DSISD Board unanimously approves hire of Dr. Morris-Kuentz as superintendent

The Dripping Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve the hire of Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz as superintendent at the May 5 special meeting. During a special meeting on April 13, she was announced as the district's lone finalist in the search for a new superintendent.

By law, a 21-day waiting period had to pass before th hiring could be official. Th time period ended May 5, and her hire was approved. Morris-Kuentz replaces Interim Superintendent Brett Springston, who took over last fall after the departure of Superintenden Todd Washburn.

Board President Barbara Stroud believes Morris-Kuentz is a great fit to serve the district as its next leader. She previously said, "Her [Morris-Kuentz] experience, characteristics, and skills closely match the leadership profile that was developed with input from our community. We are confident that Morris-Kuentz will provide the strong leadership Dripping Springs needs to navigate the growth in our community and to help fulfill our commitment to provide an outstanding educational experience for every student in our District.” Morris-Kuentz has served in neighboring Lake Travis ISD since 2009. As Deputy Superintendent, Morris-Kuentz provided leadership for 11 elementary and secondary principals, as well as the Curriculum and Instruction, Communications, Development and Corporate Relations, Administrative and Legal Services departments. She officially began her new role on May 6, and met staff in the central office, transportation and facilities, and began touring campuses and meeting teachers and students. She says her top priority is getting to know the community and connecting with staff, students and parents.

“My first focus with it being the end of the year is to meet as many people as I can and make those connections,” she said. “People will go off for summer, so I want to have that opportunity to find out what’s important to our district and learn more about this community. I’m coming from a different community, so I feel like it’s really important to get the pulse here and find out what really makes Dripping Springs a special place for people and what concerns they have.”

Additionally, she says that she is aware many parents are wondering what next school year will look like, but she hasn’t yet had the chance to review all of the district’s COVID-19 protocols and decisionmaking process. “I am aware of it at a high level, and I’m looking forward to digging into that,” Morris-Kuentz said. “I do think there are some really great opportunities to listen to the community, talk with people and learn a lot more. Coming from Travis County, obviously things are a bit different, so getting here I want to be able to meet with the county, learn more about the way they’re handling covid, see what area districts are doing, and start to learn more about how things are going in this area and how our community feels because I do think it’s a community based decision both from that safety standpoint of they say it depends on community spread, so that’s one piece of it. But I think the other piece is just understanding the culture and climate around that [covid] around here.”

The community will have an opportunity to meet Morris-Kuentz on Tuesday, May 18, from 5-7 p.m. in the Board Room at the DSISD Administration Building (510 W. Mercer St.). This opportunity to visit is a come-and-go reception, any time during the two-hour window.