Search Process Overview
Trustees announce Lone Finalist for Superintendent
Dr. Mike Rockwood
March 27, 2023 the Highland Park ISD Board of Trustees unanimously named Dr. Mike Rockwood as the Lone Finalist for Superintendent of Schools to succeed Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg as the district’s next leader. The vote begins the 21-day waiting period required by Texas law. The Board is expected to vote on the final selection at their April 18 board meeting. Once approved, Dr. Rockwood will become only the ninth superintendent of Highland Park ISD following Dr. Tom Trigg.
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SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH - the following information outlines the process HPISD Trustees followed in conducting a comprehensive search for the ninth superintendent of schools.
Highland Park ISD Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg announced at the Oct. 11 school board meeting that the 2022-23 school year would be his final one as HPISD Superintendent. Dr. Trigg is in his eighth year of service at HPISD. His career in education has spanned 49 years.
- Click here for Oct 11 Joint Letter from Superintendent and Board President.
BOARD COMMITMENT
The Highland Park ISD Board of Trustees commits to a search process that will allow the greatest opportunity for identifying and assessing the most qualified candidate; a smooth leadership transition; an emphasis on community and stakeholder feedback; and the selection of a candidate that most closely aligns with the local priorities of our community.
- Click here for Oct 13 Letter from the Board.
- Click here for Dec 5 Letter from the Board.
- Click here for Dec 9 Letter from the Board.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FIRM
The Board voted at its regular meeting Nov. 8 to retain the firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) to conduct the search process for the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. The Board selected HYA because of its robust, established process for gathering input from community members and stakeholders and its ability to tailor the process to meet the specific needs of our local HPISD community. While HYA will assist in the process, the Board will determine which candidates are considered and which candidate is ultimately chosen.
- Click here for Nov 9 Search Update.
PROCESS/TIMELINE
The Board, in partnership with HYA, developed a comprehensive timeline to conduct the search process for the district’s next superintendent. The plan outlines a collaborative process that ensures all community members have multiple ways to provide input.
- Click here for Nov 17 Search Update.
- October 11 – Dr. Tom Trigg announces his intention to retire as HPISD Superintendent.
- November 1 and 2 – The Board interviews potential search firm candidates in closed session.
- November 8 – The Board votes to hire Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (“HYA”) to assist with the Superintendent search.
- November 14 – Candidate application period opens.
- November 14-15 – HYA conducts individual interviews with trustees.
- November 28-December 7 – HYA holds focus groups with parents, community leaders, students, teachers, and staff.
- November 28 – HYA holds an in-person community forum for all parents and community members.
- November 28 – December 5 - More than 1,700 community members and staff provide feedback to the superintendent search survey.
- December 6 – HYA holds a virtual community forum for all parents and community members.
- December 7 – HYA holds a virtual staff forum for all staff.
- December 13 – HYA presents feedback from all interviews, focus groups, community forums and a survey for the Board to review.
- February 10 – Candidate application period closes.
- February-March –The Board reviews candidate applications, selects which ones to interview, and begins conducting interviews. The review of applications and selection of candidates take place in closed session.
- March 27 – The Board announces whether a lone finalist for the position of Superintendent will be named, or whether interviews will continue.
COMMUNITY INPUT
The search process includes parent, community, staff and student feedback to assist the Board in identifying the priorities and expectations of our local community for HPISD’s next superintendent. Feedback will be collected through interviews, focus groups, forums, and an online survey and will be used to develop a Leadership Profile. The Leadership Profile will be presented to trustees at the Dec. 13 board meeting and will be used to identify and recruit potential candidates.
Survey
From Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, more than 1,700 members of the HPISD community responded to the superintendent search survey and provided invaluable feedback for identifying the community’s priorities in the next superintendent. The information from this survey will be shared at the Dec. 13 regular board meeting.
Forums
On Nov. 28, Dec. 6, and Dec. 7, community members and staff attended forums and provided feedback regarding expectations and priorities for our next superintendent. The information from these forums will be shared at the Dec. 13 regular board meeting.
Focus Groups
The Board identified parents, community leaders, advocates, staff members and students who participated in 25 different focus groups. More than 300 stakeholders attended these focus groups and shared their opinions on the characteristics and skills they seek for our next superintendent.
Candidate Submissions
Community members are welcome to submit candidate names for consideration. If you have any names to share, please email them to the Board ([email protected]) or Max McGee ([email protected]). The Board will review all names submitted, determine which are interviewed, and will ultimately decide which candidate is chosen.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
From November 14 through December 7, HYA conducted 38 focus groups, forums and interviews (with over 300 participants in total), and received over 1,700 responses to the online surveys. At the Dec. 13 Board Meeting, HYA will present a summary of its preliminary findings from the engagement phase.
- Click here for the Preliminary Leadership Profile Presentation.
JOB POSTING
- Click here for the job posting.