Frailey named finalist in Katy superintendent search, leaving DeSoto mid-May

by Daphne Brown of DeSoto TODAY

The hardest part of acquiring Alton L. Frailey would be keeping him, DeSoto School Board member Curt Krohn had said from the beginning.

One of the most popular men in DeSoto, DeSoto Schools Superintendent Frailey was named the lone finalist in the superintendent search for Katy, Texas, outside of Houston.

Less than three years after hiring Frailey, the DeSoto School Board will conduct its own search to replace him.

School Board President Janice Pettis Ingram said she called an executive session of the school board April 19, making them aware of the Katy School District's decision.

“We're feeling encouraged,” Ingram said. “What we've realized is that we are a good board and because we've been so solid, we have allowed Mr. Frailey to shine.”

With things moving fast, Ingram said an e-mail went out to staff making everyone aware.

“He was an excellent fit for DeSoto,” she said. “He's done a lot of great things. We're happy for him and his family.”

A “head hunter” contacted Ingram about Frailey.

“That's how the person referred to himself when he called me,” Ingram said. “But we've gotten several calls about Mr. Frailey. In fact, we had a call last year looking for him.”

She said the board's concern was that Frailey was out looking for a job.

“That definitely was not the case,” she said. “He was not out looking around.

“It's just that this time someone came after him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse,” she said.

As of April 23, Frailey had not tendered a resignation, Ingram said, but it is forthcoming.

“I made several courtesy calls just to make people aware of what was going on,” she said. “No one I talked to was surprised because they're so impressed with him, and they found it comforting that he didn't go out looking but that an opportunity was presented to him that he couldn't refuse.

“We're back to the drawing board,” she said. “I've been on the board for 11 years and this is the third time I've been through this process.

“I've been in this hot-seat before,” she said. “We're meeting, and I'm appealing for the community to trust us. We're not in panic mode. We want things to remain settled.”

DeSoto Mayor Michael Hurtt said, “From a community standpoint, we're delighted with the school district's progress.

“We hate to see him leave, but we knew he would move on because he just has all of these credentials,” Hurtt said. “The board did a good job last time, so we'll give them a chance to do the same.”

Hurtt said that from what he understood, there were some really good applicants for superintendent before.

“We say thank you for what he's done,” Hurtt said. “He's been a real friend to this community.”

Upon being hired in DeSoto, Frailey had served as superintendent in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2002-05. The move to DeSoto brought he and his family back to Texas, where he started his career in education in 1983 after earning a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a master's degree three years later from the same institution. Frailey worked in and around the Houston area, including Spring Branch and Cypress-Fairbanks from 1990 until he left to head the Cincinnati Public School System.

The school board hired Frailey after then-superintendent Jim Hawkins left in August of the previous year. An interim superintendent was named and Frailey was hired in February 2005. Since taking the helm, the district has gone to a uniform dress code, created a new mission statement, adopted a Portrait of a Graduate document, embarked on numerous construction projects including renovations at DeSoto High School. In addition to guiding the district through its grade realignment and elementary and middle school boundary changes, Frailey has spearheaded the DHS visioning project to discuss how the campus will look and educate its students within the coming years.

Ingram said Frailey received annual reviews by the school board. A three-year contract had been extended to him earlier this month.

The Katy School District, although it named Frailey as its only finalist, must wait 21 days before offering him the position. According to information that went out to staff, Frailey will be named the district's superintendent May 10. His first day of employment is scheduled for July 1. The Katy superintendent is retiring after 12 years in the post.