Leander ISD is in the process of finding a successor to former Superintendent Bret Champion, and LISD trustees are aiming to find a new leader by fall.

Champion announced April 28 that he accepted the superintendent position with Klein ISD, a district in Northwest Harris County with 50,000 students. Champion is in his 22nd year with LISD, eight of which he has served as the district’s superintendent. Champion assumes his role in KISD on July 1.

On May 19 trustees approved Thompson & Horton LLP as the firm to assist in the superintendent search. The law firm provides legal representation to schools, higher education institutions, local governments and private businesses. Thompson & Horton is the only firm to assist LISD with its superintendent search process in the district’s history.

Mike Moses and David Thompson, Thompson & Horton representatives, recommended an Aug. 15 start date for the new superintendent.

“We want to get the best search you can give us, and if it fits in this timeline, great—and if it doesn’t, tell us now and we’ll adjust [accordingly],” trustee Aaron Johnson said to Moses and Thompson.

Timeline

In the coming months, trustees will make a series of decisions leading to selecting a final candidate.

On May 12, trustees selected Karie Lynn McSpadden, assistant superintendent of human resources, to serve as interim superintendent. McSpadden’s charge is to meet with Champion to learn about district operations and work alongside the board to “ensure a smooth transition in leadership” during the coming months, she said.

She will provide feedback to the board and search firm as requested. 

“Even as interim, I believe that an important part of the job is being the face of the district, and so I will be taking on more public speaking engagements in the coming weeks and months,” McSpadden said.

Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period before Champion’s successor can sign a contract for employment after a finalist has been named, and McSpadden will fulfill superintendent duties in the interim, she said.

McSpadden will not be considered for the superintendent position, trustees said.

Thompson & Horton posted the job for the superintendent position May 16 and plans to conclude accepting applications June 23, according to firm documents. Focus groups comprising elected officials, parents and district staff will help determine what qualities are desired in a new district leader. The focus groups met for the first time June 16, and a survey will become available on LISD’s website for the community to provide its feedback June 17-24. 

The firm will conduct the first round of interviews July 5-10. 

In May, Johnson said if the district has “missed the optimal time period” it could be prudent to wait until December to hire a new superintendent rather than having him or her start in the middle of fall.

“I think [trustees] are comfortable if we have to go into October to bring [the new superintendent] in because they will have to give notice [at his or her current district],” board Vice President Pam Waggoner said.

After the finalist is selected, trustees will visit the candidate’s district to talk with administration and board members. Moses said it is not recommended to visit more than one candidate’s district.

Historical background

Residents living in a settlement along Cypress Creek established one of Cedar Park’s first schools for their children in the 1860s by building a small log schoolhouse on a hilltop above Cypress Creek, according to the city of Cedar Park.

By 1877 students outgrew the school, and a new one-story, wood-frame building was built on the same site, where one teacher taught students until 1937.

In 1987, during the time Tom Glenn served as LISD’s superintendent, the district built a new Cypress Elementary School at the site, at 2900 El Salido Parkway in Cedar Park.

Glenn preceded Champion as LISD’s superintendent and served the district from August 1987-December 2007. He served numerous positions at LISD, including as assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent. The district had four campuses in 1987, all of which included about 1,800-2,000 students, Glenn said.

The district now has 37,079 students.

When Glenn retired in 2007, trustees hired Thompson & Horton to assist with the superintendent search. During the process, Glenn’s role was the same as McSpadden’s charge is now—to provide input to the board as requested.

Champion served as superintendent from February 2008-June 2016.

“Leander ISD is a wonderful community,” Champion said. “[My wife], Marcee, and I have been blessed to be part of it for over 20 years and will always cherish the bonds we’ve formed here.”

Champion touted LISD’s Literacy Program; achievements in Advanced Placement testing, National Merit Commendation recognition; and garnering the H-E-B Excellence in Education award as some district milestones he is proud of.  

“Our academic results are terrific, but they’re balanced with remarkable student success in fine arts, athletics, [Future Farmers of America], robotics, career and technology [fields],” he said. “Even though the budget continues to be tight, I love that we recognize that the skills acquired in extra- and co-curricular activities are critical ones to success outside of school.”