WACO, Texas — Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon has announced that she will retire at the end of September after three decades in public education, announced the district on Thursday, June 6.
Waco ISD said Kincannon announced her plans to retire in a letter to the Board of Trustees. Her retirement will reportedly be effective Sept. 30, 2024.
"Although not without its share of challenges, serving as the superintendent of Waco ISD for the past five years gave me the opportunity to live out that mission in an incredibly meaningful way, and I’m proud of what my team and I have been able to accomplish in a relatively short amount of time," said Kincannon in her letter of resignation. "I am also incredibly grateful to each one of them for their commitment to our students, dedication to doing the work and their personal support."
Kincannon's career in public education has spanned 34 years, said Waco ISD, including over a decade as a superintendent. Kincannon has served as the Superintendent at Waco ISD since August 2019.
The district said Kincannon began her career in education as an elementary teacher at Scott Elementary in Temple ISD is 1990. Waco ISD said Kincannon credits her fourth grade teacher with inspiring her focus on students.
“I know the difference that a teacher can make in a child’s life, because Mrs. Killingsworth, my fourth grade teacher, made that difference in my life,” Kincannon said. “She was a phenomenal teacher, but more than anything I remember how she made me feel. She saw my potential, and she made me feel special. That’s why what we do in our public schools matters so much. As educators, we have the opportunity to make that difference for our students – to truly see their potential and to help them know that they are special.”
Kincannon grew up in Central Texas and graduated from Copperas Cove High School. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a master's degree in educational administration from Tarleton State University and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Baylor University.
Waco ISD said Kincannon served as an assistant principal and principal at schools at TISD and an intermediate school principal at Belton ISD before working her way up to superintendent at Belton ISD, a position she held from 2011 to 2019.
Since Kincannon started at the district, Waco ISD said the number of students dropping out has decreased, teacher retention rates have improved, the number of national scholar awards by the College Board has increased exponentially and much more.
“The Board of Trustees is deeply saddened about the news of her retirement, yet are extremely thankful for Dr. Kincannon and her leadership over these last 5 years,” Waco ISD Board of Trustees President Stephanie Korteweg said.
Waco ISD said the Board of Trustees has called a special meeting for Tuesday, June 11 to begin the process of hiring a new superintendent.
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