New superintendent, board of managers named in Lake Worth ISD intervention

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath on Wednesday named a new superintendent and Board of Managers to take control of Lake Worth Independent School District (ISD), formalizing the state’s takeover of the school district.

In December 2025, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath acted under a state law allowing intervention in chronically underperforming schools, announcing the agency would take over Lake Worth ISD. The move replaced the district’s superintendent and elected board with a state-appointed superintendent and Board of Managers.

The takeover followed years of low academic performance, including five consecutive failing accountability ratings at Marilyn Miller Language Academy, which triggered state action under Texas law. Districtwide, only about 22% of students are performing at grade level based on state assessment results that were revealed in August 2025.

Following the intervention, TEA conducted a nationwide search for a superintendent and reviewed 19 applications for the Board of Managers. The selected superintendent and five-member board will oversee the district until it meets state criteria to return to elected governance.

Dr. Ena Meyers will lead the district as superintendent. She began work under a 21-day interim contract pending board approval. Meyers has more than 20 years of experience in Texas public education, serving as a teacher, principal and district leader. Most recently, she was deputy chief of strategic initiatives at Houston ISD.

The appointed Board of Managers includes Tom Harris, a business and community leader who chairs the Fort Worth Mayor’s Council on Education and Workforce Development.

Amy Morgan is a longtime educator with more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator and higher education instructor, with a focus on special populations.

Kenneth Nichols, a retired U.S. Navy officer, brings more than 30 years of military service and experience as an adjunct university professor. His volunteer work includes supporting veterans and youth mentoring programs.

Mason Sneed is a business and finance professional with experience in private equity, corporate restructuring and engineering.

Judy Starnes is a longtime Lake Worth resident and retired district educator who spent 25 years teaching and working with special populations, including serving as a team leader and workshop facilitator.

Meyers and the Board of Managers are tasked with improving academic outcomes, particularly in reading and math, and strengthening district systems. Before control can return to an elected board, the district must eliminate multi-year failing campuses, improve student performance across all groups and meet governance standards under the Lone Star Governance framework, including achieving a “Meets Focus” rating.

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