Getting to Know ‘Dr. H’
A Conversation with the New EMS ISD Superintendent
EMS ISD Superintendent Dr. Jerry D. Hollingsworth officially joined the district on January 1, 2025. Since then, he has been out and about visiting campuses and community organizations, meeting students, staff and families, and diving into the work of the district to build on the foundations to continue the focus on excellence in academics, personalized opportunities, and organizational improvement.
Why did you want to lead EMS ISD?
I am very familiar with the area. My hometown is Boyd, I attended TCU, and I’m a Fort Worth guy, so this feels very much like home. I wanted to lead for a variety of reasons – the district has a fantastic reputation and I wanted to be part of a growing school district. I also researched the district’s strong board of trustees and leadership, which was very appealing to me. We have fantastic kids and amazing teachers. There is a strong sense of community, which makes this a great place to be.
What are the most important things our EMS ISD community should know about you?
The most important thing to know is that I love public education and this profession. No other profession exists without teachers. Our work is a great calling, one filled with purpose and meaning. I feel privileged to work in this field each day. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Ginger, for 29 years. I have three boys, one daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter who was born in January. Family is important to me.
Your youngest son is enrolled in an EMS ISD high school, and you’ve moved into our community. How is your family adjusting to the move, and what are their initial thoughts about the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw area?
We love it here, it’s already starting to feel like home. Our son has adjusted very well. He is doing great in his classes, making friends, and this has been a positive change for him. He is an athlete, competing in football and track and field. My wife is adjusting well, too. We have a lot of family in the area – a brother and sister in EMS ISD, and my in-laws live in Keller. So we are happy to call EMS ISD our new home.
You’ve had the chance to meet quite a few teachers and students in the couple of months you’ve been here. What are your first impressions?
I have been visiting campuses and have completed presentations at nearly all of our 30 schools (and will have visited them all by the end of March). Each presentation includes time for feedback from teachers. It’s so very evident that our teachers are focused on kids and want the very best for our schools. They have a heart for this work, and they are incredibly talented and well-prepared. This is the main reason our district is such a great place to be.
What are you most excited about in EMS ISD?
I have been excited to experience the district firsthand, day by day, and get to know it personally. Living it every day is very different from just knowing about it. I’m inspired by the team we have in place and by seeing kids achieve great things. Watching the Boswell High School Lady Pioneers basketball team win their first-ever state championship, seeing one-act plays at two of our high schools, and witnessing students excel academically and in extracurricular activities – these moments are just a few examples that highlight what makes EMS ISD special.
What opportunities do you see for EMS ISD?
We will continue to grow for a long time and growth brings opportunities to impact more children and families. We aim to be a destination district – a place where families move because of our schools. That has been the case, and I want to ensure it continues.
What challenges do you see for EMS ISD?
The biggest challenge is also growth. Managing that growth responsibly will be an ongoing priority. Another significant challenge is funding, which is an issue across Texas. We are currently operating within a deficit budget while the state is sitting on record-breaking funds. If we could at least be restored to pre-COVID funding levels, it would help immensely. A lack of funding also creates academic challenges. While we have areas where we can improve, we have great people and strong plans in place to address them.
