{"id":244424,"date":"2025-09-21T18:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T18:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/244424\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T18:00:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T18:00:12","slug":"parent-group-insists-tea-retain-fwisd-superintendent-during-potential-state-takeover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/244424\/","title":{"rendered":"Parent group insists TEA retain FWISD superintendent during potential state takeover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parent Zach Leonard has rallied more than two dozen community members to prevent a possible state takeover of Fort Worth schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The odds, Leonard said, are against them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is extremely likely a takeover will occur,\u201d he said. \u201cExtremely.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 30 people attended a town hall hosted by Leonard\u2019s group, Families Organized and Resisting Takeover, or FORT, Thursday evening at Greater St. Stephen First Church. The group\u2019s leaders detailed their plans for the next 60 to 90 days \u2014 or until Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announces his decision for FWISD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have much time,\u201d said Jared Williams, a former Fort Worth City Council member.<\/p>\n

A takeover looms over Fort Worth ISD because a now-closed school<\/a> failed for five straight years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s up to Morath to decide<\/a> the future of the 67,500-student district. He has said his options are clear: Close the failing school or remove elected trustees and Superintendent Karen Molinar<\/a> and appoint new board members and a superintendent.<\/p>\n

During a Sept. 10 meeting of the State Board of Education, Morath emphasized he had not yet made a decision about Fort Worth ISD.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are substantive challenges in Fort Worth. They were there before. They\u2019re there today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

FORT leaders emphasized Molinar is the right leader to improve Fort Worth schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Rev. Charles Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children<\/a>, said the superintendent hasn\u2019t had enough time to bring about big improvements for students<\/a>. Molinar was appointed superintendent<\/a> in March, but has led the district since her predecessor\u2019s exit in September 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is one of us. She is invested in this,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

Fort Worth City Council member Michael Crain recently threw his support behind Molinar in a letter to the commissioner<\/a>. Her leadership has resulted in improvements for students, he said.<\/p>\n

Crain also expressed trust in Morath.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s vital that our community stands united behind whatever decision is made \u2014 putting our focus where it matters most: giving every student in Fort Worth the chance to learn, grow and succeed in life,\u201d Crain said in a Facebook post pinned with his letter.<\/p>\n

Trustees, though, are perceived differently than Molinar, whose leadership has garnered praise from parents to city leaders, Leonard said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is possible Morath keeps Molinar and cans the school board, he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether we love them, or we think they\u2019re OK, or we think they\u2019re not doing a great job, they\u2019re democratically elected,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they\u2019re not doing their job, we have the right to elect a new board.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fort Worth ISD\u2019s struggles are nothing new, said Marisol Herrera, another FORT leader. She saw them firsthand growing up as an immigrant attending Fort Worth schools. The solution hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI share the frustration in our community,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I also know that it is only in the community that these problems can be solved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morath will make his decision in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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