Friday, September 27, 2024
The Granbury Independent School District board of trustees voted unanimously to hire Arrow Educational Services to lead the search for a new superintendent during a special called meeting Sept. 17.
Arrow Educational Services was one of three search firms presented to the board, along with Texas Association of School Boards and Walsh Gallegos, the district’s current legal counsel.
Before the presentations, resident Monica Brown questioned TASB as one of the choices, citing its negative reputation in the community due to concerns regarding alleged student indoctrination.
She also raised concerns about the potential conflict of interest with Walsh Gallegos, noting they already serve as the district’s attorneys. Brown also explained how the firm previously conducted an investigation into former Assistant Superintendent Jimmy Dawson, when he was disciplined for using the district’s plane for family trips last June. She added many in the community were left dissatisfied due to the way Walsh Gallegos attorney Joey Moore handled the situation.
Ultimately, Brown proposed that Arrow Educational Services could be a more appropriate choice for the superintendent search.
ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Russell Marshall, president and CEO of Arrow Educational Services, introduced his company, which has specialized in superintendent searches for 26 years. He emphasized the company’s extensive experience, claiming to have conducted over 210 searches across Texas, which he said is more than any other firm in the state. Marshall explained that even though 70-80% of searches are similar regardless of the firm used, Arrow aims to stand out by leveraging its strong connections and reputation.
"Our job is to walk with you as we do the search, as we bring the next man or woman into this district that's going to be a superstar, the person that's going to unite you, the person that's going to be the face of this district, the person that's going to be able to not only be successful in this room or in their office, but in the community, in the town and the communities around,” Marshall said. "You've got a very, very diverse community here, and you're going to need a leader that's going to be able to reach out to the different people and hear their needs ... We're going to need a communicator that's going to be your biggest cheerleader in our search.”
Marshall explained his company’s approach to the search process, noting the importance of community input through online surveys rather than traditional meetings, which he said can be inconvenient for educators. He also described the process of creating a candidate profile as collaborative, comparing it to painting a portrait where each stakeholder contributes their ideas.
Marshall assured the board his firm will provide a comprehensive list of candidates and not limit the search to a top few. He committed to being transparent about the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and stated that the interview process will involve structured questions to identify candidates who can effectively lead the district and engage with the community.
“If we didn't think we were your best option, we wouldn't be here tonight,” Marshall concluded.
Following the presentation, Board President Barbara Townsend asked Marshall to explain some of the ways Arrow will vet candidates for the district.
Marshall responded that Arrow’s approach involves going beyond standard reference checks and conducting deeper investigations. He mentioned that it's essential for Arrow to be transparent with the board about any past issues a candidate may have faced in previous districts. Marshall also assured the board that the firm will provide a complete picture of the top candidates, maintaining contact even after the search is complete to ensure ongoing support.
As for the size of the districts Arrow typically works for, Marshall explained its focus is primarily on medium-sized districts — around 3,000 to 5,000 students — although he said it has experience with smaller districts as well. He noted the firm has successfully conducted superintendent searches for both Cleburne and Little Elm.
Place 3 trustee Melanie Graft also asked Marshall if he was aware of any issues in the GISD that could hinder a successful search for a new superintendent. Marshall responded that as long as they are honest about the challenges, quality applicants will not be deterred.
“What we’ve got to have is somebody that understands the main thing is the children in education — their safety and their education first and foremost,” Marshall explained. “But then they've also got to be a leader that can put the other pieces together that make it work ... They’ve got to have nerve. They’ve got to have nerve to agree with this man and disagree with this man.”
Presentations were also made by TASB and Walsh Gallegos regarding their services for the superintendent search.
TASB
George Kazanas, TASB’s executive search and field services officer, emphasized the importance of selecting the right superintendent for Granbury ISD, as it’s a decision that significantly impacts the district’s future.
With over 32 years in education, including 24 years as a superintendent in districts similar to Granbury like Wichita Falls and Midway, Kazanas highlighted the tailored approach TASB takes in its search process.
He outlined how the organization combines field services with executive search to enhance communication and streamline operations. Kazanas also detailed the comprehensive process that involves community input, candidate vetting and structured interviews, ensuring that the school board remains actively involved throughout. He noted the inclusive nature of TASB’s service, with no hidden fees, and emphasized that it's role is to support the board in finding a leader who aligns with their vision for the district.
"Your vision statement is to empower students to be future ready,” Kazanas said. “No decision is more important to all of you than your superintendent position, and so we are here to help you with that, to have that future ready mindset, to find that right leader that can lead Granbury ISD into the future.”
WALSH GALLEGOS
One significant point that emerged from Walsh Gallego’s presentation was the role of Ann Dixon, the district's current interim superintendent, who would also serve as the educational consultant for the firm.
Attorney Joey Moore from Walsh Gallegos explained that while the firm would provide legal support, Dixon would handle the actual vetting and search processes for the district’s superintendent.
During the Walsh Gallegos presentation, Dixon detailed her extensive experience conducting superintendent searches in the Dallas area, noting she has completed 54 searches and has a deep understanding of the local education landscape.
“I’ve been the interim and not done the search, I’ve done the search and not been the interim, and I've done them both,” Dixon said.
She described her approach to vetting candidates as "extreme vetting," stating she rarely relies on references provided in applications, as she chooses to contact former employers and superintendents in order to gather comprehensive insights on the applicants.
"If there's something in the background, you're going to know it. If I know the color of their underwear, you're going to know the color of their underwear,” Dixon said. “And I think a plus is I know your district. I can sell your district. I could sell this district to anybody. This district is fabulous, and I can't say that about everywhere I go.”
She mentioned that the number of applicants can vary, with a typical return rate of around 70%, as some individuals may not follow through after expressing initial interest. Dixon also emphasized her consistent track record, stating that she has never conducted a search that resulted in an unsuccessful negotiation of a contract with a finalist.
Townsend noted that hiring Dixon would likely increase her workload from about 40 to 60 hours a week. Dixon responded that it could actually be closer to 80 hours, as she prefers to work in the evenings. She explained that her passion for work and her extensive experience as an interim superintendent makes her well-prepared for the role.
BOARD MEMBERS WEIGH IN
Before the vote took place, Townsend clarified that regardless of the chosen firm, Walsh Gallegos would handle the legal aspects of the contract. She also added that all three choices would cost about the same amount of money for the district.
Place 2 trustee Nancy Alana and Place 1 trustee Mike Moore both stated that all three firms are extremely qualified, however they both felt Arrow came out on top.
“I think they all did a great presentation. They answered all our questions for the most part before we asked most of them,” Vice President Courtney Gore said. “I believe Dr. Dixon has a unique position being an interim to know our district inside and out. With that said though, I would have to agree, I feel like Arrow came out on top.”
Gore said she appreciated Marshall’s enthusiasm and passion, nothing that she didn’t think the district “could go wrong” with Walsh or Arrow. However, she said the stigma that TASB has in the community would be a negative, and that they were trying to avoid that at all costs.
Secretary Billy Wimberly stated that for him, all three options were solid but he preferred Dixon due to her familiarity with the district. He also noted that he had concerns about Arrow’s experience with a bigger school district.
“I would like to see the community come together, and I think there is a lot of stigma with TASB and Walsh and Gallegos, so my pick is Arrow as well,” Graft said.
Townsend explained that she had researched the three candidates by speaking with school board presidents from various districts currently searching for superintendents. She noted that many districts are looking for leadership, and that two firms — Arrow and Walsh Gallegos — received positive feedback, which is why they were considered.
"I wanted a third, and we have TASB,” Townsend said. “I agree with the sentiments of TASB. I think all three could do a good job for us. I do believe one of our main goals with coming up with a good superintendent is bringing our district together, our community together, so I agree with that. Walsh Gallegos is going to do all three, so to me, it's looking at, ‘Do we want Ann or do we want Dr. Marshall?’ and I'm really having a very hard time with that. I see it would be great because she (Dixon) knows our district, she knows what we're looking for, but at the same time, I agree with the enthusiasm that Dr. Marshall has, and he's not doing anything else ... I'm leaning toward Arrow just because I want Ann to spend her time on our district and let someone else do the search.”
Moore then made the motion to approve Arrow Educational Services as the search firm for GISD’s superintendent. Following a second from Alana, the motion passed unanimously.
“I hope that the community has learned a lot today and will be happy with the process we are going to go through,” Townsend added.
