The Temple Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees, at its meeting on March 28 named Dr. Bobby Ott, as finalist for superintendent. By law, the Board must now wait 21 days before voting to hire Dr. Ott. Dr. Ott is slated to replace retiring Superintendent Dr. Robin Battershell.
The Board has followed a lengthy process in determining the finalist. In November, the Board hired Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to direct the search. TASB consultants met with staff and community groups to discuss desired characteristics of the new superintendent. The profile developed from these meetings was the yardstick used by the Board and consultants in evaluating the applicants for the position.
The Board selected six applicants for initial interviews. Three applicants were invited back for a second interview. The Board is scheduled to vote to offer a contract to Dr. Ott on April 19.
Board president Steve Wright said, “I would like to thank the community for their input into this process. The board has spent countless hours on this search and we feel that we have selected the best candidate to lead our district into the future.” We are extremely pleased with the selection of Dr. Ott as our next Superintendent and look forward to supporting him with his vision and plan for the District.
In a released statement Ott said, “I am humbled and honored to be named the lone finalist for the superintendent position at Temple ISD. Serving the students and staff of TISD for the past six years has been much more than a professional experience. The success of our students and staff is personal. I am excited to continue our direction and reach further in providing our students and staff the opportunity to maximize their potentials.”
Dr. Bobby Ott has over 20 years of educational experience. He received his Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to his degree he served as a teacher and a middle school principal. Throughout the pursuit of his doctoral degree he worked in the Division of Curriculum and Professional Development and the Office of Statewide Initiatives at the Texas Education Agency. He also served as the Program Director with the University of Texas System. For seven years, he served as the Deputy Superintendent in both Copperas Cove and then in Killeen ISD; and for the past six years has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Temple ISD. Since arrival TISD has achieved the “Met Standard” rating for each of those years.
Ott has also served the Texas School Alliance as a lead member for curriculum policy efforts and received a Governor appointment to the State Advisory Council for Early Childhood in 2009. He is currently a state-level member of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Central Office Advisory Committee, TASA 2025 Task Force Committee and was recently named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) State Advisory Council.
Locally he is a member of the Temple NAACP, Temple South Rotary Club, Temple Education Foundation, Eastside Redevelopment Committee and the 254Downtown Committee. He has also spent the last six years serving as a Temple Wildcat Student Mentor.
Ott is married to Nicole, his wife of 12 years, and has two daughters, Jordan and Tatum.