Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath has appointed a conservator to oversee the Fort Worth ISD after saying last month the district’s school board “failed the students” and didn’t implement changes to improve student performance for several consecutive years.
Sources at the TEA and the Fort Worth ISD confirm to NBC 5 that former Florida school teacher and New Mexico Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski has been appointed as conservator to oversee the Fort Worth ISD’s board of trustees, superintendent, and school administrators. Ruszkowski is expected to hold the position for approximately two years, during which time the district will be under the control of the Texas Education Agency.
“Throughout my three decades in education, I’ve been honored to take on unique roles during critical inflection points for schools, states and organizations. This conservator appointment is another opportunity to engage in public service of the highest calling. I look forward to working with district leadership in service of the students, teachers and community of Fort Worth,” Ruszkowski said.
Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar confirmed that they had been notified of the decision to appoint a conservator and a board of managers following last week’s informal review, and that the district’s mission remains unchanged.
“The focus remains on meeting the needs of our students in FWISD. Our employees are committed to providing high-quality, on-level instruction each day in every classroom across our district,” Molinar said.
Ruszkowski most recently worked with the TEA as a conservator for IDEA Public Schools, a charter school network in Texas that was placed under conservatorship in March 2024 following an investigation into misconduct.
According to an online biography, Ruszkowski was previously appointed Secretary of Education in New Mexico from 2017 to 2019, where he’s credited with achieving record-high graduation rates while simultaneously increasing standards to earn a diploma. In New Mexico, he’s credited with doubling access to AP and dual-credit coursework, expanding broadband access, quintupling Pre-K enrollment, and developing the nation’s top-rated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Before working in New Mexico, Ruszkowski served as the chief talent officer and associate secretary for the Delaware Department of Education for six years, as well as the CEO of Meeting Street Schools in South Carolina. He serves on the advisory board for the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was a policy fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Before moving into administration, Ruszkowski began his career as a middle school social studies teacher and basketball coach in Miami, Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in educational policy, organizational studies, and leadership from Stanford University.
What is a conservator?
According to the TEA, “a conservator will provide support and coaching to staff, recommend improvement actions, and provide progress updates to the agency. The conservator has the additional authority to direct, approve, or disapprove an action of the board of trustees, superintendent, and/or campus principals. Conservators are expected to help implement and sustain improvements within two years of placement.”
Former Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, currently serving as a conservator in the El Paso area, told NBC 5 News that conservators can have a very heavy-handed role in the operation of a district.
Morath is still working on identifying candidates for the board of managers, a group of community members who will take over for the elected board of trustees and will work with the district’s superintendent to improve the district.