Board of Trustees Names Interim Superintendent

  • Dr. Patricia A. Linares The Crowley ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Patricia A. Linares as interim superintendent during a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. She replaces Dr. Dan Powell who is taking a medical leave of absence beginning Feb. 24 and resigning as superintendent as part of an agreement reached with the Board of Trustees.
     
    Dr. Linares is a longtime Texas public school educator and administrator with recent experience serving as an interim superintendent of Fort Worth ISD from 2014-2015. In her nearly 18 months as interim at FWISD, she continued the district’s goal of advancing student achievement while awaiting the naming of a permanent superintendent.
     
    “I am honored to be named as interim superintendent for the Crowley Independent School District,” Dr. Linares said. “My role is to continue to move the district forward as the Board of Trustees dedicates themselves to the important job of searching for a new superintendent. Crowley ISD is an outstanding district with dedicated teachers, administrators, staff and community members, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of providing an exceptional education for all students.”
     
    Originally from San Antonio, Dr. Linares earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Bilingual Education from Texas State University, a Master of Arts degree in Bilingual Education from Southern Methodist University and a Doctorate in Education Administration and Superintendent Certification from the University of Texas at Austin.
     
    Dr. Linares’ education career began in Dallas ISD, where she served as teacher, assistant principal and principal. She then worked at the Texas Education Agency from 1991-1996 where she coordinated the writing and passage of a comprehensive rewrite of the state’s Education Code in collaboration with the governor and state Legislature.
     
    In 1996, Dr. Linares joined FWISD where she served in many cabinet roles. She retired from FWISD in 2010 as a deputy superintendent and four years later was asked to return to serve as interim superintendent.
     
    “Dr. Linares’ experience in leading a school district as an interim superintendent makes her the perfect candidate for this position,” CISD Board President June W. Davis said. “Her commitment to student success aligns perfectly with our mission of providing excellence in education for all students.”
     
    The Board of Trustees will soon begin discussions about the process and timeline for finding a permanent superintendent. Community meetings will be announced at a later date for stakeholders to meet Dr. Linares and learn more about the process for hiring a permanent superintendent.