Marlin ISD Superintendent Dr. Darryl J. Henson has been named the 2024 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year and regional nominee for Texas Superintendent of the Year. Henson was nominated by the Marlin ISD Board of Managers and selected from a slate of candidates by a committee of Region 12 area school board members. 

“Region 12 is privileged to have exceptional leaders who are paving the way for excellence in education,” said Kenny Berry, Executive Director of Education Service Center Region 12. “It is a true honor to acknowledge Dr. Darryl J. Henson for his outstanding leadership and commitment to public education. His work in Marlin ISD is positively impacting the lives of students and the community.”

Henson has served as superintendent of Marlin ISD since 2020 and has served as an educator for a total of 18 years. Prior to joining Marlin ISD, Henson served as the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership at Cedar Hill ISD. Henson has also worked for Houston ISD, Ysleta ISD, Lockhart ISD, Pflugerville ISD and Austin ISD. 

“Having worked alongside Dr. Henson since May 2020, I’ve come to admire the leadership, ethical and personal qualities he possesses,” said Billy Johnson, President of the Marlin ISD Board of Managers. “His relentlessness to ensure that all students receive a quality education and that the narrative of our district and community change forever make him an ideal candidate for Superintendent of the Year.”

When searching for a superintendent in 2020, the Marlin ISD Board of Managers recognized they needed a superintendent who was knowledgeable in instruction but also had a love of people. They found that in Henson, who has embraced the Marlin community, Johnson said. The community trusts Henson’s vision, leadership and heart, and he has become a model for students and educators.

Marlin ISD has three campuses and is home to 925 students in Falls County. As superintendent of Marlin ISD, Henson’s vision for the district is to provide students with the necessary academic and life skills to turn their potential into performance. Since he stepped into his role four years ago, the district has made strides academically, athletically and culturally. He is genuinely proud of the students, faculty and Marlin community, Henson said. 

Henson’s strengths as a superintendent lie in his persistence to achieve goals. He has worked to improve the district's image with his dependability, fairness and honesty. He never gives up and is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure all Marlin ISD students have the opportunity and resources to succeed.

Until recently, the district repeatedly struggled to meet state academic standards. After joining the district in 2020, Henson has worked to encourage the academic and social success of students and motivate faculty and staff to reach their instructional potential. With this work, Henson helped lead the district to an overall B accountability rating in 2022, regaining the district’s full accreditation status for the first time since 2015. The district’s accountability rating of 86 was also a 30-point increase from its 2019 rating, which was the highest student growth in the state from 2015 to 2022. 

Recent academic achievement in the district has led the Texas Education Agency to initiate the process of transitioning Marlin ISD back to a locally elected Board of Trustees. Marlin ISD is one of the only districts that have begun transitioning back to local governance after being under TEA intervention. Henson’s relentlessness in making sure all students have access to quality education is helping change the narrative of Marlin ISD.

Additionally, Henson communicates effectively with the Board of Managers and community to keep everyone well informed. He shares weekly board reports and initiates individual meetings with board members. Under Henson’s leadership, Marlin ISD has also earned the highest rating on financial audits. He has worked to ensure the district's needs are met financially and strategically by adopting a balanced budget, securing additional grant funding and more. Henson also communicates the district’s finances in a way that is easy for the board and community to understand. His engagement and authenticity were key factors in the passing of  Marlin ISD’s $32 million bond in 2022, which provided for facility and security upgrades. This bond was the first one passed by Marlin ISD since 1998. 

Henson leads by example, inspiring his team to think outside the norm through his engaging, flexible and adaptive leadership style. He showcased his lead-by-example mindset through Marlin ISD’s response to the teacher shortage. Instead of letting the shortage negatively impact the district or stall progress, Marlin ISD administrators returned to the classroom to teach and support student growth. Henson served as a 6th-grade math teacher while continuing to fulfill his responsibilities as superintendent.

“Though the journey to academic and organizational excellence is hard, arduous and challenging, I believe that the pressure of changing the trajectory of students’ lives is a privilege,” Henson said in his application. 

He’s shifted the culture of Marlin ISD to one focused on clarity, recognition and support. He knows every employee’s name and celebrates them often, positively impacting the district's climate. Additionally, Henson is an advocate for the Marlin community. He leads with courage and integrity, which has helped shine a positive light on the district and the surrounding community. Henson stands up for students despite any backlash he may face. He is committed to protecting the dignity and emotional well-being of all Marlin ISD students.

“He can always be seen supporting our students from the classroom to the sidelines, to the barn,” Johnson said. “Dr. Henson truly loves his students and Marlin, Texas.”

Henson earned his Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. He holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

Henson is a member of the Commissioner of Education’s Rural Superintendent Council. He is also involved in various professional organizations, including the Texas Association of Community Schools, the Texas Association of Rural Schools, the Texas Association of School Administrators, the Texas Education Policy Institute and the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute Superintendent Academy. Henson is also an active member of several community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Marlin, Lion’s Club, Marlin Chamber of Commerce and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Falls County. 

ESC Region 12 will recognize Henson and other regional educators of the year in the coming months. The regional superintendents of the year will interview with a state selection committee in August, and five finalists will be selected. The Texas Association of School Boards will announce the Texas Superintendent of the Year in late September. 

Falls County, Texas - The Falls County Rural Collaborative (FCRC) is proud to announce its official
designation as a Rural Pathways Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) under House Bill 2209. This
pioneering collaborative effort includes Marlin ISD, Rosebud-Lott ISD, Education Service Center 12,
and local higher education institutions. Together, they are committed to expanding college and
career pathways for local students. With this prestigious designation, the FCRC will continue to drive
educational innovation in the Falls County community.

“This opportunity will allow the districts and their students to access a tailored educational
experience designed for college and career readiness as well as personal growth. By working
together, we can pool our resources and expertise to provide a more comprehensive and enriching
educational experience,” said TJ Arndt, Director of the FCRC. “Ultimately, I hope this collaboration
lays the groundwork for long-term success, empowering students to thrive academically and
personally well beyond their time in school.”

The Rural Pathways Excellence Partnership program (HB2209), signed into law on June 2, 2023,
builds on the success of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone (RSIZ) in South Texas. This bipartisan
bill established incentives for multi-district Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP), enabling
districts with fewer than 1,600 students to collaborate with education and industry partners. The
legislation includes additional financial incentives for participating districts, such as per-pupil
funding for students in pathways, outcome bonuses for students achieving credentials of value, and
grants for districts interested in developing and implementing collaborative models.

The FCRC is one of the first three R-PEP-designated collaboratives in Texas. Officially launching this
fall, the FCRC plans to offer three specialized academies focused on specific career pathways,
accessible to all FCRC students. Each academy is aligned with regional workforce needs, leading to
high-wage, high-demand job opportunities post-graduation.

“Marlin ISD and its leadership have been a delight to work with, and I am excited that the students of
RLISD will have more opportunities to reach their full potential with a greater variety of programs of
study than we can offer as an individual district,” said Dr. Jim Rosebrock, Superintendent of
Rosebud-Lott ISD.

Dr. Darryl Henson, Superintendent of Marlin ISD, added, "This designation is a testament to the
innovative educational opportunities that we provide for our students. Partnering with Rosebud-Lott
ISD shows our shared vision of providing students in Falls County with an education that is both
comprehensive and comparable to the best across Texas. It is our hope that students from both
districts will learn and grow together as we embark on offering a challenging curriculum that will
prepare them for their futures."

WHO & WHAT: Education Service Center Region 12 and sponsors Cedar Crest and VOICE will gather educators, mental health providers and community members for an event to encourage awareness, intervention and prevention of teen suicide.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: ESC Region 12, 2101 W. Loop 340, Waco, TX 76712

WACO, TX – Education Service Center Region 12 staff will join forces with area educators, mental health advocates and care providers to host the 19th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium on June 12. The goal of the event is to gather community members to learn and take action to help save lives through awareness, intervention and prevention of teen suicide.

“Suicide is regarded as the ‘preventable epidemic’ among youth in Texas and the nation. An average of 1 person every 13.7 minutes dies by suicide in our country,” said Jennifer Serrato, a counseling specialist at ESC Region 12. “The Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium is a forum to take action and help save the lives of challenged youth. This year’s focus will be on the devastating effects of substance use and the contributing factors that lead to suicide among our youth.”

Donald Whitehead Jr. will deliver a keynote address titled ‘Undressing,’ which will take attendees through his life as a substance-abuse survivor who experienced homelessness and the challenges that accompany it, including the risk of suicide. Whitehead Jr. is a motivational speaker, author and the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, an organization focused on preventing homelessness and protecting the civil rights of those experiencing homelessness. 

Additional speakers include Jeni Janek and Suzanna Avalos of ESC Region 12, David Baker of Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network, Nikki Holmes of Hope Squad and Gena Stier of VOICE. Speakers will cover topics including suicide prevention in schools, current legislation, Narcan administration, fentanyl awareness and more.

A fee of $75 is required to attend the 19th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium. Advanced registration is requested: txr12.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=338214.