At a pivotal time in the district’s history, Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced that he was stepping down.
While no official timeline has been announced, Hinojosa’s resignation comes on the tails of several superintendents leaving their position, including Richardson ISD’s top official Dr. Jeannie Stone.
This wasn’t Hinojosa’s first turn as DISD’s superintendent, though his second stint in the job had him facing immense challenges such as record poverty and homelessness, a huge reorganization, and a deadly global pandemic — not to mention a record winter storm from last year that damaged many campuses.
However, Hinojosa, 65, has made waves as the district’s chief official. Even during his first tenure as superintendent, Hinojosa was a strong proponent of trade education and specialized campus programs such as college preparatory and leadership campuses.
Altogether, Hinojosa comes in second only to one Dallas ISD superintendent in the number of years served with 13 years at DISD’s helm to W.T. White’s 22.
Though Hinojosa’s contract doesn’t expire until 2024, Dallas ISD trustee Dan Micciche said in a statement that Hinojosa would not be leaving abruptly.
“Thank you to Dr. Hinojosa for 13 years of dedicated service,” the District 3 trustee said. “Dr. Hinojosa is not leaving immediately. The school board will be considering a succession plan.”
As for who will follow in Hinojosa’s footsteps, reports from The Dallas Morning News speculate that Susana Cordova — a former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and now a deputy superintendent at Dallas ISD — is a top candidate for the job. However, District 6 trustee Joyce Foreman has emphasized that the board will take on a national search to find the best person to fill Hinojosa’s shoes.
