Trent Dowd, a former principal, was named acting superintendent of Lake Worth ISD on Monday as the district awaits new leaders under a state takeover.
Trustees named Dowd to the temporary role as Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath moves to appoint a new superintendent and replace the district鈥檚 locally elected board with a state-appointed board of managers.
鈥淲hether I鈥檓 in this seat for a week or whether I鈥檓 in this seat for months, my goal is to make sure that we stay focused on taking care of students and providing high quality instruction,鈥� Dowd said.
Dowd has more than two decades of education experience. He most recently served as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning after years as the district鈥檚 chief financial officer. He steps into the role vacated by Mark Ramirez whose March 9.
Dowd addressed the board and community members after an hourlong closed session, emphasizing instructional continuity as the district鈥檚 top priority with STAAR testing just days away.
Dowd told the Fort Worth Report that his decision to serve in the role, however long it lasts, is rooted in preserving the work Ramirez began.
鈥淗e brought in a new, fresh vision and a new, fresh enthusiasm for the students of Lake Worth,鈥� Dowd said. 鈥淗e may have left us, but I saw it as an opportunity to continue the work that he was doing and honor the work that he鈥檚 done.鈥�
Morath ordered the state intervention into Lake Worth schools in December after the Marilyn Miller Language Academy academic accountability ratings. The education commissioner appointed a and for that district鈥檚 state takeover on March 24.
Dowd said he has no plans to introduce new priorities and will remain focused on the instructional framework already in place, including the Ramirez put in place.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got 3,177 students. That鈥檚 how many students we have in our district on the snapshot day, and that鈥檚 how many students are counting on us,鈥� Dowd said. 鈥淚 want to be a part of serving all, all 3,177 of these students.鈥�
Board President Tammy Thomas said trustees appointed Dowd to ensure stability during the transition and expressed confidence in his leadership.
鈥淒owd has shown tremendous leadership the last few years,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚f I were able to choose who would lead us during this remainder of our time, it would be him.鈥�
Morath is expected to announce the new leadership later this spring. The managers will assume the duties of the trustees, who will remain in office but lack any governing authority in the district.
A second training for Lake Worth ISD鈥檚 board of managers applicants is scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Only who applied for Fort Worth ISD.
Dowd said the state鈥檚 impending moves won鈥檛 change the district鈥檚 focus.
鈥淓ven in times of uncertainty, the thing that we can do is continue to focus on kids.鈥�
Nicole Williams Quezada is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.williams@fortworthreport.org
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