At a special voting meeting Aug. 11 the Austin ISD Board of Trustees approved a contract appointing Dr. Stephanie Elizalde as the district's new superintendent effective Aug. 12.

The Board named Dr. Elizalde as the lone finalist for superintendent at its July 21 meeting. Tonight's appointment comes after a required 21-day waiting period after the announcement of a lone finalist.

Dr. Elizalde most recently served as Chief of Schools for Dallas ISD and is a third-generation public school educator. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Elizalde's doctoral dissertation was on the Texas school finance system and recapture.

"I am excited and honored to have been chosen as the new superintendent of Austin ISD and look forward to working collaboratively with the school board, staff, students, parents and community," Dr. Elizalde said. "I was highly attracted to the diversity of the Austin ISD community, and I'm committed to providing all students with an enriching educational experience, which will prepare them with the knowledge and skills to thrive in college, career, and life."

Dr. Elizalde's appointment comes after an extensive process which included stakeholder input from more than 200 organizations, 2,000 community leaders and individuals, community surveys, and community public testimony. The nationwide search included the consideration of 64 applicants from 24 states and a comprehensive candidate interview process. The community had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Elizalde through a series of meetings that covered academics, leadership, culture, equity and reopening during the 21-day waiting period.