Phoenix Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Kent P. Scribner is the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of the 86,000-student Fort Worth Independent School District.
Fort Worth’s Board of Trustees held a special meeting tonight and voted unanimously on his selection. Per Texas state law, there will be a 21-day waiting period before the contract is finalized.
Phoenix Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Kent P. Scribner is the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of the 86,000-student Fort Worth Independent School District .
“After much soul-searching and with a focus on my family, I am honored to move forward in this process. While I’m excited for a new opportunity in a similar school district, I am confident that Phoenix Union will continue its upward trajectory in its quest to be one of the premier urban school districts in the country,” Scribner said.
Kent P. Scribner, in his eighth year leading the Phoenix Union High School District, would start his new position sometime in the fall. Specific details of the transition will be announced as they are finalized.
Scribner, who has led Phoenix Union since 2008, has been the longest running superintendent for the district since the early 1970s. Under his leadership, there has been a culture shift to one of higher expectations, academic rigor, improved student achievement and college readiness.
Scribner, in partnership with the PUHSD Governing Board, implemented the mission of “Preparing Every Student for Success in College, Career and Life,” and the District has responded. During his tenure, enrollment has risen to over 27,000 students, the highest enrollment in 36 years, placing the district in a fiscally strong and stable position.
Phoenix Union has seen high levels of student achievement, with eight of 14 schools with a label of A or B; an increase in the four-year graduation rates; more students are taking and passing rigorous exams such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge; and all juniors annually take the ACT college exam at no cost.
Another indicator of the culture change at PUHSD is in college scholarships offered. Six years ago, $13 million in scholarships were offered to seniors. The last two years, over $50 million each year has been offered and prestigious scholarships have increased as well.
Scribner became Phoenix Union’s 18th superintendent (since 1895), coming from Isaac Elementary School District where he was superintendent for five years. The 49-year old educator has also been Executive Director for Human Resources in Tempe Elementary School District and Principal and district administrator in the Roosevelt School District.
Dr. Scribner has been active locally and nationally with various organizations, from serving on the President’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; to a School Finance Reform Task Force with the Arizona Business and Education Coalition; and co-chairing Thriving Together, a cross-sector initiative focused on improving education and career opportunities for young Phoenicians.
Phoenix Union High School Superintendents
1895-97 Herschel H. Brown
1897-08 George Blount
1908-15 Alvin K. Stabler
1915-18 R. Thane Cook
1918-25 Daniel F. Jantzen
1925-53 Emery W. Montgomery
1953-56 Dr. Harold L. Gear
1956-60 Bruce K. Moore
1960-61 Dr. Lewis Allbee
1961-71 Dr. Howard C. Seymour
1971-78 Dr. Gerald S. DeGrow
1978-83 Dr. Patrick Henderson
1984 Dr. Kenneth Garland (Acting)
1984-90 Dr. Timothy Dyer
1990 Dr. John Baracy (Acting)
1990-94 Dr. Victor Herbert
1994-95 Dr. Rene Diaz (Acting)
1995-2001 Dr. Rene Diaz
2001-2007 Dr. Raj K. Chopra
2007-2008 Arthur Lebowitz (Acting)
2008-2015 Dr. Kent P. Scribner
