Crowley ISD Boardroom Rewind

Crowley ISD trustees unanimously approved pay raises for all staff as part of the 2025-2026 compensation plan, providing financial incentives to help the district retain and recruit high-quality teachers and staff.

Veteran teachers will see the largest gains through the new compensation plan, with teachers who have five or more years of experience receiving a $5,000 pay increase as part of the new State Teacher Allotment created by House Bill 2.

Teachers with three to four years of experience will receive a $2,500 raise.

Crowley ISD is going above and beyond the House Bill 2 funding by dedicating additional money to ensure all teachers and staff receive raises, including raises not funded through the State Teacher Allotment.

A first-year teacher in Crowley ISD will now receive a starting salary of $63,810, keeping the district highly competitive in the region.

All other staff will receive a 3% raise to the midpoint.

In addition to raises, Crowley ISD will increase the district’s contribution to TRS healthcare benefit plans for paraprofessionals and auxiliary employees (pay grades 1-2 and CP1-CP8).

Employees in those pay grades who elect to use TRS healthcare will receive $150 more per month for a total district contribution of $375 monthly.

Trustees approved a balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year, with a general operating budget of $206.17 million.

Continued revenue shortfalls from the state will require the district to use $2.5 million from its “rainy day” fund balance and $4 million from the worker's Compensation fund to have a balanced budget, if current projections hold.

Crowley ISD’s tax rate will be considered in August.

District leaders shared how Crowley ISD is preparing to implement House Bill 1481, a new state law that prohibits students from using personal digital devices such as cellphones and smartwatches on campus during school hours.

Exceptions are possible with documented medical needs, SPED accommodations, or other health and safety requirements outlined by the law.

Dr. McFarland emphasized that the district will take a thoughtful and inclusive approach, aligning any new policies with district values and ensuring they are fair and practical.

A stakeholder focus group of students, parents, educators and community members will help shape the district’s implementation.

All stakeholders are invited to participate in a survey to share their perspective and considerations for the focus group to review.

The Crowley ISD Board of Trustees selected new officers in June.

Officers are:

President — Gary Grassia

First Vice President — Dr. Nedra Robinson

Second Vice President — Kelicia Stevenson

Secretary — Dr. La Tonya Woodson-Mayfield

Trustees also recognized Dr. Mia Hall, who is leaving the board after 10 years of service. Board members wished her well and congratulated her on her new role serving on the Fort Worth City Council.

Trustee Dr. La Tonya Woodson-Mayfield praised Hall's policy expertise and lauded her servant's heart.

"You can't do this work without really wanting to," Woodson-Mayfield said. "The passion was there. The dedication was there. Thank you for leading by example."

Hall said she wants to continue to work with Crowley ISD in her new role.

"It has been my sincere pleasure to work with you," Hall said. "We have accomplished so much. We've had so much development, so much growth, so many new programs ... It's an honor to have been a part of so many things. But I also look at this as another opportunity to partner with you."

Outgoing Trustee Dr. Mia Hall was recognized for her ten years of service on the Board of Trustees.

Trustees have chosen to fill this vacancy on the School Board through an appointment process. The appointed individual will serve in Place 3 until the next regular trustee election in May 2026, at which time voters will elect a candidate to complete the remainder of the unexpired Place 3 term until May 2027.

To be eligible for appointment, individuals must meet the qualifications outlined in Board Policy BBA (LEGAL), including being a qualified voter and having resided continuously in Texas for at least 12 months and in Crowley ISD for at least six months preceding the date the appointment is made.

Individuals interested in applying should visit crowleyisdtx.org/place3 to learn more. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

CISD trustees approved several personnel items in June, including:

• Dr. Shemeka Millner-Williams as Deputy Superintendent of Leadership, Accountability and District Improvement. Millner-Williams currently serves as the assistant superintendent of Academics in Cedar Hill ISD. She previously worked as interim superintendent, deputy superintendent and chief academic officer in Lancaster ISD where she also served as an executive principal, principal and associate principal. Millner-Williams also served as a regional director of principal leadership development for the Texas Center for Educator Effectiveness in Austin.

• Linzy Blain as Executive Director of Finance. Blain is currently the Director of Finance for the Tarrant County College District (TCCD) where she has worked since 2014. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and was a recipient of the Government Finance Officer's Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reportion for 10 straight years at TCCD.

• Karen Lopez as assistant principal at Crowley Middle School. Lopez is currently the dean of instruction at Griggs High School in Birdville ISD where she's served in various positions since 2013. Lopez also served in Irving ISD and in Greeley, Colorado.

• Howard Robinson as assistant principal at Richard J. Allie Middle School. Robinson is currently a principal at IDEA Public Schools - Achieve College Prep where he was recognized as Principal of the Year in 2024. He also also served as a principal at elementary, middle and high schools in Fort Worth ISD.

• Kenetria Johnson as assistant principal at J.A. Hargrave Elementary School. Johnson currently serves as a teacher development and student intervention specialist at J.A. Hargrave Elementary. Johnson also has worked as an instructional support specialist, reading interventionist and teacher in CISD.

• Mikyla Smith as assistant principal at Meadowcreek Elementary School. Smith is currently an eighth-grade history teacher at Crowley Middle School and previously served as a seventh- and eighth-grade history teacher in Duncanville ISD.

• Dr. Robin Matthews as assistant principal at David L. Walker Elementary School. Matthews is currently an assistant principal in Cedar Hill ISD. She also served as a literacy coach in Fort Worth ISD and as a classroom teacher in Dallas ISD.

• Luvenia Perkins as assistant principal at Bess Race Elementary School. Perkins is currently an assistant principal at Trinity Basin Academy in Arlington. Prior to that she was served as a campus principal for ten years at schools in Michigan.

Join us at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the new Baylor Elementary School — Crowley ISD's 17th elementary school!

Big things are happening in Crowley ISD! Thanks to the voter-approved 2023 Bond, we’re building the future one project at a time.

Check out the progress happening across our growing community in the video above and learn more at www.crowleyisdtx.org/bond23.

Crowley High School Graduate Ava Tinsley has never let being Deaf stop her from pursuing her dreams. She performed all four years on the Talonettes Drill Team, obtained her Cosmetology license while still a high school student through the Bill R. Johnson CTE Center and earned a spot in the AVID Millionaire Scholarship Club.

Tinsley began her educational journey in Crowley ISD at Deer Creek Elementary School

She’s headed to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. — a college exclusively tailored for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students — where she will study to become a therapist for the Deaf community.

Cadet Col. Shekinah Nyoni is headed to the United States Military Academy at West Point to pursue a career in medicine.

Nyoni, a North Crowley High School varsity soccer player and JROTC battalion commander, began her educational journey in Crowley ISD at Dallas Park Elementary.

Nyoni not only received an appointment to West Point, she earned appointments to the U.S. Air Force and Naval academies.

Don't miss your chance to join the Crowley ISD family and make a difference in the lives of students!

Benefits include stipends for in-demand positions, competitive starting salaries, employee child care center, Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) bonus pay, professional development opportunities and more!

Apply online at crowleyisdtx.org/careers

Check out some interesting Crowley ISD facts and points of pride in the video above!

We're shining a light on what makes Crowley ISD special through the voices of our students, parents, educators and community leaders!

Watch below members of our community share what makes them proud to be part of Crowley ISD, and we invite you to share your story too at crowleyisdtx.org/mycrowleypride.

Help us spread the word by sharing your story with friends, family and neighbors by using the hashtag #MyCrowleyPride on social media. Together, let’s continue building a community of pride, achievement and unity!

MEETING VIDEO: To watch a recording of this meeting, please click here.

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