Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa says he will leave the district at the end of 2022. Hinojosa has worked in education for 42 years and has served as superintendent of Dallas ISD in two separate periods totaling 13 years.
"It's bittersweet, no doubt about it," Hinojosa says. "I love my job. I've got the energy, I've got the enthusiasm for it, but I don't know that I can do this ten more years. I owe it to the next generation for them to start this process to see if they can find someone to do it."
Hinojosa says he wanted to give the school board enough time to find a replacement.
"I'm very proud, very proud of what this district has accomplished," he says. "They need to find someone who can keep this magic going for 10 more years, 20 more years. We still have a lot of improvement to do, but I am going to be focused on landing this airplane."
Hinojosa says a thousand students will graduate with an associate's degree next year.
"In a couple more years, when the career institute comes to full blossom, we're going to have 3,000 of those kids getting stacked up with credentials in cybersecurity, mechatronics, aviation. In a few years, Dallas ISD is going to be producing 4,000 kids every year with the skills they need to get a job that brings a high wage."
He says 16 of the 20 largest school districts in the country have had superintendents resign during the pandemic. Hinojosa says he feels confident Dallas ISD will attract strong applicants because of the work to help kids graduate with a practical skill.
"It would be really tough if we were in bad shape, but because we're in good shape, some good people are going to want this job," he says.
Hinojosa says Dallas ISD has become one of the fastest improving large districts in the country.
School Board President Ben Mackey says the board will appoint a committee to oversee the selection process and consider both internal and external candidates. He says the board hopes to name a finalist this spring and begin the transition at the beginning of the next school year.
"This transformation under Dr. Hinojosa's leadership has been hallmarked by increasing student achievement, decreasing staff turnover and deftly navigating what has felt like crisis after crisis after crisis with stability," Mackey says.
Hinojosa says he is not retiring or "stepping down," but rather he says he is "stepping up," but he says he has not decided his next move.
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