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The average superintendent in Region 5 made a base salary of $152,161, as of October 2022.

The Beaumont Enterprise analyzed salary information released annually by the Texas Education Agency to determine the highest-paid superintendents in the region. Comparing that data revealed that larger district enrollments don't always equal higher paid superintendents. Superintendents are typically hired by locally-elected school boards who also set salaries, which are paid predominantly through property tax revenue.

Of the 37 superintendents -- from traditional independent or consolidated school districts and open enrollment charter schools -- located in Region 5, about half made more than $152,000, according to data from the Texas Education Agency.

The region's highest paid superintendent is Jeffrey Scott Campbell at East Chambers ISD, who made $252,846 as of October. East Chambers ISD, the only school district in Region 5 located in Chambers County, has an enrollment of just under 1,560 students.

Only five superintendents in the region made more than $200,000 in base salary, including Campbell. Behind Campbell is Port Arthur ISD Superintendent Mark Porterie, who made $240,040 in base salary and is the highest-paid superintendent in Jefferson County. Porterie is followed by Beaumont ISD's Shannon Allen, who oversees the region's most populous school district at 16,730 students, with $233,580; Port Neches-Groves ISD's Mike Gonzales with $217,300 and West Orange-Cove CISD's Rickie Harris with $211,062.

Of the six counties fully contained within Region 5 -- Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, Jasper, Newton and Tyler -- Orange County's five school district superintendents have the highest average base salary at $183,837. In fact, four of those five superintendents rank in the top 10 highest-paid in the region, including Harris, Vidor ISD's Jay Killgo, Bridge City's Mike Kelly and Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD's Stacey Brister, who each make at least $180,000. There are just under 15,300 students in Orange County districts.

Hardin County's five school district superintendents have the second-highest average base salary at $170,212. The county's lowest-enrolled district, West Hardin County CISD, which serves just over 550 students, has the highest-paid superintendent in the county with James Armstrong at $192,593. Armstrong has the seventh-highest superintendent salary in the region. The county's most populous district, Lumberton ISD, which has just under 4,200 students, has its second-lowest paid superintendent with Tony Tipton, who made $166,400.

Jefferson County, which houses the most students of any county in Region 5 at just under 40,770, has the third-highest average superintendent base salary at $160,954. Of its nine school districts, three are open-enrollment charters. It is the only county in the region with charter schools. Four Jefferson County superintendents are ranked in the top 10 highest paid in the region, including Porterie, Allen, Gonzales and Nederland ISD's Stuart Kieschnick, who made $185,640.

Newton County's three school district superintendents have the lowest average base salary and the fewest students at $113,333 and 1,745, respectively. Newton ISD's Michelle Barrow has the highest salary in the county at $131,000.

Two superintendents in Region 5 make less than $100,000 at base salary. Deweyville ISD's LaJuan Addision makes $99,999 while Bob Hope Schools' Roberto Lopez makes $34,200. The districts serve 548 and 2,313 students, respectively.

However, it should be noted that Addison's role as superintendent is full time, as opposed to Lopez, who reported to TEA that his full-time equivalent was 0.12 (1 being full time).

"Full-time equivalent is the measure of the extent to which a person occupies a full-time position," TEA Senior Media Relations Coordinator Melissa Holmes told The Enterprise via email, adding that superintendents who report a full-time equivalent of less than 1 work in that role less than full time.

"He or she may perform other duties that are attributed to a different role or responsibility," Holmes said.

When Lopez's salary is calculated for its full-time equivalent, his base salary would be $285,000, according to TEA.

"The superintendent's base pay is the actual amount they are paid in this role," Holmes said. "The calculated full (full-time equivalent) is the calculated base pay the person would make if working in the position full-time."

Other superintendents who worked in their role less than full time were Paula Richardson of Tekoa Academy of Accelerated Studies STEM School; Dwaine Augustine of Hamshire-Fannett ISD; Richard Hyden of Evadale ISD; Scott Davis of Colmesneil ISD; and Tiffany Terrell-Spicer of Buna ISD.

Two schools -- Harmony Science Academy and Evolution Academy Charter School -- while based within Region 5 in Beaumont, are head quartered outside of the region and therefore do not appear in the Region 5 superintendents listing.

Harmony Public Schools-Houston West, which the Beaumont school falls under, is headquartered in Region 4 in Harris County. Harmony superintendent Faith Ay made a base salary of $226,948. Evolution Academy Charter School is headquartered in Region 10 in Dallas County. Superintendent Cynthia A. Trigg made a base salary of $188,390.

Orangefield ISD Superintendent Shaun McAlpin's salary was misreported to TEA as $2,501. McAlpin corrected and confirmed his base salary of $136,581 to The Enterprise, as it appears in the database.