Superintendent Search FAQs

RISD’s previous superintendent, Dr. Jeannie Stone, resigned from the position on December 13, 2021. Deputy Superintendent Tabitha Branum has been serving as Interim Superintendent while RISD Trustees facilitate a search process to identify the best candidate to fill the position.

The goal of the Board of Trustees is to connect with outstanding educators across the country to find the best superintendent candidate for Richardson ISD. To identify a superintendent with the right strengths and priorities, the Board is engaging with the local community to better understand what stakeholders want to see in and from the RISD’s next leader. RISD stakeholders can provide input into the process through community meetings and a survey.

Trustees are seeking a well-qualified, experienced educator who will lead the district’s outstanding team of educators and work with the RISD community to facilitate student achievement and successfully prepare students for graduation and beyond, expanding their opportunities for growth and advancement. While there are many different candidates who can help RISD reach this goal, the Board is looking for someone who will guide and support teachers, remain open to community input, engage with local leaders, and tailor an approach consistent with RISD community expectations.

Over the month of May, RISD stakeholders will have opportunities to provide input, and that feedback will be incorporated into a profile that will be used to recruit and identify candidates that are the right fit for RISD.

The RISD Board of Trustees is responsible for selecting and hiring the superintendent for Richardson ISD. After candidates are identified and interviewed, the Board will name a selected candidate as the lone finalist, and after 21 days, can formally hire the next superintendent.

Has the Board selected a firm that will provide superintendent search services? Yes, the Board has retained Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, P.C., a law firm dedicated to Texas school districts, to facilitate the search process and assist Trustees with attracting a strong pool of candidates.

The position will be posted on the RISD website, marketed to appropriate education industry locations across the Internet, and delivered directly to candidates that fit RISD’s profile as developed with stakeholder input.

While the State of Texas requires some minimum requirements for all superintendents, RISD Trustees will determine the minimum qualifications based on feedback it receives from stakeholders during the input phase throughout the month of May.

Please direct any qualified candidates to complete the Richardson ISD Superintendent Application, which will be available beginning June 1, 2022.

Because virtually all qualified candidates will currently be employed by a school district, it is standard practice for the identity of superintendent candidates to not be made public, and that assurance of privacy allows school districts seeking a superintendent to attract a wider range of qualified candidates.