Red Lick ISD board names lone finalist for superintendent

Brandon Dennard
Brandon Dennard

Red Lick Independent School District's board of directors named a lone finalist for superintendent during their Nov. 28 meeting. Brandon Dennard, current assistant superintendent of administration and student services at North Lamar ISD, was chosen from 39 applicants. Per Texas law, the district must wait 21 days before offering Dennard a contract. Superintendent Nick Blain said the board has set a tentative date of Dec. 15 for a special meeting where Dennard would be officially hired to lead the district.

The lone finalist has served in education for 17 years and began his career in 2000, when he worked as a middle school teacher in inner-city Dallas. During his career, Dennard has also served as principal of Chapel Hill High School and assistant principal at Mount Pleasant High and has taught art, health and science at the middle school level.

He said it was a distinct honor to be named as lone finalist and to eventually become superintendent of Red Lick ISD.

"I'm really excited about getting into a district that's already well known for its excellence and see how I can contribute," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting in there and getting to know people and forming those relationships."

He added that he was not looking to change anything and didn't have any pre-existing notions of things that should be fixed in the district.

"My biggest goal right now is to build relationships with the people already there," Dennard said. "I want to do what I have to to make sure teachers and staff continue to take care of kids like they have."

He will replace Blain, who's led the district since 2014, when he was hired as interim superintendent and then into the top position, where he has been since August of that year.

"I came out of retirement the third time to retire," Blain said. He retired as superintendent of Liberty-Eyalu ISD in 1999, then returned there and served from 2009 to 2012.

He said this will be his final retirement and that he's "coming home."

"I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in a school district like Red Lick," Blain said. "They put academics first. The kids perform well, and I certainly appreciate the support that I had from the board, the parents, students and faculty."

He said retiring during the middle of the school year will give Dennard an opportunity to get acquainted with the district and be involved in setting up the 2018-19 calendar and budget.

Board President David Price said Dennard's attitude and experience were contributing factors in his being named lone finalist for the position.

h he said. "I feel, based on his experience in his previous roles or jobs, he was the best well-rounded candidate."

Dennard is expected to begin Jan. 8, 2018.

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