AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 After receiving a fifth consecutive failing rating from the Texas Education Agency, Webb Middle School now has an executive principal, Elizabeth Hodges, on its staff.<\/p>\n
“In the places where I know of with executive principals in D1 [schools], schools are just doing better because you have that experienced principal,” said District 1 trustee Candace Hunter at Austin ISD’s Oct.15 Board of Trustees meeting.<\/p>\n
However, UT Austin education professor David DeMatthews said the research around the effectiveness of executive principals in improving student outcomes is not robust.<\/p>\n
“It’s a reform that’s been tried before,” he said. “There’s not a lot of evidence that suggests that it leads to sustainable improvement or change over time, but it’s certainly been one that districts have experimented with.”<\/p>\n
Hunter said such a role “does cost a lot. So the investment has to be made up front.”<\/p>\n
MORE | Mayor says Burnet, Webb petitions appear to have enough signatures to close schools<\/a><\/p>\n CBS Austin reached out to Austin ISD with questions about the scope of the executive principal role and its cost to the district.<\/p>\n Although DeMatthews says executive principals typically work with multiple campuses, Austin ISD told CBS Austin that the position is solely focused on Webb.<\/p>\n DeMatthews also said it is common for the campus principal to be moved when an executive principal comes in, but Webb’s principal remains in place.<\/p>\n “A lot of districts don’t do this because you’re going to start to send mixed signals to staff like who is in charge, right? You want to have a leader that faculty\u2014and parents too\u2014know that they can rely on, that there’s consistency. So now you’re basically kind of having, you know, a lot of cooks in the kitchen when it comes to making decisions, and that could be really difficult,” said DeMatthews.<\/p>\n KEYE<\/p>\n<\/p>\n DeMatthews said investments in other areas such as curriculum and teacher quality have a more evidence-backed track record when it comes to improving student outcomes.<\/p>\n “I think that’s where the research says to really make investments,” he said. “Unless there is weak leadership on that campus, and that should have been addressed already.\u201d <\/p>\n “Kids don’t fall behind overnight, and they don’t catch up overnight,” said DeMatthews.<\/p>\n How much does an executive principal cost?<\/p>\n In terms of pay, the district referred us to its compensation manual and provided the corresponding pay grade for the position, CAD 5.<\/p>\n Based on 226 duty days and a daily compensation range between $607.080 and $664.895, Webb’s executive principal likely earns between $137,000 and $152,000 annually, without stipends, bonuses, incentives, and other compensation. AISD did not confirm Hodges’ actual salary.<\/p>\n For Webb’s principal, the 2025-26 turnaround plan outlines a $25,000 stipend. AISD has not confirmed whether Hodges also receives a stipend.<\/p>\n