Dr. Michael D. McFarland
Superintendent of Schools
Email: michael.mcfarland@crowley.k12.tx.us

Catherine Montalvo
Superintendent's Secretary
Email: catherine.montalvo@crowley.k12.tx.us
Phone: 817-297-5800
Fax: 817-297-5205

Dr. Michael McFarland is the superintendent of schools of Crowley ISD, where he serves more than 17,000 students across 26 campuses. Under his leadership since joining the district in 2017, students are making significant academic gains, with increases at every level and in every subject based on the most-recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results. For the first time in nine years, 100% of the campuses in Crowley ISD met or exceeded state standards and the District performance grade improved 15 percentage points in one year from a 70% to 85%. This significant improvement represents one of the largest gains in the North Texas area, and Crowley ISD is on track to becoming one of the top performing diverse school districts in Tarrant County.   

More families are now choosing Crowley ISD for their children, and enrollment has increased by more than 2,000 students since Dr. McFarland’s arrival. The improvements in Crowley ISD have attracted the attention of many outside funders, and since his arrival, Crowley ISD has increased grant funding from $2 million in 2016 to over $17 million. In May of 2023, Crowley ISD voters approved a $1.04 billion bond package.

Prior to coming to Crowley ISD, Dr. McFarland was the superintendent of Lancaster ISD from 2010 to 2017. There he led the transformation from a historically underperforming district to a nationally recognized, award-winning school district. The district and school board received national recognition as the 2018 HEB Excellence in Education winner, the 2017 Urban School Board Excellence winner, the School Board of the Year winner from National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Texas Outstanding School Board winner from the Texas Association of School Administrators. Persistent achievement gaps closed and student performance consistently improved under his leadership.

Originally from Jasper, Texas, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in business education from Baylor University, a Master of Education in educational administration and superintendent certification from Stephen F. Austin University, and a Doctorate of Education in educational administration from Baylor. Dr. McFarland previously served as national president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, as a founding member of the McFarland/Beatty Family Foundation, and as a Regent for Baylor University.

He is married to Cynthia McFarland and has two daughters, Kharis and Michiah, and two sons, Tyler and Jarrett.