During its board meeting on Tuesday, the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) voted its lone finalist, Karen Molinar, as the new permanent superintendent. Molinar has served as interim superintendent since October, succeeding Angélica Ramsey.

Molinar steps into her new role with 26+ years of experience, having joined the FWISD in 1997 as a teacher and holding several leadership positions during her tenure. As superintendent, she'll oversee many departments, including budget and finance, talent management + safety and security.

Background

Molinar earned a Doctorate in Education Administration from Texas Wesleyan University. Her previous FWISD positions include assistant superintendent, chief of staff, and deputy superintendent from 2020 to 2023. She's also been a member of professional organizations like the Texas Association of School Administrators and has been recognized for her outstanding leadership skills.

Dr. Molinar's primary focus will be on students' literacy. | Photo courtesy of Fort Worth ISD

Reading is high-priority

When Molinar accepted the position as interim superintendent five months ago, her primary focus was on improving students' literacy. In January, FWISD adopted this mindset, as the district is the lowest-performing big urban district in the state. Molinar's plan to reverse poor performance includes reframing literacy instruction, aligning resources + monitoring students’ progress more closely.