When Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt first stepped into Coppell High School room B112 as a special education teacher in 1990, he could not have imagined the impact he would one day have on the district he would soon call home.
“I wasn’t fulfilled in my initial job at the bank I worked at so when I came to work at CHS, I realized early on that education was where I wanted to be,” Dr. Hunt said. “I just didn’t know how far the journey could take me when I first came here to CHS.”
Dr. Hunt’s path into education was inspired by the perseverance of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, along with a classroom full of students with special needs during his student teaching days. That early experience ignited a lasting passion, pushing Dr. Hunt out of the classroom to the highest district position.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hunt’s leadership stemmed from a simple philosophy: serve first.
Describing himself as a “servant leader,” he never asked others to do what he would not do himself.
Whether it is greeting students in the hallways, choosing hardworking and dedicated students to gift I Rock CHS T-shirts or attending nearly every school event, from elementary school performances to high school football games, Dr. Hunt’s interactive approach made him an icon in the Coppell community.
“He is forever a Coppell Cowboy,” CHS English teacher Matthew Bowden said. “Hunt is like a student who has done everything here, from teaching to leading the entire district — he is the poster child for Coppell ISD.”
Dr. Hunt’s career naturally evolved as did his love for Coppell. After teaching for a few years, he became an assistant principal at Coppell Middle School West where he worked to rebuild the campus culture. From there, he rose through the ranks, serving as principal at Carroll Middle School in Southlake and CHS as well as district-level leadership positions prior to becoming superintendent in 2017.
As he worked in each role, Dr. Hunt had a different view of each’s impact.
“As a teacher, you change individual lives; as a principal, you shape a school; as a superintendent, you influence an entire community,” Dr. Hunt said. “But in every job, it has always been about people.”
No matter his title, Dr. Hunt’s strongest accomplishments display his primary focus: the students.
From the establishment of the CHS Red Jackets to create well-rounded, service-driven seniors, to the district’s record $321 million bond package in 2023 and an established focus on students’ safety, Hunt’s fingerprints are found on a plethora of the district’s largest decisions.
But, when asking what he will miss most, the answer is simple — the people: students, teachers and parents, the essence of the district he helped build.
“I recognize that not everybody gets to go from teacher to superintendent,” Dr. Hunt said. “That’s a unique path that only a few have had the opportunity to experience in the same district. I can remember being a teacher thinking, ‘God, if I ever get to be the CHS principal, I’m going to do this or that.’ Then I got to be the principal. And I remember thinking, ‘If I’m ever superintendent, I’m going to do this or that.’ And I got to be the superintendent.”
Dr. Hunt’s family and close colleagues acknowledge his leadership style to be what weaved the present tightly knit Coppell community.
“There has never been a time when he hasn’t been a part of Coppell ISD,” Dr. Hunt’s wife Janay Hunt said. “It’s pretty unheard of for someone to start as a teacher and work their way up to superintendent in the same district. I think that’s what made him such an incredible leader — because he lived it. He knew what teachers and students were going through because he had been in their shoes.”
According to colleagues who worked with Dr. Hunt, his ability to relate to the experiences of students and staff, along with his contagious optimistic energy, are what make him such an impactful leader. His empathy reaches far beyond the four walls of his office at Vonita White Administration Building, making every individual feel the care and love Dr. Hunt has for the district.
“He has this unwavering positivity; you can’t be around him and not feel like you matter,” said CHS English teacher Kim Pearce, a longtime colleague. “When you think of Coppell ISD, you think of Dr. Hunt.”
Along with Dr. Hunt’s positivity, his ability to effectively mentor and guide students and teachers sets him apart.
“He is someone who makes you want to be better, not because you have to, but because you want to,” CHS health science teacher Bill Borowski said.
Borowski’s experiences replicate those of many others who experienced Dr. Hunt’s leadership firsthand.
“He’s the type of leader who mentors others instead of ‘gotcha’ leadership,” Janay Hunt said. “He sees mistakes as learning opportunities, and his sense of humor just makes everything feel a little lighter. When you heard his laugh in the building, you knew everything was going to be OK; that laugh and humor are what so many people are going to miss most.”
For students, Dr. Hunt’s impact is more than just a name. Students can always count on seeing Dr. Hunt at a majority of district events. From student showcases at Coppell Arts Center to playoff football games, Hunt shows the same enthusiasm and support for all students.
“Dr. Hunt was not just a face on a poster or someone you heard about at CISD board meetings; he showed up,” CHS senior and superintendent social media intern Salman Khan said. “Dr. Hunt made it clear that students’ voices mattered.”
For Dr. Hunt, these efforts to build genuine relationships and connections are intentional.
“I wanted to know every kid, every teacher and every parent, so I took the yearbook home and studied it until I could,” Dr. Hunt said. “I didn’t want anyone to feel like a stranger.”
Dr. Hunt’s ability to know his district like the back of his hand is what makes him a successful leader.
“He is the kind of person who never forgets a name – he never has, never will,” Janay Hunt said.
Growing up with a front-row seat to her father’s career, CHS 2023 graduate Jules Hunt directly witnessed Dr. Hunt’s impact on not just her classmates but herself as well.
“Watching my dad transition into the role of superintendent when I was in sixth grade to have him see my whole grade off at graduation made my senior year at CHS so special for me, especially because he knew so many students in my grade for all of K-12,” Jules said. “I am lucky to have had him so close in my school community because he loves what he does, and he is loved by everyone.”
Through her father’s example, Jules learned the value of connection and leadership, inspiring her to get involved in student organizations, prioritizing networking with her college’s large student body now as a sophomore at Texas A&M University. To her, Dr. Hunt’s nonstop dedication from balancing his presence in the district’s events to their church and family life is simply who he is.
“He doesn’t sell himself short in any aspect of his life,” Jules said. “He will never stop loving Coppell even when not working as superintendent.”
CISD Board of Trustee David Caviness, who has worked closely with Dr. Hunt since being elected in 2017 and knowing him for the past two decades, sees him as the force behind the district’s cultural shift over his time as superintendent.
“Hunt is able to bring people together as a friendly face but is also able to be stern, setting the tone and direction when need be,” Caviness said. “Especially over the last eight years, he has reinvigorated our culture here in Coppell, and that is something to really hang your hat on.”
Caviness attributes Dr. Hunt’s unique yet strong leadership to his beginnings in special education. He describes Hunt to be a ‘caring visionary,’ a legacy that he hopes to see continue at CISD.
“He remembers his time in the classroom working with our most vulnerable students,” Caviness said. “Even as he moved through the ranks, he never forgot where he started.”
Beyond school board meetings and important decisions, Caviness recounts memories of Dr. Hunt’s lighter side, touching on the importance of preserving Dr. Hunt’s legacy as the district moves forward.
“He’s always an encourager of doing crazy things,” Caviness said. “He is the king of dad jokes; students don’t always initially see that. What Hunt built has been strong so I hope the next superintendent will just take the baton and elevate it to the next level.”
Even while implementing district-wide changes, Dr. Hunt’s influence lasted past his professional responsibilities, never losing sight of personal experiences and his lighthearted personality, a trait that many say speaks to his heartfelt nature.
“He has a relaxed intensity,” CHS English teacher and 1996 CHS graduate Sean Smith said. “He created an environment where teachers felt trusted and students felt seen. His fingerprints are all over the family mindset of Coppell ISD.”
Smith, like many others, recalls Dr. Hunt’s ability to balance humor and leadership in every scenario.
“He always makes time to get to know you — that’s rare in a leader at his level,” Smith said.
The decision to retire was not an easy one, but one Dr. Hunt felt was needed.
“This is such a demanding job that does take you away from your loved ones a lot and I am not getting any younger,” Dr. Hunt said. “My decision was due to a combination of things, but I looked at where we are as a district and thought this was a very good time because we have a great board, great campus leadership and great central office leaders.”
After 35 years of working for the community, Dr. Hunt is looking toward a slower-paced and calmer future. His retirement plans consist of traveling with his wife, spending more time with his two children and staying involved in the CISD community as a volunteer and mentor.
“I spent more than half my life here,” Dr. Hunt said. “My children have gone through CISD. Some of my best friends are people that I’ve met either as employees or parents or kids — you can’t put a price tag on that.”
For Dr. Hunt, retirement is bittersweet. After decades of pouring his all into Coppell, he is now looking forward to spending more time with his family, supporting his son, CHS sophomore John-Taylor Hunt, through high school and his daughter, Jules Hunt, through college.
“He’s missed a lot of moments because he’s been everywhere for CISD,” Janay Hunt said. “Now, he gets to just be a dad and we are so excited to have him home more.”
Dr. Hunt’s bucket list remains long, including finally being able to see a live taping of “Saturday Night Live” in New York – a dream his wife has entered him into the lottery for years without any luck so far.
As Dr. Hunt prepares to take a step back from such a demanding career that has defined so much of his family’s life, one thing is certain: while he may retire from his title, Coppell ISD will always hold a special place in his heart.
“I know they are going to find someone who is better than me, 100%, there is not a doubt in my mind, but they are never going to find anybody who loves this district more than me,” said Dr. Hunt, with tears in his eyes.
If you see a familiar face in the stands at Buddy Echols Field, cheering louder than anyone else, there is a good chance it is Brad Hunt, still a Cowboy at heart.
This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on May 16, 2025.
