Another North Texas superintendent is stepping down: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Superintendent retires after 38 years of service
GRAPEVINE, Texas – Another North Texas superintendent is leaving their position, adding to the growing list of leadership changes in the region.
Dr. Robin Ryan, superintendent of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, announced his retirement on Friday after 38 years in the Texas public education system.
Ryan served as the superintendent of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD for thirteen years. His last day of employment will be January 1, 2023, and he will remain an employee until August 31, 2023, pending school board approval.
Ryan stated in a press statement, “I am making this announcement now so that the Board of Trustees can begin the selection process for the new superintendent.” Our extraordinary degree of community and district support in GCISD has been a defining characteristic of our success.
The school board highlighted the accomplishments that occurred under Ryan’s leadership, including the establishment of an online school, the expansion of STEM learning and gifted education programs, as well as career and technical education.
“On behalf of the board, we greatly value the progress made in our school system under Superintendent Ryan’s leadership,” stated Casey Ford, president of the Grapevine-Colleyville Board of Education. Since 2003, Dr. Ryan has been a dedicated visionary for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
However, along with the district’s gains, parents and children have expressed criticism.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD received both criticism and acclaim in August after its board outlawed the teaching of critical racial theory, implemented a tight review of library materials, and did not require or encourage the use of pronouns that do not correspond with the gender assigned at birth.
Grapevine High School students staged a demonstration in response to the school board’s vote. One student stated, “These rules violate our rights to feel comfortable, express ourselves freely, and be truthful about who we are.”
The school district also severed connections with the Scholastic Book Fair because the firm did not offer a comprehensive list of all the books it planned to sell at the fair.
Ryan’s stated in today’s press release that the school district’s personnel, including teachers and board members, “deserve all the credit for working as a team to ensure the success of our students,” despite the reaction in recent months.
On Monday, September 26, at the upcoming school board meeting, it is anticipated that Ryan’s retirement will be mentioned.
