In a nutshell
MISD leaders began looking to hire a new superintendent following the resignation of Heath Morrison in July, who had served as superintendent since July 2020. After about four months of searching, MISD trustees named Ruffin as the lone finalist for the superintendent position Nov. 28.
As previously reported by Community Impact, Ruffin:
- Most recently served as the superintendent of Normangee ISD, a role he began in 2018
- Was previously a high school principal in Normangee ISD, an assistant principal in Humble ISD, and a special education and math teacher in Centerville ISD
- Holds a Ph.D. and master's degree in education
What made you interested in applying for this position, and what experience do you bring to the role?
When it comes to educational experience, I've been blessed to serve different school districts, different campuses that range from very rural to urban to small to very large. ... I've been the superintendent in Normangee ISD. That opportunity for me to serve a district in the capacity of superintendent, ... it just made me ... a better leader because it allowed me to see the big picture. ...
One thing that's really near and dear to [my] and my wife's heart is the educational opportunities for our kids. ... Whatever they may be interested in, MISD has a pathway to expose them to that and allow them to really explore those interests, and even pursue that as a potential career. ... I want to be a servant [and a] leader of a wonderful school district that offers opportunities for all students.
What are your short- and long-term priorities for MISD?
I would say that one of the things that I have been very intentional about is being visible and ... starting to build relationships with everyone from our staff to PTO groups to our school board to our faith-based leaders. That is something that is an immediate priority for me is to make sure that, if nothing else, our staff knows ... I'm there to support them, and I'm going to do that by being on their campuses ... and visiting them in the classrooms. ...
Long-term for me in this position is ... 5-10 years, but I would say over the next ... 18 months, ... [my priority is] to continue to build those relationships with our community, and it's to listen and hear from people that are within our district, whether they're teachers or parents, to hear the things that are going really well, to hear the things that maybe we don't do so well. ...
Then there’s a funding side of this ... that is definitely going to be in those priorities within the next 12-18 months. MISD has ... financial challenges, and within the realm of public education, one of the most difficult parts of the work that we do is we don't get to set our revenues. ... So because of some of the inactivity and lack of progress through our last legislative session and the special sessions that were called, we're still left trying to figure out how we fill the needs of our students and of our teachers effectively with the resources that we have.
How do you plan to help MISD prepare for expected enrollment growth over the next decade?
The great news is the district has positioned itself really well with the passing of the last bond, not just looking at a short-term need, but the district has done a great job of planning for future needs also. ... We've got the seventh elementary school that's going up right now. ... That's going to allow some of our other schools to reduce their student population a little bit. ...
In the last bond, funds were set aside and earmarked to purchase land for the third junior high and to design the third junior high. ... The goal is not to get to a point where we have to have a knee-jerk reaction to enrollment growth. We see it's coming, and the district's done a great job of planning for that. Now it's making sure that we're always forward-thinking and that I pick up right where this district has continued to lead. ...
Do you have any strategies for helping the district fill open positions that have proved challenging to fill, such as bus drivers, etc.? How much of a priority will this be for you?
There are [districts] all across Texas that are not able to do the things financially that they would want to do. ... When it comes to trying to fill spots, obviously compensation is a big part of that. Couple that with financial challenges, and that's a predicament.
... I've had teachers and administrators and folks telling me, 'I left higher-paying districts that are neighboring to us just so I can be a part of the MISD family.' So I think one thing that is a value-add to the recruitment and retention of folks is continuing to make MISD special and unique and to continue to foster the values that are here.
What would you say sets MISD apart from other districts?
... Our campuses, the way that our staff are treated by our administrators, the culture that they've created on our campuses, the environment for the kids that they've been able to foster and nurture, it doesn't feel like this is part of this big giant system, and I think that is very unique to MISD. That's something that's a priority of mine. ... As we do grow ... there's things which we don't want to lose. We don't want to lose the small-town feel.