Important Announcement from KISD
May 29, 2023
The Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees is thrilled to inform you of the naming of Dr. Jo Ann Fey as the lone finalist for the district’s position of Superintendent. The announcement follows a 6-0 vote by the Board of Trustees at a Special Called Meeting today. Dr. Fey is currently the Superintendent of Midlothian Independent School District.
We are confident we have chosen the right candidate to lead our organization to new heights of student achievement. Dr. Fey has a proven track record of successfully working with sub populations that greatly resemble our school district. Not only has she been successful with these groups, but it is also where her passion lies to serve. The Board found her passion to be authentic in her desire to create pathways to excellence for all students. Her commitment to accountability and discipline at all levels of the organization will be a tremendous asset to our community. Her full body of work in the education field is a perfect fit for our community and KISD.
Dr. Fey has 27 years of educational experience, 25 spent in Southwest Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. There she served a majority-minority community that exceeded state averages for at-risk and economically disadvantaged students.
Her experience originated in the classroom at the high school level at Southwest High School. During her tenure, the district transformed from an underperforming district to a high performing one despite the challenges associated with the student populations. Her professional trajectory includes the following roles at Southwest High School: varsity basketball coach, assistant principal, academic dean, and principal. She also served Southwest ISD as Executive Director of Student and Adult Leadership Development and Assistant Superintendent.
She successfully led the turnaround of Southwest High School during her five years as the principal. During her eight years as Assistant Superintendent, she was instrumental in the coaching and development of campus principals and assistant principals. She also oversaw the launch of the district’s Talent Management and Acquisition Department; designed to create a pool of talent ready to fulfill the district’s leadership roles.
Dr. Fey brings a relentless focus to the community that will positively impact excellent outcomes for ALL students with a specific interest in underserved populations while upholding competitive co-curricular and extra-curricular programs.
Dr. Fey embarked on her first superintendency in 2021 when Midlothian Independent School District chose her to oversee the fast-growth district of 10,000 plus students located south of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. She has overseen the B-rated district and spearheaded its inclusion in the prestigious Holdsworth Center program that facilitates the education of leaders on the best practices within and outside of the education profession. It is a program that challenges the district’s approaches with those of its colleagues and entails critiques by other professionals. She has also worked with the Midlothian Board of Trustees to implement the Balanced Scorecard program. The same Balanced Scorecard program is directly aligned with the Superintendent's evaluation to ensure monthly accountability. Under Dr. Fey ’s leadership, Midlothian students in grades 3-8 have experienced increases in reading scores at the Meets and Masters performance level. Dr. Fey also championed the Capturing Kids Hearts Program during her tenure.
At the core of Dr. Fey ’s approach to a student-focused district is accountability at all levels of the organization. She is committed to ensuring that our students and teachers have positive and impactful experiences in the classroom. Professional development tailored to increasing student and educator performance will be at the forefront of training initiatives. This will be done by unique training that is geared towards the specific needs of each campus in the district.
Dr. Fey’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University, a Master's of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Master's of Education from Houston Baptist University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Dr. Fey has also successfully completed the District Leadership Program and the Superintendent Program at the prestigious Holdsworth Center.
Dr. Fey is married to William Fey, who was stationed at Fort Cavazos while in the United States Army; together, they have three children. Their adult son is a teacher, their eldest daughter is a collegiate athlete, and their youngest daughter will attend Killeen Independent School District.
Dr. Fey is wasting no time in getting familiar with KISD. Following the meeting, she engaged local media and met community stakeholders. She is heading to Harker Heights High School to attend the KISD Job Fair and meet all of the district’s principals. Following this, she will sit in on a district briefing to provide her with an overview of Killeen Independent School District.
The Board of Trustees will vote on Dr. Fey’s official hiring after the state mandated 21 day waiting period has elapsed.
Sincerely,
KISD Board of Trustees