New Leadership for Irving ISD

During a special called meeting March 12, the Irving ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the employment contract with Dr. Dana T. Bedden as the next IISD Superintendent of Schools. During the meeting, Bedden accepted and signed the contract that took effect July 1. He replaced Dr. Neil Dugger, who had served as interim superintendent since April 20, 2009.

Bedden comes to Irving from Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. A native of Florida, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Florida (UF) and Master of Education degree from Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech University.

He began his career in education in 1991 as middle school health teacher and basketball coach with Pinellas County Public Schools in Largo, Florida. From 1993-1994, Bedden served in Pennsylvania as athletic director for City of York School District, and then from 1994-1996 as district community and athletic resource administrator for Exeter Township School District. From 1996-1999, Bedden served as subschool principal at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax, Virginia. He served as principal at School Without Walls Senior High School in Washington, D.C. from 1999-2003. Bedden became central region superintendent for School District of Philadelphia in 2003 and in 2007 was named superintendent of Richmond County Schools.

Bedden serves on several national education advisory and administration boards including: American College Testing Education Advisory Board, SACS/CASI Accreditation Appeals Board, American Association of School Administrators, and UF College of Health & Human Performance. Professional affiliations include: Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, Education Law Association, American Association of School Administrators, Georgia School Superintendents, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Middle School Association, Council for Exceptional Children, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Bedden has earned superintendent certification in Virginia and Pennsylvania, earned an administrator license in Virginia and North Carolina, and received teacher certification in Virginia. He is also a certified athletic administrator by National Association of Interscholastic Athletic Administrators. Bedden is the recipient of the 16th Annual Minority Leadership Award from UF College of Health & Human Performance. Following participation in Reserve Officers Training Corps while a student at UF, he earned a commission in 1990 as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves, and completed his military service in 1996. Bedden and his wife Ava are the parents of three children.