GISD hires new superintendent

It was a night of change Wednesday for Graham ISD, as the board announced the retirement of Superintendent Sonny Cruse and accepted the contract for new Superintendent Dr. Mary Johnston.

The board accepted Cruse’s resignation during a special-called meeting Tuesday, May 28. His retirement will be effective Tuesday, Dec. 31, but in the meantime he will transition into the role of superintendent emeritus and provide mentorship and guidance to GISD leadership.

Since joining the district in August 2015, Cruse has worked to enhance education opportunities, strengthen ties within the community and ensure the district is operating effectively. He launched initiatives in communication, curriculum development, safety and school facilities.

“Superintendent Cruse’s vision and dedication to GISD have transformed our district in remarkable ways,” GISD Board President Chris Blanton said. “From raising teacher salaries and enhancing facilities to prioritizing student safety and creating innovative communication platforms, his contributions have touched every aspect of our schools. We look forward to his continued support as superintendent emeritus.”

As superintendent, Cruse also brought improvements such as implementing data-driven instruction with NWEA-MAP assessments and introduced full-day preschool and STEM programs.

The district under Cruse also earned superior ratings on the Financial Integrity Rating System and enhanced school safety and infrastructure through projects like campus renovations, new athletic facilities and advanced security measures.

Cruse has also been an advocate for increasing the pay of district employees. In the 2016-2017 school year, the starting teacher salary was $34,000 and is now up to $43,000 for the 2023-2024 school year. Since 2006, the district has off-and-on offered one-time bonuses and, since 2015, has paid over $1.6 million in bonuses to all staff.

“As I reflect on the past 10 years, my heart is filled with gratitude for the incredible journey we have shared together,” Cruse said. “Serving as your superintendent has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I am deeply appreciative of the trust, support and collaboration we’ve enjoyed during my time here.”

Johnston was named lone finalist for the superintendent position Wednesday, Oct. 21, after the board conducted multiple interviews in October. The board met in September to conduct a candidate review and narrow down over 40 applicants pursuing the position.

State law requires that the district must wait 21 days after announcing a lone finalist before the candidate is hired.

Since 2017, Johnston has served as the Rockwall ISD chief academic officer of elementary schools and formerly served in roles as the executive director for special programs and principal at Southlake Carroll ISD.

In her position at Rockwall ISD, she is responsible for campus operations at the elementary schools to meet academic standards. She manages the campus principals, staffing and personnel and oversees curriculum and instruction, special programs, federal programs, multilingual services, assessment and accountability and professional development. 

With over 30 years in education, Johnston has also served as a principal for Dallas ISD, assistant principal for Southlake Carroll ISD and a Spanish teacher at Trinity Valley School and Birdville ISD.

She received her Bachelor of Arts at The University of Texas at Arlington in English and Spanish, her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at Texas Christian University and her doctorate in education from The University of Texas at Austin.

In his new role, Cruse will provide a smooth transition of leadership to Johnston, who will begin serving as superintendent Monday, Dec. 2.