The Texas Education Agency (TEA) takeover of Fort Worth ISD is leaving many questioning the future for students and staff. On October 23rd, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath announced that the agency will take over Fort Worth ISD and replace its locally elected board of trustees with appointed managers. “The board of managers will be a group of people we select from Fort Worth, from Fort Worth ISD’s geographic boundaries. Think parents, community members, professionals that have a broad array of backgrounds and experiences that are united in their belief that if we, the adults that are in charge of the school system, provide appropriate support, that all children can achieve at high levels,” Morath said.
However, despite Morath stating that Superintendent Karen Molinar will have to reapply for the position, the board of trustees evaluated Molinar’s performance in a three-hour special meeting this past Tuesday. They found her to have exemplary leadership and voted unanimously not to change her contract, which runs until June 2028. This is good news for the district, with many saying the superintendent has earned the trust of teachers. Mayor Mattie Parker said Molina could be “transformative” for the district, pushing TEA to allow her to stay. Tuesday’s special meeting comes a week after district leaders were in Austin to talk to TEA commissioner Mike Morath about appealing the takeover. However, there has been no word yet on whether Fort Worth ISD will move forward with the appeal.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Molina has made substantial improvements to academic progress in Fort Worth ISD, increasing the grade level by 7% since 2024. F-rated campuses have gone down from 31 to 11, and there have been STAAR gains in multiple grades. Hopefully, the progress will continue and not be interrupted by Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath’s plan to take over Fort Worth ISD. Some parents feel as though they are in limbo, waiting for a clear answer regarding the fate of their child’s school, and the faculty is experiencing the same unease about the situation. Unfortunately, it is still unclear what the takeover will ultimately mean for students, parents, and staff.
