The Eanes ISD board of trustees announced Tom Leonard on April 8 as the lone finalist for the superintendent of schools, replacing Dr. Nola Wellman, who will retire at the end of the school year.

"Dr. Leonard is a successful, student-centered, seasoned superintendent in a high-performing district, roughly the size and structure of Eanes ISD," EISD Board of Trustees President Rob Hargett said in a news release. "We are confident that his energy and insights will inspire the district in its quest for excellence."

Leonard served as superintendent in the Barrington 220 School District in Barrington, Ill. for seven years. The district, in a suburb of Chicago, had an enrollment of 9,200 and a budget of $130 million. Barrington 220 is only one of a few school districts in the nation to achieve the "strong" AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's.

Prior to his time as superintendent, Leonard spent 20 years as a classroom teacher, coach, math department chair, assistant principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent in several suburban-Illinois school districts.

State law requires a 21-day waiting period after the finalist is announced before the board can enter into a contract with the candidate. The board is expected to vote on the final selection at the April 30 regular board meeting.