SUSAN HULL
Dr. Susan Simpson Hull died Monday, July 8, 2019 in Arizona while on vacation.
Susan Joy Simpson Hull was born in Old Boston, Texas on January 12, 1959 to Hubert E. and Joanne Walker Simpson. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The world lost a great wife, mother, friend, Toggie, and advocate for all Texas children and teachers. Dr. Hull was a Texas educator for 39 years, serving as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. In 2007, she was selected to lead the Grand Prairie ISD as Superintendent of Schools, where she served for 12 years until her death on July 8, 2019. Dr. Hull was a visionary, a leader of leaders, and a voice for all Texas school children.
A Texas Superintendent for almost three decades, Dr. Hull served in five school districts. She was selected as the 2005 Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Association of School Administrators. In 2014 and 2015, she received a Gubernatorial Appointment to the State Board of Educator Certification.
Dr. Hull received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from East Texas State University in 1980 and 1989 respectively, and her superintendent certification from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1993. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University in 2003.
As an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, Susan Hull taught courses in personnel, finance, school law, education foundations, and superintendency. She presented at many state and national conferences, sharing about school choice and open enrollment, building effective leaders, board relationships, accountability and student achievement, and parent involvement.
Susan Hull was proud to serve in the communities in which she lived, as well as representing GPISD in educational organizations. Those include Region 10 Education Service Center, Texas Association of School Administrators, Center for Reform for School Systems, Center for Quality Leadership/School Research Nexus, American Association of School Administrators, Texas Council of Women School Executives, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, The Holdsworth Center, Grand Prairie Friday Rotary, Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Grand Prairie YMCA Board of Directors, LifeLine Shelter for Families Board of Directors, Grand Prairie ISD Education Foundation Board, and New Boston ISD Education Foundation Board Steering Committee.
Dr. Hull and the districts she served received numerous honors and awards throughout her tenure as a leader in public education: Best Communities for Music Education, 2017 and 2018; AP District Honor Roll, 2017; HEB Best Large School District in Texas, 2017; GPISD named to Holdsworth Center for Excellence in Educational Leadership, 2017; Arts Network National Superintendent of the Year, 2017; Holdsworth Foundation, Founding Board Member, 2016; Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 2015; Top 10 Nominee for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year, 2015; Grand Prairie Crime Commission Citizen of the Year, 2014; Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Service NonProfit Award, 2013; Texas Governor’s Office Yellow Rose of Texas Award, 2013; Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas Community Builder Award, 2009; Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year, 2009; Texas A & M College of Education Outstanding Alumni Early Career Recipient, 2008; Grand Prairie NAACP Exemplary Education Initiative, 2008; UT-Tyler Outstanding Educational Leadership Alumnus, 2007 ; Masonic Lodge Marabou Lamar Award, 2007; White Settlement Area Chamber of Commerce Honoree, 2007; Brock Juror for the Brock International Prize in Education, fall 2006; Dallas Baptist University Service to Education Award, spring 2006; American Association of School Administrators, Texas Superintendent of the Year, 2006; Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Superintendent of the Year, 2005; Texas PTA, Honorary Lifetime Member Award, 2004.
Dr. Hull’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her loving husband, Kent Hull, daughter Erin Whisenhunt and husband James, daughter Laci Garbs and husband Brett, son Seth Laskoskie and wife Dariana, and son Colton Hull. Her pride and joy and the lights of her life were her grandchildren: Bria Joanne and Tristen James Whisenhunt, Liana Noel Laskoskie, and Murphy Joy Garbs.
A Celebration of Life: Friday, July 12, 2019, 10:00 a.m. Pilgrim Chapel on the Campus of Dallas Baptist University 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway Dallas Texas 75211 Officiant: Dr. Bill Skaar
Visitation: Saturday July 13, 2019, 12:30-2:00 p.m. TAPP Memorial United Methodist Church 715 South McCoy Boulevard New Boston, Texas 75570
Funeral Service: Saturday, July 13, 2019, 3:00 p.m. New Boston High School Auditorium 1 Lion Drive New Boston, Texas 75570 Officiant: Dr. Bill Skaar
Burial will follow at Ringwood Cemetery Highway 8 South New Boston, Texas 75570
The family requests all memorial gifts be made to the following: Grand Prairie ISD Education Foundation c/o Susan Simpson Hull Scholarship Fund 2602 S. Belt Line Road Grand Prairie, Texas 75052
New Boston Education Foundation PO Box 134 New Boston, Texas 75570.