Usamah Rodgers retired from DeSoto ISD this month after joining the district in 2022.
Brent S. Mitchell will lead the southern Dallas County district as it searches for a new leader, trustees decided Monday. Mitchell has 25 years in K-12 education and has held leadership roles across Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas, DeSoto ISD said in a news release.
He most recently served as acting superintendent and assistant superintendent of support services/chief of staff for the Ferguson-Florissant School District in Missouri. DeSoto ISD highlighted his financial background in its news release, noting he led a financial “realignment” that resulted in that district cutting $13.7 million in expenditures “while protecting instructional priorities and student services.” “Dr. Mitchell’s proven ability to lead complex organizations through financial realignment, strengthen school safety systems, and rebuild culture makes him uniquely qualified to serve DeSoto ISD during this pivotal moment,” board President Chasiti McKissic said in the release. “His experience aligns directly with the district’s immediate priorities, and the Board is confident in his leadership.”Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and earned master’s degrees from Harding University and the University of Central Arkansas. “I am honored by the Board’s trust and committed to serving the DeSoto ISD community with integrity, transparency, and urgency,” Mitchell said in the release. “Together, we will focus on stabilizing operations, strengthening safety, and fostering a culture where students and staff can thrive.”The Board of Trustees said the community will be able to meet with Mitchell soon. Information on next steps in the search for a permanent superintendent will be shared “as they become available,” the district said.to oversee district operations due to financial mismanagement and poor governance. A TEA financial audit found that improper spending in the district led to a $21.6 million budget shortfall. Six years later, the district remains under conservatorship, a TEA spokesperson said.The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.Carol Taylor is Education Lab editor at The Dallas Morning News. She grew up in Austin and received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas and a master's in clinical nutrition from UT Southwestern.Former Dallas County judge testifies in misconduct trial, denies allegations
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