The Judson independent school District in Texas has appointed Ann Dixon as its interim superintendent, marking the fifth leadership change in six months. This appointment comes amidst a backdrop of state investigationsboard infighting and financial challenges that have plagued the district since the beginning of 2026.
Dixon, a longtime educator and familiar figure in the district, was chosen in a 6-1 vote by the school board. Her extensive experience includes serving as the superintendent of Somerset ISD and acting as an interim superintendent in over 20 other Texas districts, including Judson ISD at one point.
The revolving door of leadership at Judson ISD
The district has seen a revolving door of leadership since the Texas Legislature recognized Dixon for her work. The board first placed Milton Fields the former superintendent, on administrative leave in. Fields, a longtime Judson employee who became superintendent in 2026, was accused of financial mismanagementharassment and failure to disclose knowledge of alleged abuse.
Following Fields’ leave, the board appointed Lacey Gosch as acting superintendent from January 10 to February 4. After officially firing Fields, the board picked Mary Duhart-Toppen as interim superintendent for a brief stint from February 4 to February 16. However, Duhart-Toppen was deemed ineffective, leading to the appointment of Robert Jaklich a retired superintendent who once led Harlandale ISD and served as interim superintendent in San Antonio ISD a few years ago.
Jaklich’s tenure was marked by significant changes, including the cutting of 500 positions—most of them vacant—and proposing cost-saving measures like freezing pay to balance Judson’s budget after reaching a $35 million deficit during the 2026-26 school year. Jaklich announced his resignation last week, with his last official day being June 30, 2026.
Challenges and investigations facing Judson ISD
Dixon steps into her role at a critical juncture, as the district faces ongoing investigations and board divisions. The Texas Education Agency is currently investigating whether Judson leaders violated state laws amid allegations against both Fields and board president Monica Ryan.
Fields was accused by Ryan and trustee Lesley Lee of failing to report the abuse of a student by a district employee and failing to notify the board of a TEA investigation into another case where an employee failed to report child abuse. Additionally, the TEA’s investigation accuses Ryan of abusing her power as board president to undermine the superintendent and other staff, as well as threatening board members.
Trustees were also accused by the TEA’s investigation of discussing board business regarding the superintendent’s termination and interim leadership off-site and in private channels, which are open meetings violations. Meanwhile, a legal battle between current trustee José Macias Jr. and the district escalated to federal court in May after the board voted 4-3 to sanction him for allegedly pressuring fellow board members to vote a certain way and for sharing confidential board information on social media.
As part of the sanction, Macias was barred from district property for six months except for the board room and prohibited from traveling on board business and accessing district funds for a year. In response, Macias filed a lawsuit to drop the sanctions and is seeking $1 million in restitution. The suit is currently pending as both sides finalize their arguments.
Dixon’s experience and the path forward
Dixon began her education career at Judson ISD over 50 years ago as a speech pathologist. Since then, she has served in various district leadership roles, including superintendent and board member. Ryan briefly hired Dixon as an outside financial consultant during budget disagreements with Judson staff last year, but the board voted not to renew the contract after finding out Judson was paying $1,500 a day for the consulting from a TPR investigation.
Dixon’s contract lasted 20 days, and the district paid her $30,000 plus expenses. Despite this, Ryan expressed confidence in Dixon’s ability to stabilize the district. “Her knowledge of the district, combined with her track record of stabilizing and strengthening school systems across Texas, will help us continue the important work of improving our student outcomes, restrain our financial stability, and rebuilding trust throughout our organization,” Ryan said.
As Dixon takes the helm, the board is set to vote on adopting the budget Jaklich had a significant hand in shaping on June 25, 2026. The path forward for Judson ISD remains uncertain, but Dixon’s extensive experience and familiarity with the district may provide the stability needed to navigate these challenging times.