Nacogdoches ISD trustees on Tuesday approved hiring Grey Burton to be the next Superintendent of Schools.
Burton was named the lone finalist May 19; Texas law requires school boards wait at least 21 days before formally approving a contract with a new superintendent. His start date with the district will be July 1.
“We’re happy to have Mr. Burton as superintendent,” said NISD Board of Trustees President Farshid Niroumand. “I truly believe Mr. Burton will be a great fit at NISD, and I’m looking forward to what happens from here.”
Burton returns to NISD nearly seven years after leaving to fill the superintendent post at Rusk ISD in neighboring Cherokee County. Before taking over in Rusk, Burton served five years as Associate Superintendent of Administrative Services and Operations at NISD. Prior to that, Burton was superintendent at Martinsville ISD from 2007 to 2013 and was also superintendent/principal at Pineywoods Community Academy, a charter school in Lufkin.
Burton’s family has close ties with the district; two of his children are graduates of Nacogdoches High School. Burton’s wife, Keri, is also an NHS graduate and was a drum major for the Golden Dragon Marching Band.
Burton has a Master of Educational Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in education degree from SFA in 1995.
“I said this three weeks ago, and I say it again today: ‘This is my dream job,’” Burton said Tuesday. “This is my stop, and it’s the job I’ve always wanted.
In the classroom, Burton taught physical education for grades kindergarten through fifth grade, reading for grades 6-8 and high school social studies. He spent two years as a coach at Nacogdoches High School in football and basketball.
Burton said he wants transparency with parents and the community about what takes place in the school district. He will also work closely with NISD teachers and staff.
“We do have work to do, and I promise you I will do the best job I possibly can do to positively influence what happens in the classroom – the very reason we are all here,” Burton said. “And our staff needs to know district leadership is here for them as well – that I’m here for them – so that we’re all focused on the same goal: student achievement in the classroom.”
Burton replaces Dr. Gabriel Trujillo who left NISD in March after five years with the district. Trujillo returned to Grand Prairie ISD where he was named superintendent.
NISD trustees contracted with Arrow Educational Services Inc. to conduct the search for superintendent, the same firm the district used in 2020 when Trujillo was hired.