The Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District hired Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services (ESS), represented by Joe Dan Lee, to conduct the district’s upcoming superintendent search during a special called meeting Monday.
Lee is a retired superintendent with a total of 36 years in education, 28 of those as a superintendent.
During a Jan. 28 special called meeting, the board heard presentations on behalf of three different firms that were vying to be the firm selected – Colby Nichols of Ancira Strategic Partners and Andrew Tatgenhorst of Thompson and Horton LLP, Lee of TASB ESS and Danny Lovett of Powell Law Group LLP.
At that time, Lee explained that TASB has been around since 1949 and has been doing superintendent searches since 1988 and that there are 10 retired superintendents that serve on the TASB ESS board.
“We can customize it any way you want it. We’re here to work for you. Over 37 years, we have conducted over 800 searches,” Lee said.
Emphasizing the validity of their work, he said that 80% of the superintendents hired through their search stay with the district five years or longer.
“Our vetting process is very thorough and it’s because of the knowledge we have. It’s going to work out. You’re one of one to me,” Lee said, adding, “We take it very seriously because the credibility of TASB is on the line.
The district will pay TASB ESS a flat fee of $12,000 to conduct the search.
Former Superintendent Dr. Brent E. Hawkins left in January to take the superintendent’s job at Copperas Cove ISD. Janan Moore is serving as the interim superintendent.