Springston named lone finalist for BISD superintendent

By a unanimous vote, the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees late Tuesday named Brett Springston the lone finalist for Superintendent of Schools.

Springston, 49, has been BISD’s interim superintendent since being appointed to the post in January.

In announcing his selection, the board fulfilled a requirement in state law to give public notice of the name of the finalist at least 21 days prior to a final vote on his or her employment.

Earlier in the meeting, the board postponed its Dec. 1 meeting to Dec. 8. If Springston is hired at that meeting, it would meet the 21-day requirement exactly.

After his selection was made public, Springston announced that BISD has received a $75,000 grant from the Center for Reform of School Systems for board training to ensure more effective governance. Springston said training sessions would begin before the end of the year.

Springston was named interim superintendent on Jan. 16, taking over for then-superintendent Hector Gonzales, who was placed on administrative leave with pay and eventually fired.

Prior to being named interim superintendent, Springston worked for BISD as assistant superintendent for operations and as area assistant superintendent for the Pace Cluster of schools. He has been in education for 26 years, previously serving as a high school principal in three Texas school districts, Judson, Spring Branch and Lamar Consolidated.

During Springston’s tenure at Spring Branch, his high school was selected as one of three winners of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Awards for Model Professional Development. His background in education also includes experience as a junior high school principal, assistant principal and coach for both high school and junior college basketball teams.

Springston earned his superintendent certification from Prairie View A&M University. He earned his Master of Education degree from Sul Ross University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. He is working to complete a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Sprinston believes in effective communication as the way to provide instructional leadership. During staff development sessions he often espouses the "three R theory" — Rigor, Relevance and Relationships — site-based decision making, classroom management, new teacher strategies and other educational topics of interest to district staff and community members.

Springston belongs to a number of professional organizations including Rotary International. He is the proud father of one daughter.