After about four months of searching, Montgomery ISD trustees announced the lone finalist for the superintendent position Nov. 28.

What’s happening?

Mark Ruffin was named the lone candidate in a unanimous vote from MISD’s board of trustees, with trustee Shawn Denison absent.
  • State law requires a 21-day waiting period until the lone candidate can be awarded the superintendent position, so Ruffin’s position cannot be officially granted the job until Dec. 19, board President Laurie Turner said.
Zooming in

Ruffin is currently the superintendent of Normangee ISD, a role he began in 2018, according to a Nov. 28 news release from MISD.
  • Ruffin has also served as a high school principal for Normangee ISD, an assistant principal for Humble ISD, and a special education and math teacher in Centerville ISD.
  • He holds a doctorate and master's degree in education.
“I'm so honored and so excited to come alongside you, and to serve alongside you. ... All of the phenomenal work that's already being done here, I've got to run full speed just to catch up,” Ruffin said. “I mean, that's what I'm so excited about is everyone is pouring into what they do in their roles, and I'm just here to walk alongside and learn how I can help.”

What they’re saying


Amy Busby, assistant superintendent of student services and innovation, has served as MISD’s interim superintendent since Aug. 1.

“Ruffin and your family, welcome to MISD,” Busby said Nov. 28. “We're very excited to have you here, and we're looking forward to getting to know you and working with you, and I know you're going to absolutely love it here, so welcome.”

Each member of MISD’s board of trustees welcomed Ruffin before voting to name him the lone superintendent finalist.

“He's a man of integrity, strength and communication, he has a heart for students that is very visible, and his understanding of the classroom and what teachers do within the classroom has been shown to us,” Turner said.


How we got here

MISD began looking to hire a new superintendent following the resignation of Heath Morrison in July, who had served as superintendent since July 2020.
  • Morrison's last day with the district was July 31. He resigned from MISD to serve as CEO of national organization Teachers of Tomorrow, effective Aug. 1.