So here we go again.
Arlington ISD has another superintendent hire in its clutches. Let’s see if they hold on to this one.
Dr. Matt Smith, from Belton ISD, an 18-school district sandwiched between Round Rock and Temple, was named the lone finalist, which means the job is his to take. Or not.
Let’s recap the last time we were in this spot. AISD’s Board of Trustees on May 4 offered the gig to Gregory-Portland ISD Superintendent Dr. Michelle Cavazos, who was all set to arrive in Arlington when she made an about-face after a counteroffer she couldn’t refuse.
Texas state law mandates a 21-day waiting period between naming a lone finalist for a superintendent position and when they can be officially placed under contract.
By May 22, with three days left on the thinking period, Cavazos thought, “Uh, hmm, I’m staying,” after being offered a nice five-year contract.
AISD placed its Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Steven Wurtz, into the role as interim and went back to the drawing board.
Now it appears they have found their hire in Smith.
“His dedication to student achievement, innovative educational practices, and fostering collaborative environments align seamlessly with Arlington ISD’s vision for the future,” is how AISD Board of Trustee President Melody Fowler put it in a statement. “We know he will be a transformative leader and a great asset to the Arlington community.”
Wanting an explanation in more, well, simple terms, I emailed AISD Trustee Dr. Aaron Reich, who said the board liked Smith’s “calm, unassuming demeanor” and sees a superintendent with the ability to meet people “where they are,” whether students, staff, or community folks.
He thinks Smith will “upscale” quite well, meaning he’ll step up to a larger district without much trouble.
AISD also likes Smith’s bulky education resume, which spans 20-plus years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. So, he’s been on the front line and led the troops.
Reich didn’t mention this, but I suspect what also got AISD’s attention was Smith’s efforts to pass the largest bond in Belton ISD’s history.
Improving student outcomes is great, as is growing career and technical learning opportunities, which is the big thing right now in education.
But that big ‘ole expansion now in the works at Arlington High School isn’t free.
Much like former AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos (no relation to the Cavazos that turned them down, by the way), Smith is a bold innovator.
Smith is credited with establishing programs like the Penguin Project, which gives special needs students the opportunity to participate in theater productions.
Sounds small time for a superintendent to have their hands on, but this endeared Smith throughout the Belton district when audiences gave a standing ovation to last April’s stage play, “Annie Jr.” where all the roles were filled by students with developmental disabilities.
It fell in line with the district’s Value and Belief system, which states that “every student deserves exceptional learning experiences according to their unique needs and passions.”
“What he did was simply amazing,” one parent wrote on an internet site, referring to Smith. “We need somebody who isn’t afraid to do things like that, no matter how small they seem. To those kids, it’s a big deal.”
If you hear Arlington Mayor Jim Ross tell it, Marcelo Cavazos could teach a master class on collaboration, and Smith appears to have that as a positive quality, too, according to Reich.
“He is eager to connect with our business, faith-based, realtor, city government, education, and entertainment communities,” Reich said.
As for Smith, he said in a statement, “Together … we will do amazing things for our students, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Nor can we.
Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today for nearly a decade. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.