CCISD trustees comment on lone finalist for superintendent
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
After a holding a closed session at a special meeting on Tuesday evening, the Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees emerged to announce Dr. Brent Hawkins as the lone finalist for CCISD superintendent.
Hawkins was selected from a field of 39 applicants from Texas and beyond.
There is a 21-day waiting period before the board can vote to name him superintendent. That will take place during a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the district boardroom, when Hawkins and his family will be welcomed to the community.
According to a CCISD media release, Hawkins has served as superintendent at Livingston ISD since 2014. He has more than 16 years of experience as a superintendent and has worked in Texas public schools for more than 32 years.
Prior to their unanimous vote to name Hawkins as the lone finalist, each board member had the opportunity to state what made Dr. Hawkins stand out to them as a candidate for superintendent.
Jeff Gorres said what set Hawkins apart to him, compared to the other qualified candidates, was his was active, engaged attitude of support.
“It’s the reason we're here, right? Instruction and development of our kids. My final question for all the candidates focused on classroom discipline and behavior challenges, and what was the administration's role in supporting the teacher and the effect of students in that classroom. It was a little bit different question and very enlightening with the response.
“Again, we had multiple qualified candidates, but his (answer) was unique, and it captured me as a leader with many years in the service, that somebody was focused on what the mission was. There was no question about it.
“And he said, ‘Without order, you lose staff. Everything has a starting point. And wanting to learn starts at the home. Sometimes we as a community have to act as local parents, but ill discipline and behavior should never disrupt other students’ opportunity.’ And to me, that's what set our lone finalist apart.”
Trustee Heather Copeland said that he listened as they asked questions.
“Of all the candidates, he was the one who actually really sat back and listened to the question and thought about his response and then responded. And he communicates very well. His answers were brief, but yet very open, very honest, and that's the impression I got from him. He was very open and very honest, but willing to listen and respect whoever was talking to him.”
Newly elected trustee Timothy Traeger said that he enjoyed talking with Hawkins, and that first impressions are important to him. One of the things that impressed Traeger was that Hawkins researched the board.
“He told me, ‘I Googled you.’ He congratulated me and Miss Sherry of our winning the election. But also, he researched a lot. He is a big supporter of all employees, not just teachers, everybody auxiliary, any staff member employed with the district. He’s outreaching. He hates bullying. He's also clear and concise on his goals and objectives, especially within his first 90-day plan. And I like a guy with a good agenda and plan, well thought through.”
Trustee Mike Wilburn said there were two things that made Hawkins stand out for him, one of which was that when Wilburn asked him about Impact Aid, Hawkins admitted he did not know about Impact Aid. But, by the time they visited with him again, he had done his research.
“He visited with his congressman. He knew those things when he came back. That showed me he is interested, he's diligent about doing those things that are proper,” Wilburn said. “Also, a comment that he made was, changing the lives of those we serve is important. That really impressed me and the fact that he said that we need to be a family. I think that we have a family here in Copperas Cove, and it's important to me that we continue to maintain that. I know there's a lot of anxiety and angst about what's coming up, but keep in mind that our lone finalist is concerned that we continue to be a family.”
Trustee John Gallen said he focused on the point that Hawkins is all about the kids.
“He's a proven leader with lots of experience who will continue the reputation of Copperas Cove Independent School District as being the premier school district of choice in Central Texas.”
Trustee Sherry Hoffpaiur said there were two qualities that she was looking for that Hawkins has.
“Two qualities I was looking for were that he's a people person, and he's approachable, not only to the community, but to the staff.”
Board president Joan Manning concluded with comments of her own on the process and recommendation to name him the lone finalist.
“Our board embarked on an arduous but fulfilling search along with the TASB search firm in order to hire a new superintendent, working as a seven member team, first with our then board members, Inez Faison and Ann Davis Williams, we followed advice from TASB, leading us after diligent homework and enlightening interviews to pare our choices from a pool of 39 down to only three,” she said. “After our new board members Sherry Hoffpauir and Tim Traeger were sworn in last Tuesday evening, we again came together as a new team of seven, working, praying, interviewing and deciding on our new superintendent for CCISD.”
Manning said Hawkins projects a confident but humble spirit and wants only the best for the district.
“I am personally excited that he will consider the district his work family, and understands that there must be new, deep relationships forged to ensure a successful district. He already has a plan for the first 180 days of his superintendency that includes phases of listening and learning. This is the longest phase, listening and learning.
“He is not going to come in here and whack things up and change everything overnight. That's not his style at all. After the longest phase, that's the first 90 days, then he'll embark on listening and learning, along with leading and synthesizing and finishing the final 45 days with leading and progress monitoring.”
Manning said that Trustees Heather Copeland and Jeff Gorres made a visit to Livingston ISD on behalf of the board, meeting with community leaders, as well as district staff, teachers, and administrators.
She also shared a statement from Dr. Hawkins on being named the lone finalist.
“I am not only honored but humbled to join Copperas Cove ISD,” Hawkins said. “My family and I look forward to making Copperas Cove our home. I am excited to work to ensure the standards of excellence set by this district are continued. I am dedicated to working as a team with our staff, parents, and community to ensure that every student in our schools reaches their full potential and becomes the best version of themselves.”
While in Livingston, Dr. Hawkins saw the district’s campus performance improve from the lowest 5% in the state to a “B” district, with three “A” campuses and two in the U.S. News & World Report’s Top 40, in a district where more than half of students are economically disadvantaged.
Financially, Dr. Hawkins worked through multiple avenues for necessary capital improvement projects, refinanced existing district debt to save Livingston taxpayers $13 million.
In 2024, the Livingston ISD Board of Trustees nominated Dr. Hawkins for Superintendent of the Year. Professional staff turnover went from 27.7% in 2014 to 10% within the last two years.
Prior to joining Livingston ISD, he was the Deputy Director for Administrative Services for the TEA’s Region 6 Education Service Center serving 57 districts based in Huntsville for two years, where he oversaw several departments and helped revamp the center’s superintendent search process to help districts.
Before then, Hawkins was the superintendent at Woden ISD for four years. From 2002-2008, Hawkins was a coach, principal, curriculum director and superintendent at Diboll ISD, where he helped obtain grants to improve student opportunities and was awarded the 2005 National Renaissance Learning Educational Leader of the Year award.
He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. He completed his doctorate in educational leadership in 2011.
Brent Hawkins is married to his wife of 27 years, Jenny. The couple has three adult children and two grandchildren.