Paul Norton named superintendent at Lake Travis ISD

Superintendent Paul Norton stands in front of the mural in the Texas Independent School District Administration Building. After almost 20 years with TISD, Norton was chosen as lone finalist for Lake Travis Independent School District superintendent of schools. Staff photo by Sara Vaughn
Superintendent Paul Norton stands in front of the mural in the Texas Independent School District Administration Building. After almost 20 years with TISD, Norton was chosen as lone finalist for Lake Travis Independent School District superintendent of schools. Staff photo by Sara Vaughn

Paul Norton is officially the new Lake Travis Independent School District superintendent.

A Texarkana native, Norton was named lone finalist for Lake Travis ISD position on June 17. The official designation was made Wednesday afternoon after the required 21-day waiting period. The district is just west of Austin, Texas.

Norton served nine years as Texarkana Independent School District superintendent and worked for the district a total of 19 years.

TISD will name an interim superintendent at its July 21 regular Board of Trustees meeting.

Details of a superintendent search will also be announced at that time.

In an interview last month with the Gazette, Norton said Lake Travis ISD is growing about 3 to 6% annually.

"They are having conversations about adding a second high school. Right now, they have over 3,300 at the high school and just over 11,000 in the district. They are steadily growing and there are lots of discussions about future growth and planning for the future, opportunities in that aspect," he said.

"Obviously, it is a great school district. To go there and continue that and to work with the school board, the administration and the teachers is a great opportunity."

In comparison, TISD's enrollment for brick and mortar schools is about 7,100. With the district's implementation of a virtual school and its enrollment of 1,900, it makes TISD's total enrollment about 9,000 students, he said.

TISD excelled under the "servant leadership" of former Superintendent Paul Norton, said Fred Norton, Jr. president of TISD Board of Trustees.

"During his tenure, the rigor of curriculum continued to increase, along with student academic performance," Fred Norton, Jr. said.

During Paul Norton's time at the helm, TISD enrollment increased by 24.5% and a bond issue led to the construction of two new schools - Sixth Grade Center at Texas Middle School and Waggoner Creek Elementary. Both opened in 2016.

"Paul's legacy will be one of making a great school district even better, and our challenge will be to find the right person to pick up where his influence ends. It is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to our valued friend and leader for, while we will miss the warmth of his personality, his professionalism and his profound love for our students, we are excited for Lake Travis ISD and the impact his servant leadership will have there," Fred Norton, Jr. said.

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