Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath suspended the elected board of trustees of Connally Independent School District (ISD) on May 6. They were replaced by a state-appointed three-member Board of Managers and a new superintendent to lead the McLennan County district. The intervention strips local trustees of their governing authority following stagnant academic performance at multiple campuses.
“Today’s appointments reflect our commitment to ensuring that every student in Connally ISD has access to the education they deserve,” Commissioner Mike Morath said, emphasizing that the new leadership will focus on building a “strong, sustainable path” for the district’s 2,000 students.
The state takeover was triggered by a mandatory provision in Texas law after two district campuses—Connally Elementary and Connally Junior High—received “unacceptable” academic accountability ratings for five consecutive school years. Under House Bill 1842, the Education Commissioner is required to either close failing campuses or install a board of managers once this five-year threshold is met. The intervention follows months of preparation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which first signaled its intent to act in late 2025. To regain local control, the district must meet specific exit criteria, including eliminating all unacceptable campus ratings and significantly improving student proficiency in reading and mathematics.
Commissioner Morath appointed Dr. Josie Gutierrez, the former deputy superintendent of Waco ISD, as the new superintendent of Connally ISD. Gutierrez, who brings over 30 years of experience in education, will initially serve under a 21-day interim contract pending formal approval from the new Board of Managers. The appointed board members, all McLennan County residents with ties to the district, include real estate broker Matthew Stufflebeam as board president, alongside former educators Linda Peoples Lindsey and Carla Thomas.
The takeover occurs after state-level scrutiny of local school districts. Independent reporting from The Texas Tribune notes that Connally is the latest in a series of TEA interventions, joining other districts like Fort Worth and Beaumont that have faced state oversight due to academic or financial concerns. Despite these challenges, local district officials had argued prior to the takeover that recent changes—including a new uniform curriculum and a focus on campus culture—were beginning to show results, though not quickly enough to stop the state’s “clock” on mandatory intervention.
While the board of managers assumes control, trustee elections will continue to be held, though those elected will not have governing power until the TEA determines the district has met its academic benchmarks.