Frisco ISD trustees named Todd Fouche as the lone finalist to become the next superintendent after a unanimous vote Thursday evening.
Fouche, the current deputy superintendent, will take the helm from Mike Waldrip, who is retiring after nine years in the role. A former teacher in the district, Fouche will oversee 77 schools and more than 62,000 students.
Fouche earned a bachelor of science at Texas A&M University and a master of education and doctor of education degrees from the University of North Texas, according to the district. He has spent more than 20 years in Frisco ISD, starting as a teacher, then campus administrator and eventually, a district leader.
His family has long been involved in education. His mother taught at Staley Middle School in Frisco ISD, and his father served 12 years on the Odessa school board, according to the district.
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“It’s an incredible honor to be named the lone finalist for superintendent of Frisco ISD,” Fouche said in a Frisco ISD news release. “This district has meant so much to my family and to my career. … I look forward to continuing our work together to serve the students, staff and families of this community.”
The firm, Impact Education Specialists, assisted Frisco ISD with its superintendent search. In January, school leaders sought parent input at listening sessions. Candidates were interviewed in March.
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“Throughout the process, it became very clear that Dr. Fouche has a deep understanding of Frisco ISD and the values that guide our work every day,” board president Dynette Davis said in an email sent to district staff and families on Friday morning. “His commitment to our students, our staff, and our community strongly align with the Board’s vision for the future of the District. His experience, steady leadership, and passion for public education make him well prepared to lead Frisco ISD into its next chapter.”
Waldrip, whose career in education has spanned more than four decades, taught biology and coached basketball in South and West Dallas before landing in Frisco ISD. Under his leadership, the district added more schools and thousands of new students for many years. He also oversaw Frisco ISD through several crises, like the COVID pandemic and the stabbing of an athlete at a track meet.
His successor will have tests ahead. In the fall, Fouche will implement Frisco Flex. The online learning program allows students who are from outside the district to enroll.
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In recent years, Frisco ISD has been experiencing enrollment decline, with further drops expected. Many North Texas districts face a similar challenge, which education experts have attributed to the birth rate falling off, stagnant state funding and the expansion of school choice.
In the 2022-23 school year, Frisco ISD had about 67,000 students, which decreased to about 65,300 in the 2024-25 school year.
The numbers have left school officials to make tough calls. Despite protests from community members, trustees voted to close Staley Middle School, one of the oldest campuses in Frisco, last October.
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Fouche will have to wait three weeks before Frisco ISD can formally hire him, per a state mandate.
Education Lab editor Carol Taylor contributed to this report.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.