Frisco ISD Board Narrows Superintendent Search, Lone Finalist Expected Mid-March

Frisco Independent School District trustees, working with retained search firm Impact Education Specialists, have narrowed the superintendent search to three candidates, Community Impact reported Feb. 27, and officials expect to select the district's lone finalist in mid-March 2026 as they replace retiring Superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip.

The district's posted timeline shows the pace of the process: "January 9-21, 2026 - Community/Parent Superintendent Input Survey and Staff Superintendent Input Survey," community input sessions on "January 15 and 21, 2026 - Community input sessions. No RSVP needed," and an application deadline of "January 30, 2026 - Application submission window closed at 5 p.m." Screening took place in February 2026, interviews are scheduled to conclude in March 2026, the timeline lists "Mid-March 2026 - Lone finalist named," and it also lists "Late March 2026 - Hiring of superintendent."

The Board approved the search firm last December. "In December 2025, the Board of Trustees approved Impact Education Specialists as the executive search firm to guide the selection of the next Frisco ISD superintendent," the district's site states. Impact Education Specialists led the community engagement used to build a candidate profile, engaging PTA, boosters, civic organizations, city leadership, central administration, directors, support staff, campus staff and community members during mid-January sessions and through the surveys that closed Jan. 21. Frisco ISD invites readers to "View the Superintendent Search Input Sessions & Surveys Comprehensive Report" on the district site.

The search follows the retirement announcement from the district's long-serving superintendent. "In November 2025, Dr. Mike Waldrip announced his retirement as Superintendent of Frisco ISD, effective June 30, 2026," the district's materials note; Waldrip has served nine years as superintendent. The Board of Trustees retains final authority over the hire: "Who makes the final decision? The Board of Trustees," the FAQ states.

Texas law imposes a procedural pause before a formal hire can proceed. "What is the 'Lone Finalist' rule? Texas law requires a 21‑day waiting period after naming a lone finalist," Frisco ISD's FAQ says, a statutory window that could affect whether a late‑March hiring date is feasible depending on the exact mid‑March naming day.

Local reporting from the Frisco Enterprise echoed that trustees and the search firm are "nearing completion" and expect to name a lone finalist in March; the Enterprise page shows an update time of March 3, 2026 at 10:32 a.m. Neither Frisco ISD nor published coverage has released the names of the three candidates or an exact mid‑March calendar date for the lone finalist announcement. For documented district contact, Frisco ISD lists its offices at 5515 Ohio Drive, Frisco, Texas 75035, phone 469.633.6000 and fax 469.633.6050. The board's eventual choice will determine leadership during the transition to Dr. Waldrip's June 30, 2026 retirement, with community input and the lone finalist waiting period shaping the final schedule.