LISD chooses Parra to take helm

By Alonzo Garza
POST-REGISTER

A special called meeting by the Lockhart Independent School District was held at the Lockhart High School Conference Center on Tuesday, July 15 for the sole purpose of announcing the finalist for the LISD superintendent position.
Board President Timoteo “Tim” Juarez, Jr., called the meeting to order promptly at 8 p.m. Boar

d members present included Susan Brooks, Brenda Spillman, John Manning, and Derek Benavidez. John Flores and Juan Alvarez were not present for the announcement of the new superintendent finalist.
Juarez began the meeting by making a few statements and allowing anyone else interested in speaking to add to what he had said. Brooks took the floor and also spoke about how pleased they were with the board’s final decision.
After 15 minutes of alluding to the finalist without naming him, the handful of mostly principals and teachers were ready for the news.
Manning asked Juarez if he was ready to announce and with a motion, seconded by Brooks the news was out.
The Board of Trustees will invite Dr. Jose L. Parra to be the new Superintendent of Schools.
Parra is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources in the Kerrville Independent School District. He has been in his current position for three years.
Prior to working as an assistant superintendent, Parra served as a campus principal in the Wylie Independent School District for five years. He started his career as a teacher, became a district level administrator and then finally a campus administrator. He earned his doctorate from Columbia University in New York.
The school board followed a lengthy process before determining a finalist. First they hired the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to direct the search back in April.
Then TASB consultants met with LISD staff and community groups in Lockhart to discuss the desired characteristics of the new superintendent and a profile was developed as a yardstick in evaluating the 43 applicants in May.
TASB consultants narrowed the applicant pool to four so the board could interview the candidates on June 27 – 28.
Three applicants were invited back for second interviews last week.
After the second round of interviews, Juarez, Brooks and Benavides visited the Kerrville ISD. Upon their return the board voted unanimously to name Parra as their finalist.
By law, the LISD board must wait 21 days before voting to hire Parra to replace interim superintendent Jack Cockrill.
The board is scheduled to vote to offer a contract to Parra on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
agarza@post-register.com