By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
Chris Trotter is the lone finalist for superintendent of Cleveland ISD. His selection was announced Wednesday night, April 3, at a special Cleveland ISD board of trustees meeting. Trotter currently is the chief administrative officer for Tomball ISD, a position he has held for nine years.
The district must now wait the state-mandated 21 days before Trotter can be hired for the position. He will replace Cleveland ISD’s current superintendent, Dr. Darrell Myers, who is retiring in May.
Trotter is a fifth-generation educator with roots in Liberty County from the time he was a middle school student. He started kindergarten in Dayton ISD and his father, Raymond Trotter, was superintendent of Hardin ISD for a number of years before the family moved to Winnsboro.
His post-secondary education began at Navarro Junior College where he earned an associate degree while also playing college baseball. He completed his undergraduate degree and math certification at Texas A & M University.
Trotter’s first post in education took him to North Richland Middle School in Birdville ISD where he taught math and coached. Subsequent teaching and administrative positions were for R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, L.D. Bell High School in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Denison High School in Denison ISD, Creekview High School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Smithson Valley High School in San Antonio ISD.
With each new position in his 28-year career, he worked his way into administrative positions. With Tomball ISD, he has had an opportunity to be involved in a fast-growing school district that has faced some of the challenges that Cleveland ISD now faces. He says he is looking forward to leading Cleveland ISD and returning to Liberty County.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family, to work with the students and staff. I am really excited about it,” he said Wednesday night after the board meeting.
His wife, Rachel, is the daughter of Coach Jerry Brim, who was a coach at Hardin ISD many years ago. The Trotters have two children – Ian, 19, and Kaylee, 21, a junior at Texas A & M University.
Dr. Myers, who is now eyeing the finish line of his career in education, says he is pleased with the board’s selection of Trotter.
“I am proud he is going to be here. Chris is a good guy,” Myers said.
In a media statement released after the meeting, the district explained the lengthy process that led to the determination of Trotter as the lone finalist. The district hired the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to help with the search.
“TASB consultants met with staff and community groups on Feb. 5 to discuss desired characteristics of the new superintendent. The profile developed from these meetings was the yardstick used by the board and consultants in evaluating the applications for the position,” the statement reads.
Trotter was among seven applicants interviewed by the board. Of the seven, only three were invited to a second interview. He will be offered a contract with the district on April 25.
Board President Chris Woods said, “The board would like to thank the community for their support during this time. Their input was extremely important to use in our decision making. We are excited to have Mr. Trotter joining our Cleveland family.”