Dr. Robin Ryan served 13 years as superintendent for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Another North Texas superintendent is stepping down from their role, adding to the growing list of shifts in leadership across the area.
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Robin Ryan announced Friday that he will retire after 38 years in the Texas public education system.
Ryan served 13 years as superintendent for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. His last day will be Jan. 1, 2023, and he will remain an employee until Aug. 31, 2023, pending the approval of the school board.
“I am making this announcement now so that the Board of Trustees can have time to begin the selection process for the new superintendent,” Ryan said in a press release. “The incredible level of community and district support we have experienced in GCISD has been a hallmark of our success.”
The school board highlighted achievements that occurred under Ryan’s leadership, including developing an online school, growing programs in STEM learning and for gifted students, and career and technical education.
“On behalf of the board, we highly value the progress made in our school system under Superintendent Ryan’s leadership,” Grapevine-Colleyville Board President Casey Ford said. “Dr. Ryan has been a tireless visionary for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD over the past 13 years.”
Though, along with the district’s accomplishments, has come criticism from parents and students.
In August, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD faced both backlash and praise after its board banned the teaching of critical race theory, implementing a strict review of library books and not requiring or encouraging the use of pronouns that are not aligned with the gender assigned at birth.
Following the school board’s vote, Grapevine High School students held a protest. One student said, “These rules are taking away our rights to feel safe and to express ourselves and to be honest about who we are.”
The school district also cut ties with the Scholastic Book Fair because the company didn’t provide a full list of every book it would sell at the fair.
Despite the backlash in recent months, Ryan’s said in today’s release that the school district’s staff, including teachers and board trustees, “deserve all of the credit for working together as a team for the success of our students.”
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26, when it’s expected Ryan’s retirement will be discussed.