The Lake Travis ISD school board unanimously voted to hire Brad Lancaster on Dec. 1.

The selection comes following the resignation of Rocky Kirk in July. The board hired School Executive Consulting Inc. on July 11 to perform the search at a cost of about $16,000.

Lancaster, who earned his doctorate in education from Texas A&M University in College Station and most recently served as superintendent of Midway ISD in Waco, has also worked as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director for curriculum and assistant superintendent in College Station, Ennis and Allen districts.

"It's been an intense and fruitful process," said Councilman Fred Goff, who also attributed the successful search to the district's staff. "I think we found a really great candidate."

Lancaster said he wants to focus on three major issues that LTISD is facing, including the $158.5 million bond recently passed, the upcoming STAAR test and the growth of the district.

"Immediately, you can tell there is a sense of camaraderie, good feeling and cooperation," he said. "I think that's also representative of the input from the leadership team."

Lancaster began Jan. 2 with an annual salary of $250,000.

"I've had phone calls from other school districts over the years, and I haven't had any interest in looking," he said. "This job came along, and it's such an attractive school district and community, successful in academics, athletics and the arts."

LTISD board president Jason Buddin said Lancaster's experience and success in Midway made him the right choice.

"Midway is similar to Lake Travis in a lot of ways, both academically and in extracurricular successes," he said. "He's the right personality for the district."