Region 7 Education Service Center is honored to announce Mr. Wade Stanford, Westwood ISD Superintendent of Schools, as the 2023 Regional Superintendent of the Year.
Since assuming the role of Superintendent in 2016, Mr. Stanford's visionary leadership has had a profound impact on Westwood ISD. His unwavering commitment to the district, students, staff, and the broader community has fostered remarkable success in academic achievement, student engagement, and community involvement. Under his guidance, Westwood ISD has emerged as a beacon of excellence in education.
"Mr. Stanford's 'heart-led leadership' champions the purpose of ensuring that the members of the organization are compassionate and always thinking of others so every member can perform at their personal best," says Dr. Carolyn Booker, Westwood ISD School Board President. "His love for the school community and his relentless pursuit of excellence continues to encourage and motivate everyone at Westwood ISD."
Reflecting on his seven-year tenure, Mr. Stanford has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to continuous improvement. Through strategic hiring and providing support for exceptional campus leadership, he initiated a school turnaround process that propelled the district out of Improvement Required status. Mr. Stanford facilitated collaborative learning opportunities, ensured access to high-quality instructional materials, and encouraged data-driven decision-making among teachers, resulting in improved instruction and student outcomes.
“On behalf of the Westwood ISD School Board, we are thrilled to hear the announcement that our esteemed Superintendent, Wade Stanford, has been recognized as the 2023 Region 7 Superintendent of the Year,” says Booker. “This prestigious accolade is a testament to Mr. Stanford's remarkable leadership, unwavering dedication, and outstanding contributions to our district.”
Sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the SOTY program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984. Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality in their districts, and commitment to public involvement in education. All superintendents whose school board is an Active Member of TASB are eligible to be nominated. Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which chooses one nominee to send to the State Selection Committee.
The State Selection Committee will interview all regional winners on August 25–26 and select five state finalists. The Superintendent of the Year will be announced at the txEDCON22 TASA | TASB Convention.
The State Selection Committee will interview all regional winners on August 25–26 and select five state finalists. The Superintendent of the Year will be announced at the txEDCON22 TASA | TASB Convention.
TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve approximately 5.4 million public school students.