Michael McFarland

Dr. Michael McFarland is the superintendent of schools of Crowley ISD, where he serves more than 17,000 students across 26 campuses. Under his leadership since joining the district in 2017, students are making significant academic gains, with increases at every level and in every subject based on the most-recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results. For the first time in nine years, 100% of the campuses in Crowley ISD met or exceeded state standards, and the district performance grade improved from 70% to 83% in one year—one of the largest gains in North Texas. Since his arrival, Crowley ISD has increased grant funding from $2 million in 2016 to more than $20 million. Crowley ISD has recently completed a new strategic plan and aspires to become one of the top-performing diverse school districts in Tarrant County.

Dr. McFarland previously served as the superintendent of Lancaster ISD from 2010 to 2017, leading its transformation from a historically underperforming district to a nationally recognized, award-winning district. The district and school board received national recognition as the 2018 HEB Excellence in Education winner, the 2017 Urban School Board Excellence winner, the School Board of the Year winner from the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Texas Outstanding School Board winner from the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Originally from Jasper, Texas, Dr. McFarland earned a BBA in business education from Baylor University, a Master of Education in educational administration and superintendent certification from Stephen F. Austin University, and a Doctorate of Education in educational administration from Baylor. He serves as president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators and as a founding member of the McFarland/Beatty Family Foundation.

He is married to Cynthia McFarland and has two daughters, Kharis and Michiah, and two sons, Tyler and Jarrett.