Former Ector County ISD Executive Director of Leadership Stacy Johnson has been named superintendent of Banquete ISD.
In education for more than 24 years, including 18 with ECISD, Johnson has served as everything from teachers’ aide to principal to her leadership post. Previously, she had worked in the Pilot Point and Denton school districts.
Johnson has already started her duties in the Southeast coastal Texas district.
“I did research on the area and the town and the school district and they’re a high-performing school district,” Johnson said in a phone interview. “… I’d actually made a couple of trips and … met people without them realizing it and just fell in love with the people and the place.”
Her twin sister, Tracy Canter, just finished her first year as superintendent of Iraan-Sheffield ISD. Both worked for ECISD. Johnson said she’s not sure, but she couldn’t find twin superintendents in any of her searches. Johnson and Canter also are the first women to lead their respective districts.
“She’s loving it,” Johnson said of Canter.
She added that one reason she decided to try for a superintendent’s job was her sister’s enjoyment.
Johnson noted that the role of executive director of leadership for ECISD prepared her for superintendent.
“It put me in positions where I was (collaborating) with the many different departments to meet the campus needs, so learning how to work with all of the departments and ensuring that a campus has everything they need is most definitely beneficial to the role that I have now.”
Learning she was the lone finalist for the Banquete job filled her with a sense of nervous excitement.
She added that she is “very thrilled to take on this new adventure and everyone that I’ve met here has been absolutely amazing and helpful.”
Born in Odessa and raised in Crowell, Johnson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Texas Permian Basin and a doctorate in educational leadership from Texas Tech University.
“West Texas people are truly amazing. I built some very strong relationships. ECISD has definitely prepared me for this step in my career. (Superintendent) Dr. (Scott) Muri had brought in that national superintendents academy, so I was part of that where I was able to meet and work with administrators from across the nation. It most definitely helped prepare me for the interview and for getting this position. One of the things about ECISD that is pretty amazing is that they want their staff and their administrators to continue their careers and they totally prepare you and put you in positions to grow and to learn,” Johnson said.
Although it was a little early to ask about goals for her new job, Johnson said one was to maintain excellence. Banquete has 833 students with a total staff of about 150.
“As a principal at Pease (Elementary), I had almost 900 kids in one building,” Johnson said.
She added that her sister was “super excited” about Johnson’s new job and helpful in her advice and tips.
Deputy Superintendent Stephanie Howard also has been helpful. All have said she can reach out for help.
In her first 90 days, Johnson said she will be taking a page from ECISD Superintendent Scott Muri by conducting a look, listen and learn tour of Banquete.
Johnson and her husband Ty have two children — her daughter, Callie, who will be attending the University of Oklahoma, a son, Hollis, who was about to turn 28, and two grandchildren.
“I’m just really excited to be here and thrilled to continue the work that (Banquete Superintendent) Dr. (Max) Thompson and his staff have been doing,” Johnson said.
