RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Randolph Field Independent School District Board of Trustees selected the new superintendent for the district April 26.
Billy Walker, currently serving as the superintendent for business services for the Killeen ISD, was chosen from 63 applicants to replace Dr. Barbara Maddox.
According to state law, there will be a 21-day waiting period before Mr. Walker can officially be named superintendent. During that time, details of his contract will be negotiated and voted upon by the district's Board of Trustees.
"I'm very excited about serving the Randolph Field Independent School District because it is an outstanding district with a well-earned reputation as one of the premier systems in the state," Mr. Walker said. "Excellence is not negotiable - it is expected.
"Randolph Field ISD serves a very special student body, the children of our country's military families, and I respect the sacrifice these families make to ensure our freedom."
Mr. Walker has served in his current capacity in Killeen for the past five years and has served the district for one year as executive director for fiscal management. Before that position, he was superintendent of Tenaha ISD for five years.
He also has served for three years as a school principal, two at Newton Elementary School and one at Bleakwood Elementary School and was a teacher and coach from 1979 to 1993 at High Island, Deweyville, and Jefferson in East Texas.
Mr. Walker received his bachelor's degree from East Texas Baptist University and a master's degree in education from Lamar University. He is a registered Texas School Business Administrator through the Texas Association of School Business Officials and has state certification as an investment officer and Level 1 and 2 Impact Aid certification through the Federal Impacted Schools Education Foundation.
Mr. Walker is married and his wife, Cynthia, will retire this year as a math teacher. They have two children, three granddaughters and a fourth grandchild, due in early July.
His successor, Dr. Barbara Maddox, served Randolph Field ISD for 23 years, the last 15 as superintendent. She had previously served three years as assistant superintendent and five as curriculum director. She has spent 41 years as a professional educator.
Under her leadership, Randolph schools have been consistent leaders in student test scores, both on the state and national levels. Also, both Randolph Elementary School and Randolph Middle School were recipients of the U.S. Department of Education's "National Blue Ribbon Schools" award.