Dr. Jamie Wilson has served as the superintendent of schools for Denton Independent School District since July 1, 2012. During his more than 30-year career he has built a reputation through public education advocacy, growth management and instructional innovation. His life-long ties to Denton County positioned him to become the leader of the school system.
Dr. Wilson joined the district in 2005 as the assistant superintendent for secondary academic programs, where he immediately focused on improving educational programs for the district's growing student population. He is committed to student engagement with a focus on student achievement.
Known throughout Texas as an innovative leader in instruction and administration, Dr. Wilson led the district in:
- Initiating the International Baccalaureate Programme from pre-school through high school at Borman Elementary, Newton Rayzor Elementary, Calhoun Middle and Denton High.
- Opening the district's second pre-school, Gonzalez School for Young Children, and added three-year-olds to the program. The district initiated in a move to offer full day Pre-K.
- Starting Dual Credit where juniors and seniors receive college and high school credit by taking classes through Texas Woman's University and North Central Texas College.
- Expanding the counseling services, which, among many other programs, have helped high school seniors receive more scholarship opportunities and increased FASFA application
- Helping the Denton Public School Foundation initiate the District's Top Graduates and Educators of Influence.
- Implementing a Ninth-Grade Jump Start program for freshmen who are struggling with their basic subject courses.
- Initiating the Ninth-Grade Academy at Fred Moore High for students needing special assistance and instruction.
- Guiding the district through several attendance zone changes at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
- Leading the district through two successful bond elections and a Tax Ratification Election to maximize statefundingopportunities for Denton ISD.
During the five years he served as deputy superintendent, Dr. Wilson has played a major leadership role in managing the district's finances, especially in 2011 when the state cut public school funding and the local district's revenue by $11 million.
Dr. Wilson helped open six secondary campuses, including Braswell High, Guyer High, Navo Middle, Harpool Middle, Rodriguez Middle and the LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex, as well as nine elementary schools. Denton ISD has opened 12 schools in eleven years.
In 2016, the National School Public Relations Association named Dr. Wilson to the "Top 25 Superintendents to Watch" list for his innovative practices in the area of public engagement and outreach. He was the only honoree from Texas, and the only administrator selected from the South Central Region of the U.S. which encompasses seven states.In 2017, the Texas K12 CTO Council named Dr. Wilson as the "Tech Savvy Superintendent" for promoting and supporting innovative uses of technology in Denton ISD. The same year, The Center for Digital Education named him one of 30 Technologists, Transformers, and Trailblazers for leading the infusion of technology with fidelity throughoutall Denton ISD classrooms.
Dr. Wilson has been very active in leadership across Texas. He is finishing a two-year term as the President of the Fast Growth Schools Coalition, serves on the Executive Committee for the Texas Association of School Administrators, and was recently asked to serve on the Superintendent's Council for Friends of Texas Public Schools. Inaddition to these leadership positions, Dr. Wilson is a board member for the United Way of Denton County,Communities in Schools of North Texas, Denton County Children's Advocacy Center, and DATCU Credit Union.
Previously, Dr. Wilson served in various educational leadership positions for the Keller and Aubrey school districts. In Keller ISD, he was the principal at Keller High and also served as assistant principal, science department chair, coach and teacher. He also was principal at Aubrey High and a biology teacher and assistant coach at A&M Consolidated High School.
He received his bachelor's and master's degree from the University of North Texas, his superintendency certification from Texas Woman's University, and completed his doctorate of education administration from UNT, where he was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Student in Educational Administration Award. His research area, Predictors of College and Career Readiness, has served as a springboard for readiness initiatives across the district. He has been married to Melanie Pettit Wilson, an outstanding retired educator, for more than 30 years and they have two daughters, Makenzie and Macie. Makenzie is a third-grade teacher in Lewisville ISD, and Macie currently owns her own business.
In 2016, the National School Public Relations Association named Dr. Wilson to the "Top 25 Superintendents to Watch" list for his innovative practices in the area of public engagement and outreach. He was the only honoree from Texas, and the only administrator selected from the South Central Region of the U.S. which encompasses seven states.