SHEPHERD, TEXAS — Superintendent Jason Hewitt is scheduled to retire at the end of the 2026 school year as Shepherd ISD transitions back to local control following improved academic ratings. The Texas Education Agency announced in March 2024 that the district would return to elected trustee oversight.

The Texas Education Agency took over Shepherd ISD in 2019 due to academic failure, appointing a board of managers and naming Dr. Jason Hewitt as superintendent on March 6, 2020. This appointment occurred after Shepherd Primary and Shepherd Intermediate schools received five consecutive years of unacceptable performance in the state academic accountability rating system. Prior to the 2019 state takeover, Shepherd ISD primary and intermediate schools had failed multiple years in a row.

When the Board of Managers and Superintendent were appointed, three out of four Shepherd ISD campuses were rated Overall F, and an average of 28% of Shepherd ISD students were on grade level in Reading and Mathematics. In March 2024, all Shepherd ISD campuses were rated acceptable. As of the 2025 ratings cycle, there were no F-rated campuses in Shepherd ISD. The percentage of Shepherd ISD students meeting grade level performance increased by 5 percent by March 2024.

Shepherd ISD documents state that the state takeover will end when the district receives a C rating, has no multi-year failing campuses, and the board of managers demonstrates operational capability. The board of managers has begun transitioning back to local control, with four elected trustees currently on the board. The Shepherd ISD board now holds the responsibility of selecting its own superintendent, as directed by the Texas Education Agency.

In the 2021-22 school year, Shepherd Primary School and Shepherd Intermediate School received a B rating, according to Texas Education Agency data. Following that year, ratings for Shepherd Primary School and Shepherd Intermediate School fell to a D. Shepherd High School's rating dropped from a B to a C, and Shepherd Middle School's rating decreased from a B to a D. Shepherd ISD is currently rated a D overall.

Multiple district improvement plans identify the inability to hire and retain experienced teachers as a recurring issue for Shepherd ISD. William Lacoste, a Shepherd council member, said, "A lot in my family went to school to be teachers. And I know a few of mine have moved from Shepherd to a bigger district because of the paycheck." Superintendent Jason Hewitt stated, "So all of the things we are doing to try and attract teachers to the field range from a four-day calendar, bigger salary, benefit increases; there are just a bunch of things that are happening." Lacoste also commented on housing, saying, "The problem that we have really is housing. There's not enough housing for the teachers to come down."

Martha Pate, a Shepherd ISD parent, stated that some of her adult children have removed their children from Shepherd ISD for homeschooling or other districts due to academic concerns. "I think it has gotten a little worse because, I mean, they're not learning," Pate said. She also commented, "It's just heartbreaking to watch your child struggle." A new superintendent for Shepherd ISD has not yet been announced.