Published: May 14, 2008 01:38 am      

OISD names lone finalist

Former PISD principal Scoggin returning to lead local district

OAKWOOD — Former Palestine Independent School District administrator Richard Scoggin is coming home again — or coming close to home, anyway.

Oakwood ISD trustees named the Palestine native and current Livingston High School principal as their lone finalist for superintendent during a called meeting Saturday.

After a state-required 21-day waiting period, the board will be allowed to officially approve Scoggin and issue a contract. That meeting date has been set for June 2, Scoggin said, with a start date of July 1.

“I am so excited to be coming back to this area,” Scoggin said in a Tuesday interview. “I have been in the education business for 22 years, with 16 of those as an administrator, and taking this next step as superintendent has been a goal of mine for a while now.

“An opportunity presented itself at Oakwood ISD and I went for it.”

According to Scoggin, his first priority as OISD’s new leader will be to add to the already positive aspects of the school district.

“I want to build upon the good foundation that already exists there,” he said. “And I think OISD will be a really good fit for myself and my family.”

Scoggin also expressed an eagerness to bring his family to the district and start getting to know the school and community.

“I feel that being part of the community is an important aspect of my leading the district,” he said. “I want to bring my home and family there and start getting involved.”

Scoggin graduated from Palestine High School in 1982, and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Scoggin began his teaching career at Palestine High School as a teacher and coach in 1987. His next stop was Livingston High School where he worked as a teacher and coach from 1991 to 1992 and assistant principal until 1994.

Scoggin’s first principal position was at Broaddus Junior/Senior High School from 1994 to 1996. He then served four years as principal at Westwood High School, and was principal at Palestine High School for six years before taking the same position at Livingston High School.

As OISD’s new superintendent, Scoggin will replace outgoing district chief Dr. Douglas Moore, who will be taking an administrative position at a charter school next year.

Scoggin and his wife, Kim, have three children — a son, Brooks, who currently attends Texas A&M University; a daughter, Chelsea, who graduates from high school this month and also will be attending Texas A&M in the fall; and another son, Tyler, who will begin fifth grade this fall.

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com