for all constituents and is ready to lead every family and community in Fort Worth. That takes a unique skill set."
Scribner's full statement can be read here. A video posted on YouTube can be seen below.
Fort Worth Mayor Maddie Parker thanked Scribner for his work in the district and said she would support the board in their search for his replacement.
“I appreciate Dr. Scribner for his decades of service as an educator and specifically his work in Fort Worth, especially navigating some of the most difficult times in the pandemic," said Parker. "Our future depends on thriving schools, and I’m committed to working with our school districts on behalf of all families in Fort Worth. It is my commitment to serve in a supporting role for the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education and parents as they search for our next superintendent.”
Across town, Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa announced Wednesday that he would be leaving his position by the end of the year. A news conference with Hinojosa is expected Thursday afternoon.
