It's Official: In 14 Days Cobb County Will Name Michael Hinojosa Its New Superintendent

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., May 19 2011 at 6:22 PM

Categories: Edumication News

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Moments ago, the Cobb County School District outside of Atlanta, Georgia, named Michael Hinojosa as its superintendent. He was, as expected, its sole finalist -- but as per school district policy there, they will wait 14 days before officially naming him the superintendent.

All seven members of its board of education voted to approve Hinojosa's appointment.

It's unclear if a statement is coming from the district, but Hinojosa will address some media members who've gathered at 3700 Ross shortly, says district spokesman Jon Dahlander.

The trustees in Georgia said they were "very excited" about getting the super. They used phrases like "an exciting, engaging personality" and "innovative leader with a proven record of success" to describe him. Board member David Morgan said that "Dr. Hinojosa will be a great leader for our school district. He's progressive, and he's proven, and he will continue to move the needle on student achievement."

Lynnda Eagle, another board member, said, "I am very excited about Dr Hinojosa. He's a successful, experienced superintendent with a results-oriented skill-set. He has tons of energy."

I'm out -- off to my son's DISD school for a PTA meeting.

Update at 8:27 p.m.: This evening, when he spoke to media, Hinojosa confirmed something I'd been told earlier: His son from a previous marriage, a DJ in the Atlanta area, is expecting a child -- Hinojosa's first grandchild. That factor, he explained, played into his willingness to accept the invite from Cobb County officials: "This just lined up perfectly." He says he will stay in Dallas through June 30 -- which is the week after trustees will adopt the 2011-'12 budget.

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Interesting that the Dallas and Fort worth superintendents both abruptly left their jobs within 24 hours of each other giving as (part of) the reason:"family concerns". I guess that "the children" who they "serve" are not in need of high priced administration "expertise" on a consistent basis or...perhaps when the world is about to end, its OK to leave your job suddenly.(if you are a school district administrator)
I'm not intending to let Austin off the hook, but the facts remain that DISD blows through money like a drunken sailor. Millions for travel expenses and consultants; huge salaries for non-campus administrators. Kids never saw the money. Hundreds lost their jobs at 3700 Ross but on the campuses we frankly can't tell they are gone. Hinojosa asked for $77,000 in raises for 3 people in December even though he knew these cuts were coming. Superintendents all over the country need to accept the new normal: they are expected to serve kids and not the other way around.
Leppert did... Until he didn't... But Leppert is all over the map.
Whether he was awesome or awful at his job, the multi million dollar budget cut on an already struggling inner city ISD has to have been a huge factor. No reason for him to say that as the family angle (first grandkid) is a much cleaner excuse without political backlash. So, now he is gone. What type of top national talent is going to leave their current post to come shepherd DISD through the budget blood letting? None. But you already knew that. Thanks Republican legislators that have steadfastly ignored a $10B per year budget shortfall. Thank God you had the foresight to push through an emergency item like more tort reform in the already most tort reformed state in the union. As a state, we are quickly digging down the lowest possible common denominator. I guess all the uneducated folks are thankful they will still have jobs like shoveling nuclear waste in west Texas.
"We don't have the history of corruption and scandals that I've heard are dogging DISD, so I can see that as an attraction for Hinojosa." Want some free blankets? We have some West Nile laden Mosquitoes too.
The mayor's office and the state want no part of running DISD, trust me.
Hey Hey Ho Ho, Hino's Gonna Go! Whats it with bringing in these idiots who couldnt manage their way to escape a wet paper sack, yet have the "experience" to run a school district. Im not just talking about Hino The Powertino, im talking EVERYONE involved top down in the DISD. I'm just suprised the mayors office or the state hasnt decided to get involved in taking over the district..
If you look at the Mayoral election, you will see that Rawlings spent about 8 times per vote more than Kunkle did. If you look at Rawlings contribution list (available on-line), you will see that he received >95% of his contributions in amounts greater than $500. He is the candidate of the Dallas Citizens Council. We also need to get them out of City Hall!!!! Vote Kunkle in instead.
Get back with us in a few years and let us know how this works out .
How long until Rodriguez is named interim sup?
And good riddance, Hinojosa. Get the fuck out.
Even though I'm a product of DISD, I would never ever send my kids there now. This district is in the toilet. The administrators have stood idly by while the majority of middle and upper class families send their kids to private school because DISD is so horrible. Or move to the 'burbs solely for the school systems. And don't thump your chest about improvements when all you have done is continually lower the bar, DISD.
Don't have a history of corruption and scandal? Not to worry, Hinojosa will bring the corruption and scandal with him. Be glad you've had some good years.
If my boss caught me going for a job interview while I was under his employ I would be promptly fired. This is a basic no no in any NORMAL place of business. Your boss finds your resume on a job web site or on the company copier and your history! Fact-- case closed! This is the second time this has happened. The trustees should meet and fire his sorry ass with cause. But knowing the DISD trustees they probably will extend his contract and give him a raise. Dallas rewards incompetence and embraces it.
I was going to mention Terrell. Thanks for doing so.
It is always darkest before it is pitch black.
Many teachers are terrified of losing their jobs. They hate what they see going on, but they cannot bring themselves to speak up. They are like abused spouses who are beaten if they stay but afraid to leave. I blog on their behalf because I am not afraid. DISD kids are freaking FANTASTIC and they deserve better than the district administrators they have. I blog on behalf of the kids, too. We need to get these edu-crats off teachers' backs so kids can bloom and discover and learn. Accountability, yes. Political game playing and corruption, no. But all the fault lies with the greedy few who pull the strings in this city. We can overcome them, but we have to know who they are, who on the school board they control, and what their agenda is (usually getting your money in their pocket).
you need to get more teachers like yourself to blog the hell out of this site and Dallas News. Let the comments begin.
Congratulations?
Trust me, the worst is NOT behind you.
Dear Dr. Hinojosa, Please take Ivonne Durant with you. But don't sign up for the $10,000 resigning bonus. And don't let her take it, either. Dear School Board Trustees, Please quit serving the Dallas Citizens Cartel. Serve our children instead. Work with the hundreds of excellent teachers in this district. Quit giving our tax dollars to overpaid administrators and consultants like IFL (based in Pittsburgh). Dear Members of the Dallas Citizens Cartel, A booming, thriving, making-you-money Dallas requires an excellent school district. Top-down doesn't work. Highly paid administrators are an awful idea. Meet some teachers. Hear our ideas. A bunch of principals are about to sit down with teachers, hall monitors, and custodians. They will have to look these people in the eye and say, "Your last paycheck will be on..." I say we let the Citizens Cartel members and the Chamber members do this awful task.
I've been a teacher in Cobb County for eleven years, but I was born and raised in Richardson, and all my family's back in DFW. From what my father said when I called him today with the news, I don't know whether to be excited or scared about my new boss. (Since this is a public blog, I'm leaning toward "excited", though I'll miss our wonderful superintendent who is retiring next month.) Some context for the comments I've seen here and elsewhere today: Cobb County's a large district on the north side of Atlanta; in terms of students and personnel, we're not *that* much smaller than DISD, but larger than most Metroplex districts. Demographically, I suppose we're analogous to Arlington or Plano. Much of the district is WASP and middle/upper income, but we have a significant number of Title 1 schools and are socioeconomically diverse. We don't have the history of corruption and scandals that I've heard are dogging DISD, so I can see that as an attraction for Hinojosa. We also suffered through all the layoffs and budget crises *last* year, so the worst is behind us now -- knock on wood. On the other hand, our school board is extremely dysfunctional (the comments in Wilonsky's earlier blog post are correct), and many of the stakeholders here are on the verge of revolt. In that respect, Dr. Hinojosa could be walking into a minefield.
Georgia seems to recruit Dallas' failures. Will Hinojose be the next Terrell Bolton?
what drugs are those Cobb County trustees using. I can't stop laughing at their comments.
bad for Georgia.
DMNews article minutes ago: "A successful school system must ensure that students are college and work-force ready," said Dr. Hinojosa. What would Hiney know about a successful school system?
Good for DISD!