Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Peter Licata told the Board of Managers yesterday that the district now has just 20 teacher vacancies, a sharp drop from earlier this spring. The number did not exactly land softly. Some in the audience laughed, and at least one person held up a phone flashing the words “liar, liar” toward the front of the room.
Licata followed that headline figure with a detailed breakdown of remaining openings: about 25 speech-language pathologists, 11 bilingual support teachers, 11 school psychologists, five dyslexia specialists, four inclusion teachers and two bilingual support specialists. He said the district will refresh its online vacancy list every day or as possible. “Fort Worth ISD has begun an incredible journey,” Licata told the board. “We still have much work ahead, but tonight we can also recognize meaningful progress,” as reported by the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram.
Board Hands Hiring Keys To The Superintendent
In the same meeting, the Board of Managers voted to revise district employment policy and hand final authority to hire contractual and noncontractual employees to the superintendent. The change also removes a rule that exempt-level positions must be posted for at least ten business days, according to the Fort Worth ISD yesterday's agenda packet. The move centralizes hiring at the same time the district is scrambling to fill specialized roles before students return in the fall.
Fast Hires And Uncertified Teachers
FWISD human resources chief Denisha Presley told managers the district began the 2025-26 school year with 239 vacancies and that administrators have hired 142 uncertified teachers in recent months to plug gaps, as reported by the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram. District leaders say those hires are meant as temporary fixes while recruiting continues for certified candidates in speech, bilingual education and special education.
Why The Summer Scramble Matters
Public records from earlier this spring showed the district had more than 200 openings, and WFAA reported about 213 vacancies in April. That tally helped spark an aggressive summer recruiting blitz, as summarized by Texas ISD. FWISD has been running multiple Instructional Hiring Fairs throughout July and lists current openings and event dates on its careers page at FWISD Careers.
Despite the upbeat numbers from the administration, many parents and educators are openly skeptical that specialized support positions can be filled quickly or that uncertified teachers can stand in for certified specialists without serious training and oversight. The board’s policy shift, combined with the vocal reaction in Tuesday’s meeting, highlights the tension between moving fast to get adults in classrooms and keeping hiring transparent and fully staffed with qualified professionals.
What To Watch As School Nears
With the superintendent now holding final say on many hires, the district is expected to keep pushing its summer recruitment right up to the first bell. Families who want the latest information on open positions and hiring events should keep an eye on FWISD’s jobs page and event calendar. District leaders say they anticipate continued hiring through August as they try to have certified staff in place when the school year begins.
