Arlington school district names lone finalist for superintendent’s job
Michelle Cavazos, the superintendent of the Gregory-Portland school district, is the lone finalist to lead Arlington schools following a unanimous vote Thursday by the Board of Trustees.
Cavazos will replace Marcelo Cavazos (no relation), who announced in January that he would retire in August.
The Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services directed the search, which included meetings with staff and residents of the 55,625-student school district, Tarrant County’s second-largest.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Michelle Cavazos to Arlington ISD,” said Melody Fowler, Arlington school board president, in a statement. “She will bring her unique vision, creative new ideas and leadership strategies to our district and the community.”
Before leading the 4,500-student district near Corpus Christi, Cavazos served as chief officer of school leadership and academics in the Austin school district and director of secondary education in the Shertz-Cibolo-Universal City school district. She also spent 16 years as a principal, according the the Arlington school district.
“I am thrilled and honored to join the Arlington ISD family to support and extend the district’s tradition of excellence and innovation,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to getting to know everyone while working collaboratively with our committed Board of Trustees, staff, families, and the community to further advance our district for our students. My husband and I are looking forward to making Arlington our new home.”
Cavazos has a son and daughter in Austin and another son in college in New York.
She received bachelor’s degrees from the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s from the University of Houston and a doctoral degree from Texas State University.
By law, the board must wait 21 days before voting to offer Cavazos a contract.
