Voices From the Classroom: Students Have a Role in Superintendent Searches 

Finding the right person to lead a school district requires valuable input from stakeholders across the community, which means superintendent searches often involve hearing from parents, administrators, teachers, and community members. A recent superintendent search in Canutillo ISD took the process a step further by including students.

Input from students can play a unique and meaningful role in an effective superintendent search, said George Kazanas, TASB division director of Executive Search and Field Services. He has helped districts all over the state find superintendents through his role leading Executive Search Services, including the Canutillo ISD search.

“Students offer a perspective that no other group can provide,” Kazanas said. “They experience the outcomes of leadership decisions every day in classrooms, activities, and school culture. When districts intentionally include students in the search process, they gain insights that help define the qualities of a leader who will connect with the entire school community.”

Purpose and Preparation

During Canutillo ISD’s search process last October, Kazanas spoke with more than 70 students who participated in structured conversations designed to gather feedback on the traits and priorities they want to see in their next superintendent. Staff at the 5,400-student district north of El Paso coordinated closely with campuses to ensure a broad and representative group of students were involved.

“We loved our student involvement piece for the superintendent search,” said Canutillo ISD Communications Director Gustavo Reveles. “The conversations students had were very meaningful. Because we’re a smaller ISD with only 10 schools, it was easier to coordinate, but the effort still required strong collaboration with principals and teachers to make sure students were prepared and ready to share their perspectives.”

Reveles said secondary campuses were asked to bring 10 to 20 students each, with an emphasis on representing a wide range of interests and experiences. Elementary principals selected student council officers, about five students per campus, giving older elementary students an opportunity to participate.

“Preparation was a key component of the process,” Reveles noted. Principals received clear instructions and expectations, including guidance on helping students understand the purpose of the sessions and the role of a superintendent. 

The sessions also included Canutillo ISD’s two student advisors to the board of trustees, an approach that further empowered students and demonstrated the district’s long-standing commitment to student voice.

As districts look for ways to build trust and transparency in leadership transitions, Kazanas said Canutillo ISD demonstrates that student involvement is highly effective. 

“Our role is to help districts hear from all stakeholders,” Kazanas said.  “When students participate in feedback sessions and surveys, it strengthens the overall process and leads to more informed decisions. By listening to student voices, districts ensure that the leaders they select are prepared to meet the needs of the entire school community, starting with the students they serve.”

Finding the Right Leader

Canutillo ISD welcomed Josue Borrego as their new superintendent in January.

“From the beginning of this process, the board sought a superintendent who understands the heart of a school district like ours,” said Sergio Martinez, Canutillo ISD board president. “We wanted someone who values students, respects educators, and recognizes the importance of strong partnerships with families and the community.”

Kazanas noted that Executive Search Services partners with districts to meet the unique needs of their leadership search. The ESS team brings decades of experience and has had hundreds of successful placements, but each superintendent search is different.

The process in Canutillo ISD extended beyond student meetings to include in-person sessions and online surveys designed to gather input from a broad cross-section of the community. Participants were asked to share their views on preferred candidate traits, district strengths, challenges, and priorities that should influence the selection of the next superintendent.

“In the end, we had amazing participation from all stakeholders,” Martinez said. “The students took the responsibility seriously, asked thoughtful questions, and shared insights that genuinely helped shape our understanding of what the community wants in its next superintendent. It reinforced our belief that students should have a seat at the table.”

This article first appeared in the April/May 2026 issue of Texas Lone Star.