'It's the people'

Community leaders, campus principals, teachers and administrators gathered Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Nancy Watten Technology and Event Center for the 2026 Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD State of the District, marking the district’s first such event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program, themed “All In,” highlighted student achievements, teacher retention efforts and new initiatives designed to strengthen ties between the district and the community.

Superintendent Wendy Eldredge delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that the strength of the district lies in the people who make up its schools.

“When people ask me what makes CFB special, my answer is simple: It’s the people,” Eldredge said. “Everything we do is about our students and our teachers.”

Eldredge pointed to several recent accomplishments across the district, including recognition as one of five finalists for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards in the large district category. Twelve judges were scheduled to visit campuses in early March as part of the selection process.

The district has also earned strong marks in accountability and transparency, including an A rating for financial transparency.

Academically, district leaders highlighted progress at Sheffield Elementary School, which improved its state accountability rating from a D to a B, a gain of more than 20 points.

“This does not come easy,” said Kim Holcomb, assistant superintendent of leadership and learning. “It takes a lot of hard work.”

Holcomb credited former Sheffield principal Robert Atchison, now principal of Perry Middle School, along with staff and students for the turnaround.

“That is hard work and love,” Eldredge said.

Student opportunities were also a central focus of the program. Eldredge highlighted CFBISD’s participation in a NASA student launch program in which district students solved two engineering challenges presented by the agency.

Athletics and extracurricular activities also drew attention. The district recently launched girls flag football programs at its high schools, with support from the Dallas Cowboys. More than 100 girls at each high school tried out for the teams.

“This is not powder puff anymore,” Eldredge said.

District leaders also emphasized efforts to recruit and retain high-quality teachers through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program, which allows top-performing educators to earn significantly higher salaries. Eldredge said two teachers in the district now earn more than $130,000 annually through the program.

“It’s a tool in our toolbox,” she said, telling attendees to let people potentially interested in working for the district know about the TIA program.

Other programs highlighted during the event included the CFBISD Giving House, which provides basic necessities such as shoes, socks and toothbrushes to students in need, and the Leader in Me leadership program that begins in elementary school.

The district also introduced two new community engagement initiatives this year: a Principal for a Day program and a Community Ambassador Program designed to give residents a closer look at how schools operate.

“You don’t realize how hard our principals work until you walk in their shoes,” Eldredge said.

Board of Trustees President Cassandra Hatfield said the district is also navigating growing challenges facing public education, including technology demands and student mental health needs.

Public education is about “your money and your children,” Hatfield said. “We know that adult behaviors drive student outcomes.”

Hatfield said the board remains focused on four key outcomes, including improving third-grade reading and math and ensuring students are prepared for advanced coursework by fifth grade.

“The magic of our classrooms really starts in pre-K,” she said.

Teacher of the Year Summer García, a second-grade teacher at Farmers Branch Elementary School, shared her own story as a product of the district, having attended Sheffield Elementary and Ranchview High School as a student.

“CFBISD has been my home since I was five years old,” García said. “At each stage of my life, there was a CFB teacher who poured into me and helped shape who I am today.”

The program concluded with a reminder that the district’s work ultimately centers on its students.

“Teaching is meaningful not because it is easy but because it matters,” García said.

District leaders encouraged community members to stay engaged as the district continues developing its legislative agenda for the upcoming state legislative session and implementing long-term goals under its strategic plan.

Throughout the morning, Eldredge returned to the event’s theme.

“It’s all about our kids and our parents,” she said.

_{Local News Matters.}