New Superintendent Tackles Fort Worth School District Challenges

0:00Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has appointed Peter Lakata as the new superintendent for Fort Worth Independent School District, which is now under state control. Lakata, a veteran Florida educator, steps in to lead nearly 68,000 students amid efforts to boost academics quickly. He's the district's fourth leader in four years, joining nine state appointed managers who have taken over from local trustees, handling the nearly $1 billion budget and curriculum decisions. Lakata brings nearly three decades of experience from Florida schools, mostly in Palm Beach County, where he advanced from teacher to district, administrator. He led Briar County's 236,000 student district for ten months starting in 2023 before stepping down for health reasons. There, he focused on raising achievement without easing standards, seeing small gains in proficiency during a year of new state testing. Fort Worth faces steep challenges, with proficiency rates dropping from 57% in 2016 to 34% this

1:02year, though. Up four points from last year, the district serves a diverse group with nearly two-thirds Latino students, 18.6% black and high numbers of English learners at, 42%, plus nearly four in five from low-income homes. Similar demographics marked his Florida roles, where he pushed for better ratings and advanced courses, communities in Fort Worth express mixed views, with parents and teachers worried about staff changes, teaching shifts, and lost local say, while some. Leaders welcome the state's push for focus and urgency. Lakata's fresh start comes after one campus hit five straight failing ratings, triggering the takeover last October. Under state watch, Lakata now works with a conservator and managers to live reading and math scores, which trail state averages aiming to steady A. District in transition and charter path forward for its students. That's the story for today. Dallas News Today, driven by AI, I'm Corey with the story.