Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath doubled down on his decision of a state takeover of the Fort Worth Independent School District on Thursday. He also named a conservator who will oversee turnaround plans for underperforming schools.
Morath notified the Fort Worth ISD school board and Superintendent Karen Molinar of his plans to move forward with replacing the elected school board with an appointed board of managers, in addition to initiating a nationwide search for a superintendent. Molinar will be considered as a candidate for the position.
Morath named Christopher Ruszkowski as the district’s conservator on Thursday, effective immediately. Morath said he would announce the board of managers and superintendent appointments later. Applications for the board of managers are due on Nov. 21.
Morath reaffirmed the takeover decision after an informal review meeting took place with district representatives in Austin a week ago. The district has the option to appeal this decision to the State Office of Administrative Hearings within 15 days.
“As you are aware, in correspondence dated October 23, 2025, I provided notice of my intent to appoint a board of managers to the Fort Worth Independent School District to exercise the powers and duties of the district’s board of trustees and of the appointment of a conservator to the district. On October 30, 2025, I conducted an informal review of the appointments at the Texas Education Agency. After careful consideration of the information submitted by the district and presented during the review and in the best interest of the students of Fort Worth ISD, I am affirming my appointment of a board of managers and a conservator to the district,” Morath said in his Thursday correspondence to the district.
The takeover resulted from the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade campus receiving five failed accountability grades in a row from the state. Per state law, officials are required to either close the campus or replace the school board with a board of managers. The district had already closed the school at the end of the 2022-23 school year, consolidating it with Forest Oak Middle.
Molinar, the Fort Worth ISD superintendent, said she remains focused on serving students and intends to reapply for the superintendent position.
“TEA will continue with the process of taking applications for interested candidates for a Board of Managers and the superintendent search as previously shared by the Commissioner. My intent remains the same to apply for the position of superintendent,” Molinar said Thursday. “The focus remains on meeting the needs of our students in FWISD. Our employees are committed to providing high quality, on-level instruction each day in every classroom across our district.”
Fort Worth school board President Roxanne Martinez said the board “strongly disagrees with the decision.”
“We believe our district has demonstrated meaningful progress and that local governance, supported by our community, is essential to sustained student success. We are immensely proud of the work being led by our educators, staff, and Superintendent. They continue to provide high-quality instruction to our students every day and remain steadfast in their commitment to serving this community,” she said. “The Board will consider all options, including filing a formal appeal of the Commissioner’s decision. We do so not in defiance, but in defense of our students, our community, and the principles of local governance that ensure accountability to the people we serve.”
Ruszkowski said in a statement on Thursday that he looks forward to working with district leaders to serve the Fort Worth ISD community. He was previously appointed in March 2024 to serve as a conservator of IDEA Public Schools, a charter district that TEA had investigated for “financial and operational impropriety,” according to TEA’s notification letter at the time. He still serves in this role.
Ruszkowski is also the founding CEO of South Carolina Children’s Fund, a statewide education advocacy organization, and previously served as New Mexico’s secretary of education and Delaware’s associate secretary of education and chief talent officer.
“Throughout my three decades in education, I’ve been honored to take on unique roles during critical inflection points for schools, states and organizations. This conservator appointment is another opportunity to engage in public service of the highest calling. I look forward to working with district leadership in service of the students, teachers and community of Fort Worth,” he said.
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In addition to overseeing turnaround plans of struggling schools, Ruszkowski will direct and oversee actions of the superintendent, principals and governance team; report district activities and academic progress to TEA; and attend board meetings, including closed sessions, according to Morath.
The district is required to pay for Ruszkowski’s services, which is $250 an hour and $50 per hour for travel.
TEA is hosting a community meeting in Fort Worth this evening from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Polytechnic High School. Another meeting will be held next Thursday, Nov. 13, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth ISD Administration Building.
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State Education Commissioner Mike Morath, right, talks with State Board of Education Member Brandon Hall while touring William James Middle School in Fort Worth on Aug. 28.