New Newcastle ISD Superintendent begins first school year

Evan Cardwell is replacing Ty Spitzer as the superintendent of Newcastle ISD and said he has enjoyed the start of his first school year as the man in charge.

Cardwell said Spitzer, who has been in the position since the early 1990s’, made the decision to step down in the spring. Shortly after, in May, he interviewed for the position and was named the next superintendent in July.

“Ty has been fantastic. He is a great leader and has done really well here as far as leading the district,” he said. “He has been a wonderful mentor. I’m very blessed to have him. This community and this school district is really going to miss him. (…) and he will always be just a phone call away.”

He added Spitzer always said that this job had to be someone’s lifestyle.

“I think that is what the board saw in me is that it’s not going to be a job,” Cardwell said. “It’s not going to be a job, it is going to be what I do because I love being a part of this community so much.”

Spitzer is helping Cardwell in his transition period by showing him the systems and operations which are in place before his departure at the turn of the calendar year.

Cardwell said he grew up in a small farming community in the Austin area and comes to Newcastle from Paint Creek ISD where he began as the Athletic Director before transitioning into the Principal position.

“I came to Newcastle because I have family in the area and my wife is from the area,” Cardwell said. “So, we feel like we are coming back home to our home community. I started out as a teacher and coach and had a really good administrator and mentor at a previous school who said ‘You know Evan you can reach more kids and have a greater impact on more kids in administration than you can coaching.’ So, that has something which that has really stuck with me.”

He added after that he obtained his masters from Tarleton State University and began transitioning into administration.

“I think the K-12 (campus) is a better fit for me because you get more of a community and family atmosphere,” Cardwell said. “The smaller numbers allow for more one on one. I think that I’m able to develop those deeper relationships with those students because there is fewer of them.”

For the rest of the story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 11 edition of The Graham Leader.