Dec. 8, 2025: Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., has announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, concluding a distinguished career in public education and six years of service to Leander ISD. Read More
Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. has served as the Superintendent of Leander ISD since September 2019. The district stretches across almost 200 square miles, dedicated to knowing and appreciating each of its more than 42,000 students across 48 campuses.
In 2022, the district created a five-year strategic plan to increase student ownership of deeper learning. The district passed a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) in 2022 and a Bond Election in 2023. LISD was named the College Board Advanced Placement Large District of the Year for increasing participation and improving scores thus increasing access to rigorous courses for students in 2024. .
Before his time at Leander ISD, he was named Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and a State Finalist for Texas Superintendent of the Year and served as the Dripping Springs ISD superintendent since February 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw a fast-growth district, growing by approximately 50 percent, while supporting students with state and national success in academics, arts, and athletics.
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 math at the high school level, including three years at international schools. He proudly became a United States citizen in 2010.
Gearing earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M – Commerce, master’s degree from Texas A&M – Texarkana, and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and chemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He and his wife, Aldine, have four children.
