AUSTIN, Texas—The Austin Independent School District released the following statement from Superintendent Meria Carstarphen on being named as the sole finalist to lead Atlanta Public Schools:

Today, I was formally announced as the sole finalist for superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. The formal vote by the Atlanta school board is scheduled for April 14.

Five years ago, I fell in love with Austin and our school district. And, for five years, it has been a privilege to serve AISD and to be a champion for public education and Austin’s children. 

Together, we have achieved AISD’s best performance under the highest, toughest accountability standards in the state’s history.

As a school district, we have come together to support and help each other amid dwindling resources to serve our growing and incredibly diverse student body. As a community, we have become a national model, drawing attention for our work to challenge and reform educational systems to meet students where they are, while working to ensure they have a fighting chance to get to where they want to be—to achieve their greatest potential.

Although it will be difficult to consider leaving Austin, I know AISD would remain in the good hands and good care of our extraordinary educators, leaders and community—from our Board of Trustees and our front-line service providers to our civic leaders and families.

As a daughter of the Deep South, I have a personal draw to Atlanta and it’s deeply rooted in my own upbringing and personal experience in civil rights, having been born and raised in Selma, Alabama. I look forward to the opportunity to support the Atlanta community and rebuild the Atlanta Public Schools. I will always strive to be part of the solution for urban public education in our great country.

I plan on working with the AISD Board of Trustees during the next few weeks to develop a successful transition plan.