Dripping Springs ISD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing has been named the Region 13 Superintendent of the Year in the 2019 Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) program.

The SOTY program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984. Regional SOTY awardees are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance and commitment to public involvement in education. The regional awardees will interview with a state selection committee on August 23-24; five state finalists then will be selected. The Texas Superintendent of the Year will be announced Sept. 21 at the 2019 Texas Association of School Administrators (TASB) Convention in Dallas.

Gearing was hired to lead Dripping Springs ISD in February 2012. During his tenure, the district has grown in enrollment by approximately 50 percent, has built and opened two new schools, and has passed two bond programs as well as a tax-ratification election.

Gearing has shared his vision not only internally within Dripping Springs ISD, but has presented at many state and national conferences and workshops.

Before moving to Dripping Springs, Gearing served as superintendent of Marshall ISD from 2009-2012, three years as an assistant superintendent at Mount Pleasant ISD, one year as a junior high principal, and four years as an elementary principal. A native of South Africa, Gearing started his career teaching science and later math at the high school level, including three years at international schools.