News Story

Marlin ISD Superintendent Dr. Darryl J. Henson has been named the 2024 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year and is the regional nominee for Texas Superintendent of the Year. Dr. 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.”

Dr. Henson has served as superintendent of Marlin ISD since 2020 and has been an educator for a total of 18 years. Prior to joining Marlin ISD, he served as the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership at Cedar Hill ISD. His career also includes roles with 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 relentless pursuit to ensure that all students receive a quality education and that the narrative of our district and community changes forever makes 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 someone who was not only knowledgeable in instruction but also had a love for people. They found that in Dr. Henson, who has embraced the Marlin community. The community trusts his vision, leadership, and heart, and he has become a model for students and educators.

Marlin ISD has three campuses and serves 925 students in Falls County. As superintendent, Dr. Henson's vision for the district is to provide students with the necessary academic and life skills to turn their potential into performance. Under his leadership, the district has made significant strides academically, athletically, and culturally.

Dr. Henson’s strengths as a superintendent lie in his persistence to achieve goals. He has worked to improve the district's image through 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 struggled to meet state academic standards. Since joining the district in 2020, Dr. Henson has encouraged the academic and social success of students and motivated faculty and staff to reach their instructional potential. With his efforts, Marlin ISD achieved an overall B accountability rating in 2022, regaining full accreditation for the first time since 2015. The district’s rating of 86 marked a 30-point increase from its 2019 rating, the highest student growth in the state from 2015 to 2022.

Recent academic achievements have 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 few districts transitioning back to local governance after being under TEA intervention. Dr. Henson's relentless dedication to providing quality education is helping change the district’s narrative.

Additionally, Dr. Henson communicates effectively with the Board of Managers and the community, ensuring everyone is well-informed. He shares weekly board reports and holds individual meetings with board members. Under his leadership, Marlin ISD has earned the highest rating on financial audits. He has worked to meet the district's needs financially and strategically by adopting a balanced budget, securing additional grant funding, and more. Dr. Henson also communicates the district’s finances in a way that is easily understandable by the board and community. 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, marking the first bond passed by Marlin ISD since 1998.

Dr. Henson leads by example, inspiring his team to think outside the norm with his engaging, flexible, and adaptive leadership style. He showcased this mindset through Marlin ISD’s response to the teacher shortage. Instead of letting the shortage stall progress, Marlin ISD administrators returned to the classroom to teach and support student growth. Dr. Henson served as a 6th-grade math teacher while continuing 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,” Dr. Henson said in his application.

He has 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, Dr. Henson is an advocate for the Marlin community. He leads with courage and integrity, shining a positive light on the district and the surrounding community. He stands up for students despite any backlash, committed to protecting their dignity and emotional well-being.

“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.”

Dr. 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.

Dr. Henson is a member of the Commissioner of Education’s Rural Superintendent Council and is 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. He is also an active member of several community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Marlin, Lion’s Club, Marlin Chamber of Commerce, and the Boys and Girls Club of Falls County.

ESC Region 12 will recognize Dr. 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.