The Austin (Texas) school board has chosen Stephanie Elizalde, chief of school leadership for Dallas schools, as the district’s next superintendent.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that Elizalde oversees campus leadership among Dallas schools, focusing on boosting instruction and student achievement. She’s been in that role since December 2015.
Elizalde, 55, has spent more than 30 years in education, previously working for more than two decades in San Antonio school districts.
The board named her sole finalist for the job after reviewing 64 applications and interviewing six semifinalists.
Once formally approved, she would be the first Latina and second woman to lead the Austin district.
“She has a track record of being one of those women who gets stuff done,” says board member Arati Singh. “Out of all the candidates, I felt like she was the one who was going to be very able to hit the ground running and get a team together and get stuff done that we need to do while also listening to our community.”
[MORE: Read Elizalde's biography]
Elizalde would replace Paul Cruz, who announced his resignation in February. Cruz, who served as superintendent since January 2015, is leaving to work as the University of Texas co-director of the cooperative superintendency program in the College of Education.
