The Texas Education Agency has announced the appointment of Andrew Kim as conservator to oversee Connally ISD as part of the state takeover of the district.
Kim was also named conservator for two other school districts under state intervention for failing to meet state standards: Lake Worth and Beaumont ISD.
As conservator, Kim will oversee the superintendent and principals, governance activities and academic progress of the district. He will attend meetings of the appointed board of managers.
Kim currently serves as the co-conservator for Socorro ISD. He was formerly superintendent of Manor and Comal ISDs and is now director of research and development at the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
“Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as an educator, including as a superintendent in Texas, I have a deep respect for the people who do this work every day,” Kim said in a statement from the TEA on Thursday. “The work ahead will focus on partnering with district leadership to strengthen academics and keep Connally ISD students, teachers and staff at the center of every decision.”
Connally ISD received five years of F ratings at two campuses: Connally Elementary School and Connally Junior High. State law requires the TEA to intervene after a campus or district receives a fifth F rating. TEA announced Dec. 11 that it would install a board of managers, appoint a conservator and superintendent at Connally ISD.
The search for the board of managers is currently underway. Applications for the board of managers are open until Jan. 31.
