Cobb schools have a new leader.
Dr. Michael Hinojosa was named superintendent Sunday during a special called meeting of the Board of Education.
Hinojosa, who was not in attendance, was the sole finalist for the position.
"I am truly honored that the school board has selected me to lead this outstanding school district," said Hinojosa in a press release.
"Cobb schools have an exceptional reputation, and I am thrilled to now be a part of that success. Cobb schools already do so many things very well, so my plan is to first do a lot of listening – to staff and to parents – and I will use that information to determine what is working smoothly and what areas may need our attention. Experience has taught me that positive, supportive leadership can go a long way. I look forward to this great opportunity, and I have no doubt that the Cobb County School District will continue to be a leader and a model for other school districts nationwide."
Hinojosa joins Cobb after having served for six years as superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District in Texas, the nation's 14th largest school system with more than 150,000 students, 21,000 employees, 250 schools and a $1.2 billion annual budget.
He was named 2002 Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards and 2005 Superintendent of the Year by the University of Texas at Austin. Hinojosa has graduate degrees in education from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas and a Bachelor's in education from Texas Tech University.
"This is an exciting day for the Cobb County School District and we are thrilled to officially approve Dr. Hinojosa as the new superintendent of schools," said Board Chair Alison Bartlett. "For the past two weeks he has met with the community on several occasions and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and that is obvious when you see him interact with parents, students and district employees. The Board believes it has found the right person to lead our already outstanding schools to even greater success, and we look forward to working with him to accomplish that goal."
Hinojosa will spend the remainder of June in Dallas, working to complete the budget development and approval process. He will take on the duties of superintendent of Cobb schools in early July.
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