Crowley ISD trustees voted to name Bianca Green as principal of the new College Prep Academy at Baylor Elementary School.
Green has 17 years of education experience and previously served as a CISD principal at Oakmont Elementary from 2020-2023.
In her career, she also has worked at I.M. Terrell Elementary in Fort Worth ISD as a math coach and data analyst, an assistant principal at Robert E. Lee Elementary in Grand Prairie ISD, principal at Cross Timbers Intermediate School in Mansfield ISD and most currently serves as academic dean at Uplift Grand High School in Grand Prairie.
Green will be the first principal of the new campus named in honor of the historic Baylor family — the first African American family to integrate Crowley ISD.
The new school will be located near Richard Allie Middle School in The Bridges neighborhood and opens in fall 2025.
The current Crowley College Prep Elementary (CCPE), currently housed at Poynter Elementary School, will move to the new Baylor Elementary School and expand grade levels.
It will house Lower School — Pre-K through second grades as well as Upper School — third through fifth grades.
When the program moves, Dr. Falicia Tate, the current principal of CCPE, will serve as the Lower School principal.
Crowley ISD was evaluating the future of the CCPE program and its budgetary impact.
"I was really impressed and appreciative of the passion and the information that was shared by our parents about the value of this program," Superintendent Dr. Michael McFarland told board members. "We looked at those numbers, and it was a challenge. But when I listened to what parents were saying ... I was like, man, we have to find a way to make sure that this expense becomes more of an investment."
McFarland believes the district can meet the fiscal needs of the district and the academic needs of students by expanding the program at Baylor Elementary.
Moving the program to Baylor Elementary will allow CISD to continue to invest in innovation, give the program room to grow, allow for additional state funding and grant opportunities as well as partnership opportunities with higher education and expand the portfolio of academic options the district offers.
The CISD school board approved Robert Gillies as the new Crowley Montessori Academy executive principal.
Gillies has served 26 years in education and 23 years in Crowley ISD. He currently is the CISD executive director of Advanced Academics, Gifted/Talented, Early Childhood and AVID programs.
Gillies is no stranger to Montessori education. He trained at the Houston Montessori Center, holds national credentials for Lower Elementary and taught at the Como Montessori in Fort Worth ISD.
His current position also includes a supervisory role over the Crowley Montessori Academy.
In addition, Gillies has served as an assistant principal at Bess Race Elementary as well as principal at S.H. Crowley, Crowley Middle School and Crowley High School.
Gillies replaces Veronica Delgado, founding principal of the Crowley Montessori Academy, who is retiring after 28 years in education.
“I’ve been part of the Montessori community for 25 years in August,” Gillies told trustees. “I believe very strongly in Montessori, and I’m very excited to get to continue the work that Ms. Delgado started there.”
Trustees also approved naming Gerardo Moreno as the principal in residence at Crowley Montessori Academy.
Moreno currently is assistant principal at J.A. Hargrave Elementary School where he also served as a math instructional support specialist. Moreno previously served at Deer Creek Elementary as a fourth- and fifth-grade math and science bilingual instructor as well as a sixth-grade math instructor at Sue Crouch Intermediate. He also serves as the district UIL Spanish coordinator.
Gillies said he is excited to work with Moreno in their new roles.
