Just days into his role leading Fort Worth ISD under state control, Superintendent Peter Licata is outlining his plan to raise student achievement — quickly.
In an interview with the Fort Worth Report, Licata detailed his expectations for academic gains, teacher support, district finances and what changes could come next.
Licata and the newly appointed board of managers will meet for the first time in public Tuesday night at the Fort Worth ISD District Service Center, 7060 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Here are five takeaways from that conversation:
He’s aiming for quick academic gains — and setting a high bar
Licata said he wants to see measurable improvement in student performance within the first year, targeting gains of 5 to 10 percentage points in student proficiency.
“I would love to see (gains) in the 5 to 10 range,” he said, calling it a big goal but one worth aiming for.
At the same time, he emphasized that any immediate gains should be credited to former Superintendent Karen Molinar and her leadership team, not his administration.
“If we make some gains this school year … Dr. Molinar and her team own that,” he said.
A culture shift, with leaders held accountable
Licata repeatedly stressed that improving instruction will require a shift in how the district approaches accountability.
District and campus leaders will be expected to drive change.
“We always blame the teacher,” Licata said. “We’re going to do that in reverse.”
That includes ensuring principals are in classrooms regularly, providing real-time coaching and aligning instruction to state standards across the district. A principal should be their campus’s best teacher, he said.
Teachers will see more support and possibly higher pay
Licata said supporting teachers will be central to his strategy, including professional development, coaching and potential compensation increases.
“We’re going to see some changes,” he said, noting he has been “knee-deep in the budget” and is exploring ways to prioritize teacher pay earlier in the budgeting process.
He also said the district may expand staffing at struggling campuses, including placing multiple educators in classrooms to better support students.
“We want the ones back that left,” Licata said.
Facilities, staffing and enrollment will face tough decisions
Declining enrollment and unused positions are already shaping Licata’s decisions about staffing and facilities. He called the elected trustees’ school closures plan really strong, but said the administration will reevaluate it going forward.
The district is also “right-sizing” operations to reflect a smaller student population, he said, adding that Fort Worth ISD can no longer afford to maintain staffing levels and facilities built for higher enrollment.
“If there’s an open position for a while and it hasn’t been filled, it’s gone,” he said, describing a districtwide review of vacant roles.
District properties are on the table
Fort Worth ISD will need a mix of strategies when it comes to managing vacant properties, including selling some sites, partnering with developers and repurposing others, Licata said.
“We have to strike a nice blend,” he said.
Options include:
Selling properties to generate revenue.
Partnering on housing or community projects.
Repurposing sites for district use.
The district can’t afford to sit on their hands, Licata said, pushing back on suggestions to delay decisions until elected leadership returns.
“Those nine folks that are on the board of managers, they’re as local as I can imagine,” Licata said. “I’ve spent some time with them and they’re not trying to advance their careers.
They’re wholeheartedly in it to make a difference.”
Disclosure: The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is a financial supporter of the Fort Worth Report. Laurie George is a member of the Report’s reader advisory council. Courtney Lewis is a member of the Report’s business advisory council. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1.
Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.orgor @_jacob_sanchez.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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