The Texas Education Agency announced on Mar. 24 the appointment of a new Board of Managers and named Dr. Peter B. Licata as the new superintendent to lead Fort Worth Independent School District.
The changes come as part of an ongoing effort to improve academic outcomes for students in the district, following a process outlined by state law. The newly appointed Board of Managers will temporarily replace the current elected board of trustees and is tasked with overseeing management and governance duties, including holding public meetings, allowing for public comment, and ensuring transparency in budget and tax matters.
“Fort Worth wants the best possible academic outcomes for every student, as evidenced by the hundreds of community members that showed their willingness to serve,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “Possessing a diverse range of experiences and expertise, the governance and leadership team appointed today is comprised of individuals with an aligned vision and collective belief that all students, when properly supported, can achieve at high levels. I look forward to seeing this belief in action and their leadership of Fort Worth ISD’s next chapter.”
Dr. Licata brings more than three decades of experience in education to his new role. He previously served as superintendent in Broward County Public Schools in Florida where he led improvements resulting in a state “A” rating after more than 14 years without one. His background includes roles such as teacher, coach, principal, regional superintendent, assistant superintendent, and university professor.
The Board of Managers will work closely with Dr. Licata to provide strategic leadership while ensuring educators have resources needed for student success both inside classrooms and beyond them. They are also responsible for meeting exit criteria set by TEA before returning control back to an elected board—criteria include eliminating multi-year unacceptable campuses; exceeding state or regional averages on reading language arts and mathematics proficiency; and achieving required performance under Lone Star Governance Continuous Improvement Framework.
Commissioner Morath first announced plans for this intervention on October 23, 2025 under House Bill 1842 passed by the Texas Legislature in 2015.
