AUSTIN The Texas Association of School Boards is pleased to announce that five public school administrators have been selected as state finalists for the annual Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) award, a program that has been honoring exemplary school leaders since 1984.
“We are thrilled about being able to recognize outstanding school superintendents across Texas,” said TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell. “The job of a superintendent has never been tougher or any more important than it is today. An excellent superintendent working within a district’s team of eight is essential to student success and achievement, and we’re so impressed with the talent here in Texas.”
The five finalists were selected by a TASB committee made up of school board members who interviewed 20 nominees from every region in the state from Aug. 26-27. The candidates were evaluated on their work in improving student outcomes, developing a strong team of eight relationship, advocacy, and their ongoing commitment to innovation and leadership.
The five state finalists are:
>> Jenny McGown, Klein ISD, Region 4
>> Thurston Lamb, Henderson ISD, Region 7
>> Bobby Ott, Temple ISD, Region 12
>> Doug Killian, Pflugerville ISD, Region 13
>> Scott Muri, Ector County, Region 18
Those named as state finalists will advance to the next stage of the Superintendent of the Year competition, which will take place at the Texas Association of School Administrators | TASB Convention being held Sept. 23-25 in San Antonio. The winner will be announced Sept. 24, and will receive an award underwritten by program sponsor Balfour.
Muri joined Ector County ISD, located in Odessa, as superintendent in July 2019. Prior to that role, he served as the superintendent of Spring Branch ISD in Houston for four years.
Under Muri’s leadership in Ector County, he reduced teacher vacancies from 356 to 51 in two years, expanded pre-K to include a full-day program for 4-year-olds and a half-day program for 3-year-olds, and increased kindergarten readiness by 13%.
His 34 years of public education experience includes key leadership roles in large districts like Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina and Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, as well as in unique settings such as Walt Disney’s Celebration School in Celebration, Fla.
Muri completed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University and received his master’s degree at Stetson University and his doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University.
In selecting Muri as a state finalist, the committee highlighted Muri’s work in improving academics among the district’s 33,500 enrolled students, his commitment to teacher training and board relations, and his focus on meaningful equity work.
