Amarillo ISD looking for new superintendent with retirement of Doug Loomis

The Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) is currently seeking a new superintendent to replace Doug Loomis, who has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2025. Loomis has served as the district's superintendent since 2019 and has led the district through several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loomis said his final months as superintendent will be spent preparing the district for the next phase of its journey.

“Outside of my family, this has been the joy of my life,” Loomis said. “I don’t know anything but AISD, and it’s been wonderful. But we’ve got work to do, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves for the next nine months and make sure we’re in a good place for the future.”

 

School board president, Doyle Corder, stated that the district is looking for a resilient and experienced leader to fill the role. He also mentioned that the position will be in high demand and that they expect to have many qualified applicants.

The AISD school board will begin the process of finding Loomis' replacement by developing a timeline, creating a profile for the position, and considering their next options. Corder noted that hearing the news of Loomis' retirement was tough, as he has been a great leader for the district during some of the hardest times in recent history.

Dr. Dana West was the previous superintendent and announced her resignation at the end of 2018. Before that was Rod Schroder who spent 15 years as superintendent. Both West and Schroder were internal hires. Corder said they were so early in the hiring process, that he couldn’t comment if they’re looking internally or externally for their next hire.

Loomis has been with AISD for almost four decades, working in schools in every quadrant and at every level. He began his career as a PE teacher at Wolflin Elementary School and then taught science and health at Fannin Middle School. As his career in AISD expanded, Loomis served as assistant principal at Houston Middle School, assistant principal at Palo Duro High School, principal of Amarillo High School, and then Executive Director over the Caprock cluster of schools. He also served five years as the district’s chief human resources officer before being named interim superintendent in October 2018.

The AISD school board named Loomis as the permanent superintendent in March 2019.

A native of Dalhart, Texas, Loomis is a graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University and he earned a Master’s degree in Education from West Texas A&M University. He and his wife Gisele, a retired teacher, have two grown children.