Austin ISD Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde named lone finalist to lead Dallas ISD

Stephanie S. Elizalde, superintendent of the Austin school district since August 2020, was named the lone finalist Wednesday night to become superintendent of the Dallas school district.

Elizalde cannot be hired for the job until after a state-mandated 21-day waiting period. Austin school district spokesperson Cristina Nguyen said the Board of Trustees will meet in the next few weeks to discuss a plan and timeline for filling the position.

"It's important to know that the work of the district will continue because of the leadership within Austin ISD," Nguyen said. "We're focused on getting the work done."

Geronimo Rodriguez, president of the Austin district's Board of Trustees, said Elizalde supported students, faculty and staff and was a "mindful steward" of the district's resources.

"Thank you to Dr. Elizalde for her steadfast leadership through what has been an unprecedented and challenging two years. Her commitment to our AISD mission allowed our community to safely move through the pandemic and stay laser-focused on academic achievement," Rodriguez said in a statement.

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Elizalde, who served as chief of school leadership at the Dallas district prior to taking the Austin job, would replace Michael Hinojosa, who is resigning after 13 years at the helm of the Dallas district.

In a statement Thursday, Elizalde noted some of the achievements she and the Austin district have accomplished "during what has been the hardest school year for many," including standing up for students and focusing on improving academics.

“I look forward to finishing out this year strong as we celebrate our nearly 5,000 graduates starting next week,” Elizalde said. “I cannot adequately express my gratitude for you all welcoming me into Austin and allowing me to lead this district. It has been an incredible pleasure that I will hold dear for years to come.”

She worked to improve equity among schools and in planning the next school bond package. The proposed budget for next year, which is scheduled to be approved by the board in June, includes the district's first equity allotment — a $2 million investment to help support economically disadvantaged students at Title I schools.

She has reined in spending, including by cutting more than 600 positions, mostly in the central office, in an effort to balance the budget, something that has eluded budget writers at the district for several years.

She also was the second superintendent in the state last August to require masks as a pandemic safety measure, in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott's prohibition on mask mandates in schools. Dozens of school leaders around the state soon followed suit.

She also deflected Republican-led probes into the district over books and LGBTQ issues, which have become national flashpoints in public schools.

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Last fall, she responded to a GOP-led state investigation into certain books in libraries by refusing to turn over library book lists. And in March, after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the Austin district of breaking state law with Pride Week activities, Elizalde fired back a tweet: "I want all our LGBTQIA+ students to know that we are proud of them and that we will protect them against political attacks."

The district saw significant enrollment declines during her tenure, continuing a decadelong trend exacerbated by the pandemic, which came with diminished state funding.

Ken Zarifis, president of Education Austin, the union for teachers and employees in the Austin district, said the transition will be a significant opportunity for workers and students in the district.

Zarifis said he hopes the new superintendent values building relationships, collaboration and addressing the social, emotional and mental health needs of Austin school district employees and students.

He said it’s of "immense importance" that a new superintendent is selected after a new board is elected in November because the incoming board members will be the ones to work with the district’s new leader.

"We know very clearly what our needs are," Zarifis said. "It's very clear, so when you're hiring, you hire someone that has the vision and ability to address these needs in a systematic, but heartfelt way. There's never a good time to have to look for a superintendent, but it is a good opportunity for us."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde named Dallas finalist