Tuesday, May 12, 2015

SBISD Board of Trustees Votes Unanimously for Dr. Scott Muri as District Superintendent Finalist

Houston, Texas (Tuesday, May 12) – The Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees today voted unanimously to name Scott Muri, Ed.D. as the District’s sole Superintendent Finalist.  Following a nationwide search and considering over 30 candidates, the Board selected Dr. Muri as their top choice to lead the 35,000‐student district. 

Scott Muri, Ed.D.
Under Texas law, there is a required 21‐day waiting period before the Board can vote to hire the Superintendent Finalist.  Dr. Muri is slated to follow Superintendent Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed. D., who has announced his upcoming retirement.

Naming a Finalist is the culmination of a six‐month process conducted by the Board, assisted by search consultants David Thompson and Mike Moses.

The search included focus groups with parents, teachers, students, business leaders and community members representing a cross‐section of our diverse district.  

Additionally, more than 700 parents, community members and staff took part in an online survey to provide the Board with perspectives on top district priorities as well as priority attributes for the next district leader.

“Over the last month, the Board of Trustees has spent a significant amount of time interviewing and vetting qualified candidates, considering who has the best combination of leadership traits, experience, and skills to match our needs and serve our students and community," Board of Trustees President Chris Vierra said.    

“The Board is confident Dr. Muri is the best candidate for the Superintendency.  He brings a depth of experience and a unique skill set to SBISD.  Along with our great team of teachers, leaders, parents and students, Dr. Muri’s significant instructional leadership skills, data‐driven decision‐making, nationally recognized expertise in innovative student‐ focused learning, and support for instructional technology will enhance the educational experience for every child in our school system,” she added Dr. Muri’s many qualities include a passion for education, expert communication skills, an approachable and collaborative style, and a mastery of pace, cadence and execution.   

“He understands the importance of community and possesses a strong moral compass and character.  Dr. Muri’s skills and attributes not only meet, but exceed the qualifications identified by our stakeholders for the next Superintendent,” she said.

“The Board is 100% committed to T‐2‐4, SBISD’s single‐focused goal to double the number of district graduates completing military training, a technical certificate, or a  two‐ or four‐ year college degree. Dr. Muri strongly believes in and supports our goal,” the Board President said.

This goal is catalyzing organizational change throughout the district by joining classroom teachers, school and district leaders, and community partners together with the urgent and unified focus of opening doors of opportunity to every child.

 “The two aspects of the district that captured my attention from the beginning are the district’s fundamental belief that all children deserve opportunities to achieve excellence and the T‐2‐4 goal. Not only do I believe in these things, but they drew me to SBISD, “ Dr. Muri said.   

Dr. Muri is currently the Deputy Superintendent of Academics in Fulton County Schools (FCS) in Atlanta.  FCS is the fourth largest school district in Georgia, serving 96,000 students on over 100 campuses, with a staff of 14,000. Like Spring Branch, it serves a highly diverse community, including students from high wealth and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.     

In FCS, Dr. Muri helped develop a personalized learning framework that guides efforts to individualize the learning experience for students.   

“His focus is on each child as an individual learner, understanding that the ‘big picture’ is only effective when it ties to each student. This belief is one that we hold dear in SBISD,” Board President Vierra also said. 

On being named as the district’s Superintendent Finalist, Dr. Muri said, “I am very excited to be joining the Spring Branch ISD team, and I look forward to meeting students, staff, teachers and community in the days ahead. SBISD should be proud of its many accomplishments, its unique T‐2‐4 goal, and its long tradition of excellence. I look forward to our work together to ensure that students and staff are engaged in learning that is rigorous and relevant.” 

Dr. Muri’s innovative strategies in student‐focused learning and new technology have helped large districts in Georgia and North Carolina increase student academic achievement, close achievement gaps and make the best use of student learning management systems, among other career achievements.     

His posts have ranged from Chief Information Officer in the Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), where his team helped develop a district strategy for Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), to leadership service as Area and Zone Superintendent, also in CMS. 

In 2011, Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools won the Broad Prize for Urban Education, which is awarded each year to honor an urban school district that demonstrates the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps. 

Dr. Muri also served in Celebration, Fla., for more than a decade as technology leader and administrator at Disney’s Celebration School. Early in his career, he also served as a high school principal and teacher, where he became one of the first National Board Certified Teachers in the country. Dr. Muri graduated with a bachelor’s degree in intermediate education and middle school education from Wake Forest University in Winston‐Salem, N.C.   

He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University in Matthews, N.C., and holds a master’s degree in public school administration from Stetson University in Deland, Fla.   He has conducted master’s level work in public school administration at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.    

Outgoing Superintendent of Schools, Duncan Klussmann, is firmly committed to supporting Dr. Muri in the weeks ahead.  “I congratulate our Board of Trustees for identifying such a great Finalist to assume leadership of our school system.  I look forward to working alongside Dr. Muri in the weeks ahead to assure a smooth and successful leadership transition,” said Dr. Klussmann. 

During the 21‐day waiting period, Dr. Muri will meet with the Board of Trustees, Dr. Klussmann and the district’s senior leadership team, staff, students, parents and community leaders. 

He plans a range of other meetings and events, including web chat and tweet‐up opportunities with several district groups. He will visit the Texas Legislature later this week. For more information, visit the SBISD website.

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