Fort Worth schools superintendent Kent Scribner announces retirement
Fort Worth schools Superintendent Kent Scribner announced Thursday that he plans to retire, marking the end of several tumultuous months in which the district was targeted for low test scores and its racial equity efforts.
He intends to serve until a new superintendent is selected. The school board is scheduled to discuss his plans during a closed meeting on Tuesday. In a letter to the board dated Dec. 16, Scribner said he was making the announcement “to support a smooth and thoughtful transition.”
Scribner, 55, joined the district in 2015 after leading the Phoenix Union High School District for about eight years. His contract runs through Aug. 31, 2024. His salary is $330,000 with a potential annual bonus of $15,000 to $25,000.
In a video message posted on the school district website, Scribner said he was confident in the school district’s future and knew the power of community in the city and district to get things done for children.
He said that since 2015, student merit scholarships have increased from $36 million to $158 million. The school district has also gained 12 points in its state accountability rating, he said.
The 76,000-student district received a C rating from the state in 2019, the most recent rating before the coronavirus pandemic. The district’s score of 79 was one point from a B.
Scribner also nodded to decisions voters have made to affect students’ lives, like approving tax ratifications and bond issues. He also mentioned that the school district tackled racial equity and had conversations to close gaps and change systems that enforce disparities.
He said that this year will mark his 20th year as superintendent and that his time in Fort Worth has been his career high point.
“Fort Worth ISD’s best years are still ahead,” he said.
School board President Tobi Jackson said the board appreciates Scribner’s communication and transparency in sharing his retirement plans.
“Among his many accomplishments, we especially applaud his leadership in transforming our secondary schools with collaborative spaces and modern, career-focused classrooms that will benefit students for decades to come,” she said in the release. “That is an outstanding legacy.”
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker wrote in an email that she appreciated Scribner’s work in navigating the school district through the most difficult days of the pandemic.
“The most important thing is for our parents, educators, and leaders of business and community to come together and support our students — the future of this city,” Parker wrote. “Their academic success is our success.”
She added that Fort Worth’s future growth depends on a thriving school system, and said she’s committed to serve in a supporting role as the district and parents search for a new superintendent.
Bond issues
Voters approved nearly $2 billion for improvements and new schools during Scribner’s tenure. In 2017, a $750 million bond program paid for improvements at 14 high schools. In November, voters approved $1.2 billion for renovations at all middle schools and the construction of four elementary campuses. But they rejected three other proposals, which would have paid for three new stadiums and the renovation of auditoriums and gymnasiums.
Fort Worth parent Jennifer Estrada said she’s appreciative of the district’s efforts to improve middle school campuses and credits Scribner and district leaders for holding informational sessions for the community before the bond election.
“If these upgrades really do change the schools for the better, those [town halls] will continue to have a good impact for a long long time,” she said.
Reading scores
While Scribner was criticized for falling reading scores, his efforts in early childhood education earned praise from leaders in the field, including Kara Waddell, the CEO of Child Care Associates.
“Dr. Scribner recognized early in his tenure at FWISD that the early years of 0-5 and Kinder through 2nd grade represent an essential window of opportunity to help close the education achievement gap,” Waddell said in a statement.
CCA, which is one of the largest providers of early childhood education in North Texas, has partnered with the district to administer the federally funded Head Start program at Fort Worth campuses.
“Hundreds of preschoolers each year benefit from this partnership modeling a whole child, whole family approach,” Waddell said. “Kent recognized early on that PreK doesn’t have to magically exist only in elementary schools — but can thrive successfully in community-based early learning centers as well.”
The organization also met with Fort Worth school leaders after the passage of the bond package in November. It includes funding for several early learning centers that will be started in elementary campuses.
Bethany Edwards, director of the Early Learning Alliance, said the alliance “appreciates the service Dr. Scribner has provided to our community and wishes him the best of luck in the next chapter of his life. The collaboration between the care and education of the county’s youngest learners and the public school systems, of which Fort Worth ISD is the largest, is crucial if we want to be a place where all children thrive to their fullest potential. To that end, we are excited to continue working with the amazing FWISD early education team that Dr. Scribner assembled and led.”
In his recorded announcement, Scribner highlighted a new pre-K curriculum, the first in a decade, which was rolled out this year.
“We’re giving our youngest students a superior start to their education with a new pre-K curriculum that’s creative, hands-on and purposeful,” he said.
Shortly after taking over, Scribner announced a goal that 100% of third-grade students would be reading on grade level by 2025.
In 2016, he spent $5 million to pay for 60 new dyslexia teaching positions and nine dyslexia diagnosticians.
He also turned struggling schools into leadership academies, with an emphasis on excellence among teachers and the schools. Teachers and principals who had a track record of helping students improve were invited to apply for the jobs.
The U.S. Department of Education in 2020 recognized Fort Worth’s Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences high school with National Blue Ribbon honors. The school was recognized for its excellence in closing achievement gaps.
Former Mayor Betsy Price joined the effort to improve reading scores, and helped form Read Fort Worth in 2016.
But in November, Price, citing the district’s STAAR reading scores, said she no longer had confidence in Scribner.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Kent isn’t here in a few months,” she said, speaking at a campaign event. Price is running as a Republican for Tarrant County judge.
The 2018-19 STAAR reading test — the last one before the pandemic — showed 34% of the district’s third-graders made grade level. The same test for 2020-21 showed 26% of the district’s third-graders made grade level. The number statewide fell from 45% to 39%. Educators attribute the dip to a learning loss related to the pandemic.
In an interview Thursday, Price credited Scribner with his willingness to be transparent about the district’s reading scores. She said the district needs a “turnaround specialist” who can undo the damage from COVID-19.
Social issues
Since in-person board meetings resumed in May, protesters have shown up to complain about the district’s racial equity work, with the majority speaking against critical race theory and demanding that Scribner resign.
Todd Daniel, one of the parents suing the district over its mask mandate, called the district’s racial equality work a huge waste of money. He said the next superintendent should focus on improving student reading and teaching students, “how to think, not what to think.”
The district’s Racial Equity Committee and Division of Equity and Excellence provides teachers the opportunity to attend an introductory critical race theory course as a professional development opportunity. The theory is not taught in schools.
Carlos Turcios, a student at UT Arlington who attended Fort Worth schools and has expressed his distaste for the superintendent, called Scribner’s retirement “good news.” Turcios said that even though Scribner’s retirement won’t solve the district’s problems, a brighter future would be ahead.
In 2016, Scribner made national headlines for formulating guidelines to accommodate transgender students, which assured that they can use a restroom where they “must feel comfortable and safe.” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick demanded Scribner’s resignation, and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion that Scribner exceeded his authority.
The district eventually revised its guidelines after six towns forums and five committee meetings. “We listened, we learned,” Scribner said at the time. The guidelines were reduced from eight pages to two. The biggest change: parents must be involved in key decisions about transgender students.
In his statement, Scribner said he is most proud of the district’s racial equity work like addressing academic achievement gaps and dismantling systems that reinforce disparities.
Fort Worth parent Rosalinda Martinez said Scribner did a great job in regards to equity, something that’s important for an urban district. She said she hopes the next superintendent can continue to help students who are economically and academically disadvantaged.
“I felt like he did a lot for our community,” she said. “He tried to push us forward.”
Earlier this week, Dallas schools superintendent Michael Hinojosa also announced his retirement.
Staff writers Isaac Windes and David Silva Ramirez contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 10:33 AM.
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