The Arlington Independent School District this week named the lone finalist to be its next superintendent.
Arlington school board members unanimously chose current Gregory-Portland Superintendent Michelle Cavazos.
Arlington ISD has nearly 60,000 students, Gregory-Portland not quite 5,000 鈥� but Arlington ISD school board president Melody Fowler says she isn鈥檛 worried, because Cavazos was a Leadership and Academics administrator in the much larger Austin ISD.
Equally important to the roles Cavazos has filled in urban and rural districts, Fowler said, is that she filled them in Texas.
鈥�We felt like we needed someone who had experience in Texas, who understands the curriculum in Texas, who understands the STAAR test, (someone who) would have a feel for the environment, feel for the people," Fowler said. "And so that was a plus for us."
A statement from Arlington ISD said Cavazos earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Northern Iowa, a master鈥檚 degree from the University of Houston, and a doctoral degree from Texas State University in School Improvement.
About her appointment, Cavazos said in the statement she was honored to join Arlington ISD.
鈥淚 look forward to getting to know everyone while working collaboratively with our Trustees, staff, families and community.鈥�
Fowler points to other attributes that launched Cavazos to the top of the trustees' list: One, she鈥檚 fluent in Spanish, in a district with many Spanish speakers. And she鈥檚 not easily flustered.
鈥淪he's very stable,鈥� Fowler said. 鈥淪he's very thoughtful. She just has this steadfast presence about her, she has a calm demeanor.
"And we felt like that would be very helpful because in education, you never know what's coming down the pike and what you might be faced with.鈥�
State law requires a 21-day waiting period before Cavazos can officially take the superintendent job.
She replaces Arlington鈥檚 outgoing superintendent, Marcelo Cavazos (no relation). In January he announced his retirement after 11 years in the district.
