Peter B. Licata, named by TEA to lead the struggling district, says higher teacher pay is part of a list of priorities to turn the district around.

FORT WORTH, Texas — On his third day on the job, Peter B. Licata was already counting bell rings in a middle school hallway.

The newly appointed superintendent of Fort Worth Independent School District walked the halls of Monnig Middle School on Thursday, one stop on a planned series of visits to campuses, some with histories of low academic performance.

“We’ve got one shot. One window. Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done right,” said Licata.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath named Licata as superintendent Tuesday as part of the state’s formal takeover of Fort Worth ISD, one of the largest school districts in Texas. 

Alongside Licata’s appointment, the TEA installed a nine-member Board of Managers to oversee the district. Licata began work under a 21-day interim contract, pending formal board approval at an upcoming meeting.

The state intervention was triggered by state law after one of the district’s campuses received a fifth consecutive unacceptable academic accountability rating. Licata replaces Karen Molinar, who was named superintendent in March 2025 before the takeover was announced in October of that year.

Licata comes to Fort Worth with more than 30 years of experience in education. Most recently, he served as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools in Florida — the nation’s sixth-largest school district — where he led the district to its first state “A” rating in more than 14 years. He has also worked as a teacher, coach, principal, regional superintendent, assistant superintendent and university professor.

His immediate priorities center on putting more support and resources into classrooms. Chief among them: attracting and retaining high-quality teachers, particularly at the district’s most challenged schools.

“How can we get the best teachers? How can we recruit? How can we pay them?” Licata said. “The new model we’re bringing in is really nice for teachers, where they’ll be making $110,000 to $120,000 in some of the hardest schools if they’re showing great results.”

When asked where that money would come from, Licata acknowledged the work was still underway. 

“That is what we’re working on,” he said. “I am very confident. I’m not confident. I’m very confident we will be able to compete, if not beat the other local ISDs. I just went through the budget, and I know we’re $40 million in debt, but that’s going to change real soon.”

Schools like Monnig Middle — where a higher-than-average share of students are economically disadvantaged or considered at risk — are exactly the campuses Licata says demand the most attention without any reduction in academic expectations.

“Because a child comes from a very difficult background or poverty, we don’t devalue them,” he said. “We don’t say ok we only expect you to go this high.”

Licata said results from state standardized testing in the coming weeks will help shape the district’s approach, with major reorganization and professional development on a short-term to-do list.

“In order to get academic instruction and achievement at the highest level for these children, we have to have the best talented workforce,” he said. “It’s not easy. It’s very difficult, and we want teachers to spend every second doing what they do best, without barricades.”

Licata said parents and the broader community can expect transparency as the work unfolds.

“They’ll expect honesty, integrity and a commitment to our — not your, but our — community,” he said.


Peter B. Licata — By the Numbers

30+ years of experience in public educationMost recently superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, Fla. — the nation’s 6th-largest districtLed Broward County to its first state “A” rating in more than 14 yearsHas served as teacher, coach, principal, regional superintendent, assistant superintendent and university professorWorking under a 21-day interim contract pending Board of Managers approvalReplaces Karen Molinar, who was named superintendent in March 2025