Fairchild named lone superintendent finalist

By BOBBY HORECKA

The Sweet Home school superintendent is about to become the Moulton school superintendent, Moulton school board members decided Monday.

That’s after the board met in special session Monday to name a lone finalist for the job left open by the resignation of MISD superintendent Chris Ulcak last year. They picked Dr. Renee Fairchild (PhD) when they met at 5 p.m. Monday, April 11.

She will replace interim superintendent Mark Pool, a

retired superintendent from El Campo ISD, who has filled the local vacancy since last November and helped serve as the district’s hiring consultant.

Fairchild has served as the superintendent of Sweet Home ISD since July 2021. Previously, she served as assistant superintendent (technology officer) at Gonzales ISD, and served multiple roles in that district, including that of teacher. She currently lives in Harwood.

In her letter of interest to Moulton ISD, Fairchild said, “My family and I have always held a special place in our hearts for the Moulton community. We knew it was a small world when we discovered our oldest son’s roommate at Texas A&M had deep roots in Moulton.

“My husband and I welcome the opportunity to cheer on the Moulton Katz at sporting events, FFA activities, UIL competitions, live performances and any other events where our Katz or Kittens are participating,” she added.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Fairchild’s experience and expertise to take the lead as our new chief executive officer,” said MISD board president Daniel Beyer. “She not only brings a wealth of knowledge but also a deep desire to be part of the Moulton Community for years to come. The board is very excited to name her as our lone finalist, and we look forward to officially hiring her in early May.”

Texas state law requires that 21 days pass between the time a lone finalist is named for a school’s top leadership post and time an official job offer is made.

The board plans to make that offer officially on May 4.

Fairchild was one of 13 applicants to file for the Moulton superintendent’s job, and board members have met weekly and sometimes daily during the past month as they combed through applications to find the best candidate for the job.

Despite those many meetings, the board met on Wednesday during its regular 6:30 p.m. meeting time to address its regular monthly business items.

As a general note to readers, The Associated Press Stylebook, which guides the writing of newspapers, generally reserves the title of doctor (Dr.) to only those capable treating a malady, not just those with advanced terminal degrees. That would include medical doctors, veterinarians and dentists/orthodontists only.