Quick Read
- Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath appointed Peter B. Licata to lead the state-controlled Fort Worth ISD.
- The district is currently governed by a board of state-appointed managers following years of academic underperformance.
- Licata, a former Florida superintendent, is tasked with driving rapid improvements for the district’s 68,000 students.
FORT WORTH (Azat TV) – Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has appointed longtime Florida educator Peter B. Licata as the new superintendent of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD). The appointment marks a significant shift for the district, which remains under state control following academic performance struggles, and places Licata in charge of nearly 68,000 students as the district attempts to reverse years of declining proficiency rates.
State Intervention and Leadership Transition
The appointment of Licata follows a nationwide search conducted by the Texas Education Agency. Morath, who ordered the state takeover of the district in October 2025 after a campus received five consecutive failing academic ratings, described the selection as a strategic move to bring a fresh perspective to the district’s systemic challenges. Licata, who previously served as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools in Florida, is the fourth leader to head the Fort Worth district in as many years.
Alongside the superintendent, Morath has installed a board of nine managers to replace the district’s locally elected trustees. These managers now hold authority over the district’s nearly $1 billion budget and core instructional policies. Licata has already assumed his duties on an interim 21-day contract, pending formal approval by the new governing board.
Addressing Academic Performance and Equity
Licata enters the district at a critical juncture. Recent state data indicates that only one-third of FWISD students read at grade level, and just over a quarter meet proficiency standards in mathematics. Licata, who spent nearly three decades in Florida’s education system, stated that his priority is to move beyond incremental gains. He pointed to his tenure in Broward County, where the district achieved its first A rating in over a decade, as a model for the improvements he intends to bring to Fort Worth.
During a press conference, Licata emphasized that the demographic composition of Fort Worth ISD—which serves a large population of low-income students and English language learners—mirrors his experience in Florida. He has already begun assembling a leadership team, appointing former Houston ISD official Daniel Soliz as deputy superintendent and chief of schools, and Louis Kushner as chief of staff.
The Road Ahead for FWISD
The transition comes as the district grapples with uncertainty regarding potential staff turnover and the loss of local governance. While some community stakeholders have expressed concern over the state takeover, others, including Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, have signaled cautious optimism following meetings with the new superintendent. Licata has pledged to maintain the momentum established by his predecessor, Karen Molinar, while pushing for a more aggressive timeline for academic reform.
The appointment of Peter B. Licata underscores the aggressive nature of the Texas Education Agency’s intervention strategy, reflecting a shift toward importing external executive leadership to bypass local political gridlock in districts facing long-term academic underperformance.