Hicks hired as Fort Davis principal

FORT DAVIS, MARFA – Graydon Hicks III, the Marfa Junior/Senior High School principal the past five years, is the new Fort Davis ISD secondary principal.

At a special Fort Davis ISD board of trustees meeting Wednesday afternoon, school board members voted 6-0 to offer Hicks the job, Superintendent Judy Whitis said. Hicks begins his new duties Monday.

“We are very pleased,” Whitis said. “He brings academic leadership strength, consistency, and his knowledge of working in a small community and a small school district.”

Hicks grew up in Fort Davis and attended school there. After graduating from Fort Davis High School, he earned an appointment to West Point Military Academy where he obtained a collegiate degree. He later returned to the area and taught at Presidio and Fort Davis public schools before taking the Marfa principal’s position.

Marfa ISD Superintendent Teloa Swinnea said Wednesday it is with “regret” that she’ll accept Hicks’ resignation, but supports his move to his hometown and alma mater.

A plan is in place to move forward while a new Marfa junior/senior principal is sought, she added.

Whitis said the district received 23 applicants for the job, which a selection committee narrowed to five candidates to interview.

The other local educator considered was Steve Merrill, a longtime Fort Davis educator who served as interim principal since last fall when the former principal resigned.

He will return to his job as federal programs administrator, Whitis said.

Like Hicks, Whitis is new to Fort Davis ISD administration. She was hired in January.

As for her new principal, “He’s every thing we were looking for, a team player, with a strong discipline factor, a solid work ethic, and integrity,” she said of Hicks.