The district has already posted the position but has not yet named an interim CFO.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth ISD’s Chief Financial Officer, Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, is leaving the district later this month to take on a new role as Director of Budget and Finance for the County of El Paso, the district confirmed Tuesday.

The move gives her a chance to return to her hometown and contribute to the community in South Texas.

During her tenure at Fort Worth ISD, which began in January 2022, Arrieta-Candelaria led efforts to modernize the district’s business operations. She implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that consolidated three separate systems into one, and introduced Academic Return on Investment processes, FWISD said in a statement. She also oversaw improvements in payroll and contract management.

FWISD leadership praised her efforts and wished her the best in her new role. “The search for a new Chief Financial Officer is already underway,” they said.

The district has posted the CFO position but has not yet named an interim replacement. Sources told WFAA that Fort Worth ISD plans to review applications before deciding whether to hire a search firm to assist in the process.

While the district begins the search for a replacement, Arrieta-Candelaria’s departure comes amid ongoing challenges.

Last month, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath visited the district after one of its campuses received an unacceptable rating. Fort Worth ISD is already under scrutiny after the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak’s 6th-grade campus received failing ratings for five consecutive years — a violation that can trigger state takeover. Although that campus has since been closed, the TEA investigation into Fort Worth ISD is still open. The Texas Education Code requires the TEA to either close the campus or take over the district and install a new board. 

Still, there are signs of progress.

The district has seen improvement in its school accountability ratings, with F-rated campuses dropping from 31 in 2024 to 11 in 2025, and seven more schools earning A ratings.

On the financial front, Fort Worth ISD was notified in August by the TEA that, due to a technical submission error, the district will receive a failing Preliminary FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating for 2024–25. The district has formally appealed, citing late documentation, and TEA has noted the preliminary rating is under review.

FIRST ratings assess districts’ financial management across multiple performance indicators. Fort Worth ISD earned a perfect 100 score for 2023–24 and again qualified for a perfect score for 2024–25. 

However, a late submission automatically triggers a deduction, potentially resulting in a maximum adjusted score of 85 and a “B” rating — even if all other indicators meet the highest standard. FWISD said a corrective action plan is in place to prevent future errors and ensure ratings reflect true financial performance.