Dallas City Wire

The Arlington Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to tab Dr. Michelle Cavazos as its lone superintendent finalist, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) ABC affiliate WFAA reported.

Cavazos currently helms the Gregory-Portland Independent School District (G-PISD) near Corpus Christi, WFAA reported. 

Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period before a public school district can officially hire a candidate. 

The station reported that Cavazos has no relation to incumbent AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, who is set to enter retirement.

AISD school board president Melody Fowler said in a statement obtained by WFAA that the district is “excited to welcome” Cavazos. 

"She will bring her unique vision, creative new ideas and leadership strategies to our district and the community," Fowler said. 

Cavazos, in turn, said in a statement of her own that she’s “thrilled and honored” to join the district, WFAA reported. 

"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,” she said. “My husband and I are looking forward to making Arlington our new home."

According to G-PISD, Cavazos began her career in education as a bilingual classroom teacher after graduating with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

She continued her academics in the Lone Star State, earning a master's degree from the University of Houston (UH) and ultimately her doctorate from the Texas State University in San Marcos. 

She held administrative positions with the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City and Austin school districts before becoming G-PISD superintendent two years ago at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Per WFAA, AISD began its search for a new superintendent in February when it brought on Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to lead the effort.