As of 7:03 Wednesday morning, Dr. Coby Kirkpatrick became the new superintendent of Cleburne ISD, following a unanimous vote by the board of trustees at a special called meeting.

The vote came exactly 21 days after Trustees named Dr. Kirkpatrick as the lone finalist for the superintendent position. With approval by the Board of Trustees, Kirkpatrick becomes the 21^st superintendent to lead Cleburne ISD, following its establishment in 1883.

A Meet and Greet Reception for Dr. Kirkpatrick will be held Monday, July 24 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Sting Bistro at Cleburne High School.

Kirkpatrick is coming to the district from Burleson ISD, where he has served since 2014, most recently as Chief of Schools. His administrative record with BISD also includes director of Human Resources and executive director of Human Resources and Student Services.

            “I want to thank you for trusting me,” Kirkpatrick told Trustees following the vote. “The first time we met I felt there was a connection, but more importantly, it was palpable the love and passion you have for this district. I left that first meeting and couldn’t sleep—I was so excited about the opportunity to serve the kids of Cleburne.”

“Jennifer and I are thrilled to become a part of the community,” Kirkpatrick said. “I have already spent quite a bit of time getting to know people. The leadership our school board provides permeates. I haven’t met anybody that doesn’t have their same passion and dedication to the kids of this district. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve. I’m ready to get going—let’s go!”

Dr. Kirkpatrick began his career in education in 1990 as an athletic trainer and teacher in Fort Worth ISD, where he served through 1998. He spent 16 years with White Settlement ISD, as an athletic trainer and teacher for five years before moving into campus administration as an assistant principal. In his last seven years in the district, he served as an elementary school principal.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University. His Master’s in Education degree and Doctorate of Educational Leadership are from Tarleton State University.

            The Kirkpatrick’s have two children, and two grandchildren, Claire and Charlotte, ages 8 and 2. Their son, Callaway and his wife, Natalie, are educators and coaches with Burleson ISD. Their daughter, Kadyn, is in the medical field.

            “The board is very pleased to have found Dr. Kirkpatrick,” Board of Trustees President Elizabeth Childress said. “His enthusiasm is palpable. We are looking forward to this new chapter in CISD and to all the possibilities in moving the district to new levels that the community expects—and deserves.”

            “We are extremely grateful to Dr. Jeff Hanks for his leadership during this interim period,” Childress said. “He jumped right in and helped the district see its potential, and areas of improvement, in a very short period of time. His years of experience as a superintendent provided us with stability and direction.”

            Cleburne’s new superintendent began Wednesday’s first official morning on the job sending an email to staff that included information on their return to school, starting with orientation for employees new to the district starting on July 31.

Kirkpatrick will also be joining Assistant Superintendents Dr. Kristi Rhone and Dr. Chis Jackson, who are in Austin for the first session of the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative. CISD is among 17 districts from across the state to be selected to join the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative, a multi-year initiative to assist public school systems in identifying and establishing a pipeline of master educators ready for campus leadership.