The Leander ISD Board of Trustees appointed Chris Clark as acting superintendent in a 6-1 vote Thursday night, with Trustee Paul Gauthier as the sole dissent. Clark’s appointment comes just days after Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing announced he will retire.

“I am honored to step into the role of Acting Superintendent of Leander ISD and grateful to the Board of Trustees for the trust they have placed in me during this transition,” Clark said in a statement from the district. “In the months ahead, my focus will be on continuity, stability and support — ensuring our campuses and departments have what they need to finish the year strong while the Board conducts a comprehensive search for the district’s next permanent superintendent.”

School Board President Anna Smith said that the board appreciates Clark’s eagerness to guide the district through the transition period.

“As a respected and effective leader, he will keep our focus on students and district continuity,” Smith said.

The search for a permanent superintendent will begin in early 2026, according to the district, and Clark has agreed not to apply as a condition of his appointment to the role.

Clark first joined the district in June 2023 as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. He now serves as the deputy superintendent of learning and innovation, overseeing major instructional initiatives across the district. Clark brings more than 30 years of experience in education, including roles in Tulsa Public Schools and Frisco ISD.

“Over the past year and a half, I have had the privilege of working alongside many of you, serving as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and, more recently, as Deputy Superintendent of Learning and Innovation,” Clark said in a release sent to district staff. “In those roles, I have seen firsthand the strength of our campuses, the dedication of our teachers and staff and the systems we have built together to support student success. Those systems are strong, and they will continue to guide our work during this time.”

At the time of his promotion to deputy superintendent in December 2024, Clark said he was looking forward to collaborating with other district staff and providing students with opportunities to pursue their passions.

“Serving as Leander ISD’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction has been the most rewarding experience in my career, and I am excited about the work we are doing for students and families in this district,” Clark said. “I am honored that Dr. Gearing and the Board of Trustees have entrusted me with the opportunity to serve the #1LISD community as the deputy superintendent of learning and innovation.”

The appointment of Clark to his new role comes after a tense school board meeting last week in which Gearing and board members went back and forth as they discussed possible school consolidations. The next day, on Dec. 5, CPHS News broke the news that Gearing would be retiring from his position as superintendent and taking up the honorary position of superintendent emeritus for the remainder of the school year.

Previously, on Nov. 14, Gearing was announced as a finalist for the superintendent job at Conway Public Schools in Arkansas, surprising many trustees.

This is a developing story. Updates will be added as they become available.