FWISD Names 2nd Sole Finalist For Superintendent
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) -The Fort Worth Independent School District's Board of Education unanimously voted Dr. Kent Paredes Scribner, currently superintendent of the largest high school district in Arizona, as the sole finalist for the job of permanent superintendent at Tuesday night's meeting. Following a state-mandated 21-day waiting period, trustees are expected to offer Scribner a contract for employment.
In March, Dr. Joel Boyd withdrew his candidacy for the position after being named the sole finalist. He decided to remain in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
"Dr. Kent Scribner is a proven leader who is nationally respected -- and, quite simply, he is the right fit for Fort Worth. He will take our students to the next level. And, he will address the achievement gap," said Board President Jacinto Ramos, Jr. "I am proud of the work that the 'Team of Nine' trustees did in selecting Dr. Scribner, and I look forward to us being a 'Team of Ten' as we go into the future."
Scribner is the superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District in Phoenix, Arizona, a post he has held since 2008. Phoenix Union serves more than 27,000 students in grades 9 through 12.
"Although leaving Phoenix will be difficult, I am eager to serve the students and community of Fort Worth. Leading Fort Worth ISD is a tremendous opportunity for me both personally and professionally," said Scribner. "My parents, sister and her family live in the North Texas area. I am convinced that Fort Worth ISD is poised for great success. The District's impressive Board of Trustees, talented staff and engaged business community are among the ingredients required to build a prosperous school-community."
Scribner also serves as commissioner for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. He has a passion for empowering students. In fact, his Twitter account lists his vocation first as "student advocate."
In making the selection, Fort Worth ISD trustees followed the timeline they established a few weeks ago. The search firm Ray and Associates initially reached out to 708 individuals regarding the Fort Worth superintendent position -- and 67 candidates completed the application process. After considering all of the applicants, the Board narrowed the field to semi-finalists, then finalists before making a unanimous decision to offer the position to Scribner.
Dr. Patricia A. Linares has served as interim superintendent since June 2014. She made it clear from the outset that she was not interested in nor would she apply for the permanent position.
Under Scribner's leadership, Phoenix Union increased the number of A and B schools in the Arizona Department of Education Accountability Rankings. Honors and Advanced Placement course-taking more than doubled. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) curriculum was introduced on every comprehensive campus, and 250 teachers were trained in AVID strategies. The number of students applying for college and earning acceptance dramatically increased, along with merit scholarship awards -- from $17.8 million in in 2009 to $53 million in 2014.
During his tenure, Scribner has led several successful initiatives. Phoenix Union recently became the only district in Arizona to offer International Baccalaureate programs at two schools, and another campus became Arizona's first Cambridge International Centre, adopting the prestigious Cambridge Curriculum. The first ever Montessori High School program in Arizona was established at Camelback High School in 2012.
In October 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Scribner to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
Born in Los Angeles, Scribner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from Carleton College in Minnesota, a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University. He began his education career as a high school Spanish teacher in Philadelphia. He moved to Arizona in 1992 as a graduate research assistant at Arizona State University, where he examined issues of quality and diversity in Phoenix Union regarding the district's court-ordered desegregation.
Scribner's parents were both college professors. His father became dean of the College of Education at Temple University and, before his retirement, was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin in Education Administration. His mother is professor emeritus in special education at Texas State University in San Marcos. He grew up in a multicultural family -- his mother is from Veracruz, Mexico, and his father is from Seal Harbor, Maine. His parents and a younger sister now make their home in Dallas.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)