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Oct. 16, 2008
Commissioner names new North Forest board and superintendent
AUSTIN – The former president of the National Association of School Boards, a minister, and a home health care industry employee today were appointed to the North Forest board of managers, Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced.
He also named Adrain Johnson as the new superintendent of the Houston-area district. Johnson is a veteran superintendent and has served as the Texas Education Agency’s associate commissioner for accreditation until this appointment.
The appointment of the superintendent and three-member board, which has been pre-cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice, is effective immediately. It was necessary for the department to pre-clear the state takeover of the district because TEA’s action replaces a seven member elected school board. The district currently has an interim superintendent.
"We carefully looked inside and out of the district to find strong, dependable people of high integrity who will work to restore this district, both academically and financially," Scott said.
The TEA-installed superintendent and board of managers will have all the authority granted by law to a superintendent and a school board. The agency announced its plans to install the team in July but was awaiting preclearance from the Justice Department and resolution of a court challenge.
The agency is taking this action because of on-going financial concerns in the district. The district had a budget deficit of about $13 million in August at the end of the fiscal year. Its bond ratings have been downgraded. Systemic financial, academic and programmatic problems caused the district to receive an Accredited-Probation status from TEA in June.
The commissioner is hopeful that the board of managers and new superintendent can stabilize and improve the district and the education it provides to students.
Dr. Adrain Johnson has served as a superintendent in the La Marque and Aransas County school districts. He has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and worked at both a regional education service center and the Texas Education Agency. His knowledge of the agency and local districts should aid in correcting issues identified by the agency.
Joining Johnson in the district will be a three-member board of managers made up of:
• George H. McShan of Harlingen;
• Willie Jones, a North Forest ISD resident; and
• Carolyn B. Williams, a North Forest ISD resident.
McShan, who holds a master’s degree in education, is a former president of the National School Board Association. He has been certified as a Master School Board Trustee by the Texas Association of School Boards. He served in numerous roles at the Texas State Technical College campus in Harlingen, including dean of instruction and dean of enrollment management, before retiring in 2001.
McShan is currently the senior associate of BWP & Associates, LTD, which is a national superintendent search firm. He is also a provider of continuing education for school boards and has conducted team building training for more than 25 school districts.
Jones has served as the senior pastor of New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Houston since 1980. Over that time, his church grew from 150 members to 2,000 members. Jones is a board member of the African Crusade Ministries. He holds a master of divinity degree from Faith Seminary in Tacoma, WA.
Williams has worked for more than 27 years in the home health care industry. She has worked as an administrative assistant for the CHRISTUS Visiting Nurse Association of Houston since 1992. She has been recognized as the Visiting Nurse Association Star of the Year. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University.
The appointed Board of Managers must call a board election within two years of this appointment.
Contact:
Division of Communications
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: (512) 463-9000
E-mail: teainfo@tea.state.tx.us