McHazlett Named Sole Finalist for LGISD Superintendent

The La Grange ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select Matthew “Andy” McHazlett as the sole finalist for the school’s superintendent position at a special meeting Monday night, April 4.

The vote triggered a 21-day waiting period during which McHazlett may decline the offer. The school board will vote to formally hire McHazlett at a meeting later this month.

Current Superintendent Bill Wagner announced in December that he plans to retire at the end of this school year. The school board hired a consultant, Dr. Curtis Caldwell, to help them search for candidates. School board president Gary Drab said 72 applied for the job. The board interviewed seven candidates.

McHazlett, 52, is no stranger to many locals. He previously served as a teacher and coach in La Grange from 2003-2010.

“My seven years in La Grange were filled with some of the best memories I’ve had in my professional career,” McHazlett told the Record in an interview on Tuesday. “When I saw the position open up, I was like a kid in the candy store.”

“The fit was there and you can see the passion that he has toward La Grange ISD,” Drab said after the meeting on Monday. “He’s in it for the students. He kept telling us, ‘If there’s ever a doubt, ask yourself, how will it benefit the students?’ That’s how he makes his decisions.”

McHazlett currently serves as superintendent in his hometown at La Pryor I.S.D., a post he has held for the past six and a half years. La Pryor is located about 90 miles west of San Antonio and 40 miles east of Piedras Negras on the Mexican border.

At La Pryor, which was struggling to meet state academic standards, McHazlett turned the district into a school of choice for many students and parents outside the district. La Pryor Elementary’s accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) went from “Improvement Required” to “Met Standard” in his first year on the job. La Pryor High School accomplished the same feat the following year. In addition, La Pryor High School increased dual credit participation by 310 percent during McHazlett’s tenure. The district’s staff retention rate increased from 75 percent to 93 percent as well.

“Beyond academics, I made every effort to monitor taxpayer dollars achieving a ‘Superior’ rating every year while increasing our fund balance by 86 percent during my tenure as superintendent,” McHazlett stated in his resume.

“La Pryor will always be a special place to me, it’s my hometown,” McHazlett told the Record. “When I look back at the past seven years, we made tremendous strides with improvements to not only academics but facilities, salaries, discipline, culture and climate. Now we’re a destination district - we have a ton of kids who come and transfer to La Pryor. We have teachers and staff on a waiting list to come and work here.”

McHazlett said there are few places for which he would consider leaving his hometown.

“La Grange is a great place to be - community, kids, staff - it’s a place I wanted to get back to,” he said. “When I interviewed with the board, it felt like I was home.”

McHazlett holds superintendent and principal certifications from the Texas Education Agency to work. He is also certified to teach biology. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sul Ross State University in 1993 and a Master of Education degree from Lamar University in 2011. He previously taught and coached at Burnet, Ingleside, Seguin, Floresville and Midland.

At Monday’s meeting, Drab said the board was working to finalize terms of the contract with McHazlett. Drab said the initial contract would be for three years with a start date of June 1. Drab said he couldn’t disclose McHazlett’s salary until both parties agree to the terms of the contract.

McHazlett is married to his wife of 30 years, Janna. They have three grown sons. McHazlett said his wife is also a school teacher and will seek employment in the area.