The decision was made at the board’s April 25 meeting. According to an April 26 press release from the district, Hicks will start in his role on May 17.
The search for a new superintendent began in November after current NISD Superintendent Ryder Warren announced in September he would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
Hicks was first named Northwest ISD’s lone finalist at a board of trustees special meeting on March 29. Before his official hiring, a state-mandated 21-day waiting period had to take place.
“Since his naming as lone finalist, Dr. Hicks has met with Dr. Ryder Warren, retiring superintendent of Northwest ISD, as well as key stakeholder groups to provide a smooth leadership transition,” the district wrote in the release. “He will continue meeting with key stakeholder groups both before and after his first official day as Northwest ISD superintendent on Tuesday, May 17.”
For the past six years, Hicks has led SISD as superintendent. Before he became SISD’s superintendent, Hicks was area superintendent of secondary programs in Denton ISD, where he supervised middle and high school academics, athletics and fine arts. Overall, Hicks has had 33 years of experience in education, starting as a teacher.
In a March 29 announcement posted on Youtube, Hicks explained that his reason for leaving SISD to serve as NISD superintendent was because “it’s a wonderful opportunity” for his family, as his granddaughter will soon start attending a Northwest ISD school.
“Northwest ISD families, staff and community members can expect communication from Dr. Hicks in the coming weeks as the superintendent transition continues,” the district’s release states.
