Dr. Licata Appointed Fort Worth ISD Superintendent

0:00Dr. Peter B. LaCotta has been tapped as the new superintendent for Fort Worth Independent School District amid a state takeover by the Texas Education Agency. The appointment came on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. LaCotta brings over 30 years of experience in education, focusing on better student results. He steps in after leading Broward County Public Schools in Florida, one of the nation's largest districts, with more than 250,000 students. There, he helped earn an a rating, the first in over 14 years, during his year-long stint from 2023 to 2024. LaCotta grew up in a big Italian family in Pompano Beach, Florida, and graduated from the University of Miami in 1994, with degrees in. Business administration and political science. This praised his skill at building relationships across communities, including those of color, and using them to drive positive change.

1:00He's handled tough situations before, like removing a principle over a holocaust-related controversy, which drew praise from educators and beating a, dismiss lawsuit from years back, alleging a hostile work environment. He starts today on a 21-day interim contract. A TEA-appointed Board of Managers will review and likely extend his role in the weeks ahead, aiming to bring stability and accountability to the district as it moves forward under State Oversight. Local news, powered by AI. This is Dallas News Today.