Familiar face returning to lead Fort Bend ISD
Lone finalist for the superintendent’s job held a lower post in the district from 2013 to 2017; she currently heads up the Byran ISD
The next superintendent of Fort Bend Independent School District won’t have much of a learning curve when she takes the reins as leader of the district.
At a special meeting Thursday, the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees named Christie Whitbeck as the lone finalist for the superintendent position, which has been vacant since Charles Dupre ended his tenure at the end of the 2020-21 school year after eight years in the position.
Whitbeck is the current superintendent of Bryan ISD, which she has guided since 2017, but she previously served as deputy superintendent of Fort Bend ISD from 2013 to 2017.
She has also worked as assistant superintendent of academics in Alvin ISD and, prior to that, spent 22 years as an administrator and educator in Katy ISD.
“The board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Whitbeck back to the district,” Fort Bend ISD board President Dave Rosenthal said in a news release. “She is a tireless advocate for public education, and her love for students is deep and genuine. The board’s search was exhaustive, and we had the privilege of selecting from many highly qualified candidates. At the end of the day, we feel confident that we have found the right leader for our district.”
The naming of Whitbeck as finalist followed a nationwide search conducted by search firm Hazard Young Attea and Associates that reportedly included 2,249 individuals. From there, 80 candidates were identified, with 60 applying for the superintendent position. The board conducted numerous interviews before narrowing the field to three for second interviews, followed by the finalists visiting the district.
As part of the vetting process, the board met virtually with members of the Bryan ISD community, including board members, executive directors, parent volunteers, elected officials and faith-based leaders.
“I am honored that the board of trustees has selected me as the lone finalist,” Whitbeck said. “I remember everyone fondly from Fort Bend ISD, and it is my true honor to return to the community to serve as your superintendent.”
Whitbeck received her doctorate in public school administration from Texas A&M University, graduating summa cum laude. She obtained a master’s degree in administration supervision and a midmanagement certification from the University of Houston, along with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University.
According to a news release, while an Bryan ISD, Whitbeck oversaw “the passage of two bond elections through her ‘2 Bonds 1 Vision’ plan, which resulted in significant revenue for the district without raising the tax rate.”
State law requires a 21-day waiting period after a school board names a lone finalist before the future superintendent can a sign a contract.
“She is a tireless advocate for public education, and her love for students is deep and genuine. … We feel confident that we have found the right leader for our district.”
Fort Bend ISD board President Dave Rosenthal, speaking in a news release about Christie Whitbeck