Veteran superintendent is finalist for Marfa ISD

MARFA, POTH – A seven-year veteran superintendent has been named the lone finalist for Marfa ISD superintendent.

Andrew W. Peters the past year was superintendent at Poth and from 2005 to 2011 was Louise ISD superintendent.

Meeting in special session Thursday, the Marfa school board voted 4-0 to name Peters the lone finalist. While trustees Mark Cash, Tina Lujan, Cosme Roman, and Robert Halpern were present for the vote, absent school board members Katie Price Fowlkes and Zach Moerbe had brief letters of support for Peters read into the minutes of the meeting.

Andrew Peters

In addition to his superintendent experience, Peters career began as a classroom teacher in 1995 in Bay City, where he also was a junior high school behavior specialist and an assistant principal. He was a Van Vleck ISD elementary school principal and later served as the district’s business manager there. He later was a Royal ISD elementary principal at Patterson before becoming Louise superintendent.

A native of Washington state, Peters earned a Bachelor’s degree of science in elementary education with a reading minor from Corpus Christi State University and a Master’s of arts degree in school administration from the University of Houston at Victoria.

“Trustees listened to what our educators and townsfolk wanted in a new superintendent and we believe Andy is the best fit for Marfa ISD at this time,” said board president Robert Halpern. Most of Peters’ career has been at Class 1A and Class 2A schools, similar in size to Marfa, is a credentialed superintendent, has been a school district business manager, and has grant-writing experience.

“Trustees stressed to the superintendent applicants interviewed that our immediate needs are to enhance the academic experience for our students, to raise test scores, and balance the budget,” Halpern said. “We believe Mr. Peters can help us with these issues.”

Poth, a Class 2A district, is currently a recognized district with a recognized elementary school and acceptable junior high and high school campuses.

Class 1A Louise ISD, where Peters spent six years, currently is acceptable district-wide with a recognized elementary campus, an acceptable junior high campus, and an unacceptable high school campus.

Marfa currently has an acceptable district and is academically unacceptable at the elementary, junior high, and high school campuses.

Peters and his wife of 29 years, Cindy, have three daughters, Joy, Laura, and Rebecca.  Joy is a nutritionist in Houston. Laura has taught school for one year and has accepted a job to teach math in Houston ISD this upcoming year.  Rebecca is the youngest daughter. She graduated this past May from Poth High School and is considering attending Sul Ross University this fall.

He is expected to be in Marfa in mid-August. “I have met with a number of the staff over the phone and I am excited to join with them to provide a quality education to the children of Marfa,” Peters said. Peters plans on being an active member of the community. “I look forward to meeting students, staff, parents, and members of the community.”