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Community lays out priorities as Stafford MSD begins superintendent search
Summary
At a Dec. 4 town hall hosted by Region 4, Stafford Municipal School District residents and trustees converged on a list of priorities — instructional leadership, community engagement, transparency and fiscal knowledge — to guide a superintendent search with applications due in January and candidate interviews planned in February.
Stafford Municipal School District convened a community town hall on Dec. 4 to gather input for a superintendent search, with Region 4 consultants leading small-group activities and trustees in attendance to hear priorities residents want to see in the district’s next leader.
Region 4 facilitator Rudy Trevino opened the session and described the process the board has adopted for the search, saying the effort will rely on community input and a formal timeline: an application deadline in January, board screening in January and candidate interviews in February with the board hoping to identify a finalist by March. Trevino said, “This is your search. This is not our search,” emphasizing that survey and town-hall feedback will shape the superintendent profile the board uses to screen applicants.
Why it matters: The superintendent is the district’s chief instructional leader and the board’s only employee; trustees said the hire will set the district’s priorities for years to come. Trustees and residents repeatedly tied the district’s identity — its small-community feel and history of alumni returning as staff — to the qualities they seek in a new superintendent.
Community priorities surfaced in table talks and rapid-readings from the facilitators. Attendees most frequently named: strong instructional leadership, high expectations and accountability, visible community engagement, clear communication, fiscal knowledge and a willingness to make tough personnel decisions. One long-time community member summed up the district sentiment about continuity and pride: “We’re still here,” reflecting a desire for a leader who honors Stafford’s identity while advancing student outcomes.
Region 4 collected table notes and post-it responses and read a composite list aloud. The facilitator recited common suggestions: “Someone that can review data and recognize strengths and weaknesses,” and a list of leadership traits that included transparency, integrity, vision and experience navigating Texas public education organizations such as TASB and TASA.
Students who participated also contributed: Region 4 read student responses that said, “The next superintendent should make school fun,” recommending more outdoor activities, hands-on projects and occasional incentives tied to good behavior and achievement.
Board response and next steps: Trustees said the aggregated input aligns with the board’s screening rubric and will guide their deliberations in the coming weeks. A trustee reminded the room of the board’s governance role, saying the body will set policy and screen candidates but not run day-to-day operations. The board indicated it will share the compiled feedback in a subsequent town hall and use it in candidate interviews.
Public comment: The board opened an opportunity for public comment; there were no registered speakers beyond the assembled workshop participants. Procedural action: Vice President Gebetes moved to adjourn; Trustee Henna Hossa seconded and the board voted 6–0 to adjourn at 8:18 p.m.
What’s next: The search firm and the board will continue compiling survey and interview data to finalize the superintendent profile. The board’s stated timeline calls for an application deadline in January and interview rounds beginning in February, with the aim of selecting a finalist in March.
