FORT WORTH, Texas — Two North Texas school districts saw a change in leadership this week as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) officially began its take over of districts it says are not meeting academic standards.

Fort Worth Independent School Distirct is one of those two districts after TEA gave Superintendent Karen Molinar the boot in early March.

“Our mission is quite simple,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “Our mission is for Fort Worth kids.”

In a news conference on Tuesday, Parker shared the long anticipated decision on who would be the next superintendent since the TEA announced five months ago it’d be taking over Fort Worth ISD.

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath gave Peter Licata the job.

“What it has turned into now is an opportunity,” said Licata.

Licata comes from Florida, where he worked as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest school districts. The TEA said Licata led the district to an “A” rating for the first time in 14 years.

“We’re going to be here to make Fort Worth ISD the best in this area and in the state of Texas,” said Licata.

With Licata, the TEA also appointed a nine-member board of managers.

“Individuals that are truly leaders,” said Parker. “They are from Fort Worth, and they are Fort Worth.”

Former secretary of the U.S. Army Pete Garin was also named as the new board president.

“We failed our kids for over a decade,” said Garin.

Lake Worth Independent School District dropped a similar announcement this week, but this time, the new superintendent comes from closer to home.

The TEA appointed Lake Worth’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, Trent Dowd, to acting superintendent. The previous superintendent, Dr. Mark Ramirez, retired amid the state takeover.

Both districts have struggled to get good ratings from the state and keep students’ reading at grade levels.

Currently, 11 Fort Worth ISD schools have an “F” rating. Only one out of three students is reading at grade level.

Licata is on a 21-day contract until he receives formal approval from his new board of managers.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’ll do it, because when you put a problem beyond and put a child in front of it, it gets easier to answer,” he said.