Wow, from 0 posts in a month to 3 in a day! I wanted to post a quick note; MySA.com, the website of a San Antonio newspaper and TV station, posted a story earlier today headlined “New Braunfels picks superintendent finalist“. The story relates that Michael Smith, current Forney ISD superintendent, has been named the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of the New Braunfels Independent School District. The article states that the New Braunfels board will have to negotiate a contract with Mr. Smith, and wait 21 days before hiring him.

Michael Smith was named superintendent of Forney ISD in 2001; before Forney, he was superintendent of the Whitharral and Hart school districts and previously worked as a middle school principal, a coach, teacher and athletic coordinator. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree from Sul Ross State University. New Braunfels ISD is about the size of Forney; district officials and board members from New Braunfels, who visited Forney recently with Mr. Smith, said they felt “a little guilty” hiring him away from Forney, and that they were very impressed with the Forney ISD, and noted that Mr. Smith seemed very at home with the students, many of whom approached him and greeted him by name.

New Braunfels approached 26 individuals, including Mr. Smith, and asked them to apply for the job; in addition, 25 other individuals applied, for a total of 51 candidates. Of those, seven were interviewed, including Mr. Smith, before the district decided to name Michael Smith the sole finalist for the position.

Superintendent Smith will be missed, and I’m sure all of the residents of Forney are thankful for the time he spent working here dedicated to the children of Forney. At this time, Forney ISD has not made any public comments concerning this news, but I’m sure they will make an announcement soon concerning the search for a new superintendent. Mr. Smith was quoted in the San Antonio press saying:

“I’m very honored. I think you have a lot of great things going on. We are excited and we are ready to move to New Braunfels and get the kids settled in.”

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