Molinar is OUT as Superintendent
Karen Molinar’s removal as superintendent of Fort Worth ISD marks a turning point that we speculated over a month ago. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has now formally confirmed that she will not continue in the role as part of the state’s takeover of the district, ending her nearly three‑decade tenure with FWISD.
The Leadership Change
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath notified Molinar that the interview process for the district’s next superintendent had concluded and that she would not be selected to remain in the position. Molinar participated in the process at TEA’s invitation, but the agency ultimately decided new leadership was required to execute the scale of changes planned under state control.
Morath emphasized that the decision was not a critique of Molinar’s leadership, but rather a reflection of the “scope of changes and improvements needed” to improve student outcomes and accelerate the district’s turnaround.
Molinar will remain in place temporarily while TEA finalizes the appointment of a new superintendent and a state‑appointed Board of Managers.
Why This Move Was Expected
For those following the takeover closely, this outcome was predicted more than a month ago. Several signals pointed toward a leadership change:
State takeover authority: Under Texas law, once a campus receives five consecutive failing accountability ratings, TEA must intervene—either by closing the school or replacing the elected board with a state‑appointed board of managers. That process began in October, making a superintendent change increasingly likely.
TEA’s stated need for “specialized leadership”: Morath repeatedly referenced the need for leadership capable of rapidly improving district performance, suggesting early on that the agency was evaluating candidates beyond the current superintendent.
Interview process signals: Molinar publicly acknowledged that she had been invited to interview for the permanent role, a sign that TEA was considering—but not committed to—retaining her. The lack of early affirmation from TEA was widely interpreted as a warning sign.
Historical precedent: In other Texas district takeovers, including Houston ISD, TEA replaced the superintendent as part of the initial restructuring. Many local observers expected FWISD to follow the same pattern.
Taken together, these indicators made it clear that Molinar’s position was precarious well before the official announcement.
What Comes Next for FWISD
The district now awaits TEA’s appointment of:
A new superintendent
A state‑appointed Board of Managers
Continued oversight from the TEA‑assigned conservator already in place
Molinar highlighted recent progress under her leadership—strategic planning, literacy initiatives, and instructional framework improvements—but acknowledged that the transition is now in TEA’s hands.
The coming weeks will define the direction of FWISD for years to come, as TEA installs a leadership team tasked with executing a full-scale turnaround.
