Keller school board hires Cory Wilson as superintendent, praises his leadership
The Keller school board officially hired Cory Wilson as the district’s next superintendent Wednesday night after he was named as the lone finalist in June.
Trustees voted 5-0 during Thursday’s meeting to hire Wilson, who has been serving as interim superintendent, and to authorize board president John Birt to finalize Wilson’s contract.
Trustees Charles Randklev and Chris Coker were absent.
The Star-Telegram requested a copy of Wilson’s contract, but has not yet received it.
Board vice president Heather Washington made the motion to hire Wilson and praised him for his leadership and hard work.
“You’ve done a phenomenal job as well as your staff, and I look forward to things to come,” she said before the vote.
After Wilson thanked his parents, his wife Angela and son Garrett for their support and sacrifices, he said he is looking forward to working with the school board and leading the district.
“We have a bright future ahead of us, and we’re going to do great things,” he said.
Birt said, “This vote confirms the Board’s full confidence and faith in Dr. Wilson’s ability to lead KISD, and we’re excited to have him at the helm.”
Wilson came to the Keller school district 23 years ago, when he taught science and math at Parkwood Hill Intermediate School. Then, in 2004, he became first assistant principal at Bette Perot Elementary School.
IN 2011, he opened Ridgeview Elementary School as its first principal.
Wilson also held positions as Executive Director of Leadership, serving the District’s Title I and Bilingual campuses. He later served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools (West) and as an Area Superintendent before becoming Assistant Superintendent of Education.
Wilson received a Bachelor of Education degree from Kansas State University, Master of Education Leadership and Policy Study from The University of Texas at Arlington, and a Doctor of Education from Texas Christian University.
Wilson has served as interim superintendent since Jan. 31 after Tracy Johnson resigned over a controversial proposal from several trustees to split the school district in half along U.S. 377, the dividing line between Keller and Fort Worth. The proposal called for schools in Keller, Southlake, Colleyville and Watauga to remain in the Keller school district while schools in the Fort Worth portion would not.
On March 14, former board president Charles Randklev announced that the district was not going forward with the split because of financial challenges.
On May 15, the board passed a resolution formally ending the proposal to split the school district.
But the board is still facing two lawsuits related to the proposed split, including one alleging that trustees violated the Texas Open Meeting Act by meeting behind closed doors to discuss the split.