Lubbock, Texas, Superintendent Karen Garza selected FCPS superintendent
 |
| Garza |
Karen Garza, the superintendent
of the Lubbock, Texas, school system, is the “preferred candidate” to be the next
superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, “pending final negotiations for
employment and a successful site visit,” the school board announced
April 10. Garza would succeed Jack Dale,
who is retiring, effective July 1.
of the Lubbock, Texas, school system, is the “preferred candidate” to be the next
superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, “pending final negotiations for
employment and a successful site visit,” the school board announced
April 10. Garza would succeed Jack Dale,
who is retiring, effective July 1.
The school board selected Garza unanimously
on April 6. A news release says the board believes she will bring “enormous
energy, humility, intellect, and enthusiasm to the task of leading FCPS.” The release
also calls her “a strategic planner, a systems thinker, a stellar manager, and
a highly effective communicator.”
on April 6. A news release says the board believes she will bring “enormous
energy, humility, intellect, and enthusiasm to the task of leading FCPS.” The release
also calls her “a strategic planner, a systems thinker, a stellar manager, and
a highly effective communicator.”
The Lubbock Independent School District
serves approximately 30,000 students, way less than FCPS, which has 181,500. Before Garza was appointed superintendent
there in 2009, she was chief academic officer of the Houston Independent School District, where she was responsible for instruction and facilities for
more than 200,000 students.
serves approximately 30,000 students, way less than FCPS, which has 181,500. Before Garza was appointed superintendent
there in 2009, she was chief academic officer of the Houston Independent School District, where she was responsible for instruction and facilities for
more than 200,000 students.
“Dr. Garza comes to Fairfax
County with impressive credentials and skills to lead FCPS in a time of
incredible challenges and opportunities,” said FCPS School Board chair Ilryong
Moon. “She comes to us with a deep commitment to openness and engagement and is
eager to work collaboratively in the best interests of all students.”
“I am humbled and very thankful
to the board and the whole FCPS community for this wonderful opportunity,” said
Garza. FCPS “has a long tradition of excellence and
has consistently been one of the premier school systems in the country. I look
forward to continuing that tradition and working very closely with the board
and the other division stakeholders to achieve even greater success for the
students of FCPS.”
to the board and the whole FCPS community for this wonderful opportunity,” said
Garza. FCPS “has a long tradition of excellence and
has consistently been one of the premier school systems in the country. I look
forward to continuing that tradition and working very closely with the board
and the other division stakeholders to achieve even greater success for the
students of FCPS.”
The search for a new superintendent was nearly a yearlong process facilitated by the Hazard, Young,
Attea and Associates search firm and included recommendations from stakeholder
committee made up of parents, residents, students, and staff members. The
search consultants interviewed 19 candidates and presented nine of them to the
school board. Unlike the process in other jurisdictions, the names of the
finalists were not released to the public.
Attea and Associates search firm and included recommendations from stakeholder
committee made up of parents, residents, students, and staff members. The
search consultants interviewed 19 candidates and presented nine of them to the
school board. Unlike the process in other jurisdictions, the names of the
finalists were not released to the public.
Board members will conduct a site
visit to the Lubbock school system, and if all goes well, will begin contract
negotiations. A formal appointment is expected to take place by the end of
April.
visit to the Lubbock school system, and if all goes well, will begin contract
negotiations. A formal appointment is expected to take place by the end of
April.
Garza started her career in
education as an elementary classroom teacher in 1986 in Yoakum, Texas, and
served in a variety of administrative roles in Katy and Corpus Christi, Texas.
She has a doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of
Texas and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of
Houston.
education as an elementary classroom teacher in 1986 in Yoakum, Texas, and
served in a variety of administrative roles in Katy and Corpus Christi, Texas.
She has a doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of
Texas and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of
Houston.
As superintendent in Lubbock,
FCPS states, “she has distinguished herself by reducing the achievement gap,
increasing graduation rates, emphasizing increased academic rigor, improving
the financial health of the district, engaging parents and community members,
creating a vision for the school district through the leadership of the board,
and emphasizing community and family engagement efforts aimed at supporting all
children in the classroom.”
FCPS states, “she has distinguished herself by reducing the achievement gap,
increasing graduation rates, emphasizing increased academic rigor, improving
the financial health of the district, engaging parents and community members,
creating a vision for the school district through the leadership of the board,
and emphasizing community and family engagement efforts aimed at supporting all
children in the classroom.”
5 responses to “Lubbock, Texas, Superintendent Karen Garza selected FCPS superintendent”
Leave a reply
So, big question is – why does she want to come to Fairfax?
$$$$$
Experience with illegals in school system?
Seriously though – she has spent her entire life it seems in Texas. Why the sudden move? How will she benefit Fairfax?
and she came from the state that invented no Child Left behind. Although, to her credit, it seems that she has tried to rein in testing in her system in Texas.