The Texas Education Agency is required to take over a failing school district under state law. (Photo courtesy of Peter Licata/Fort Worth ISD)
The state intervened at the district after one campus received five consecutive failing grades on the A-F accountability rating system from 2018-2023.
Five months after announcing a state take over of Fort Worth Independent School District, the Texas Education Agency has named its new superintendent.
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath appointed Peter Licata as the district’s new superintendent Tuesday morning.
Licata previously oversaw Broward County Public Schools in South Florida during the 2023-24 school year. There, he led the district to its first state “A” rating in more than 14 years, according to the TEA. He later resigned and stepped away from day-to-day leadership, citing health concerns.
He’ll replace Karen Molinar, who served as Fort Worth ISD’s interim superintendent since October 2024 and worked for the district for over 30 years.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Licata called Fort Worth ISD’s performance data “depressing” and “offensive,” and said that this is an opportunity to bring his skills “to a place that deserves the best.”
The state took over Fort Worth ISD in October 2025 after one of its campuses—Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade Center—received a failing accountability rating for five consecutive school years.
Local lawmakers called the takeover politically motivated, and the school board voted to appeal the TEA’s decision following weeks of backlash and concerns from parents and community members.
Ultimately, the appeal, which was meant to explore whether TEA Commissioner Mike Morath had enough evidence to justify the takeover, was rejected.
District takeovers have caused controversy in the past, with education advocates condemning the TEA’s decision to take over Houston ISD in 2023.
State Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D-Fort Worth), who ran his campaign as a staunch public education advocate and previously voiced his disappointment with the TEA’s decision to replace Molinar, weighed-in on Morath’s new appointment.
“While I remain skeptical that a takeover by the state is the most effective strategy, I am grateful for the new board members’ and superintendent’s willingness to serve our community,” Rehmet said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them to improve student outcomes, better support our teachers, and restore control of the district to our community-elected board as soon as possible.”
The TEA also announced the nine members of its appointed board of education, which will replace the elected school board. You can see its new members here.
The district could transition back to its elected school board and superintendent once it’s achieved zero multi-year unacceptable campuses and exceeds the average for proficiency in language arts and math.
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