Midland Independent School District announced on March 20 that two Principal Fellows, Jessica Brown and Liliana Tavarez, are nearing completion of their graduate coursework through Texas Tech University and are preparing to become certified principals.
The district said this development is part of its ongoing effort to strengthen its leadership pipeline by partnering with higher education institutions. The initiative aims to ensure that campuses have well-prepared leaders who can support students and families effectively.
Brown, currently at Scharbauer Elementary, and Tavarez, serving at Legacy Freshman High School, are expected to graduate in August with master’s degrees and principal certification. Both plan to apply for assistant principal positions within Midland ISD after graduation. Their participation in the Texas Tech Principal Fellows program was made possible by a grant from the Texas Education Agency. Although this grant is ending, the Scharbauer Foundation will fund two additional participants for the next school year.
Throughout their training, Brown and Tavarez engaged in hands-on leadership experiences alongside mentor principals. Each fellow was paired with a campus principal to gain insight into daily campus leadership responsibilities. Their work included supporting academic improvement efforts and initiatives aimed at increasing student attendance, which led to measurable gains at both campuses.
Jessie Garcia, Chief of Human Capital for Midland ISD, said, “This program is a powerful example of how we grow our own leaders. By combining rigorous academic preparation with real-world experience alongside strong campus principals, we are developing leaders who are ready to make an immediate impact on student outcomes and campus culture.”
Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Howard also highlighted the importance of mentorship in developing future leaders: “I appreciate our mentor principals for leading this work to help us grow our own and develop future leaders,” said Dr. Howard.
The district stated it remains committed to investing in leadership development opportunities that benefit campuses, educators, and students.