FORT WORTH, Texas — Paul Quinn College is bringing its ideas and higher education experience to Crowley Independent School District. Through a Texas Innovation Partnership, the college will help run all four of the district’s middle schools.
“You’ll see students from Paul Quinn present in Crowley," Crowley ISD Superintendent Michael McFarland said. "You’ll see classes where we’re virtually engaging professors from Paul Quinn. The reality is you’ll see students on our campus, students in our district who are able to take trips and experience Paul Quinn and the college life during the school year.”
It’s a five-year partnership. The 2024-2025 school year is dedicated to planning, and the remaining four will see the program in action.
“Personally, at Paul Quinn College, we believe and we are going to put forth a vision that four-year colleges should adopt entire school systems and say to those families we are going to pour ourselves into you and your lives,” Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell said.
“I really am excited because it’s going to be better for new students and maybe even staff," Crowley Middle School 7th grader and student council officer Kennedi Howard said about the partnership. "The staff can give their students better opportunities.”
“Our middle schools will all be labs so, we’ll be recruiting teachers from many colleges but, Paul Quinn specifically to really work in our middle schools as well," McFarland said.
“It’s not usual that college sponsor middle schools, it’s usually not until high school," Crowley Middle School student and student council officer Luis Marquez said.
It’s a unique approach, being crafted and designed with kids in the district in mind.
“I can’t wait because I know our students have a voice and when you meet with students, talk with students, you become hopeful about the future," McFarland said.
Paul Quinn was selected out of roughly half a dozen colleges that requested information. This isn’t the only partnership between public schools and local colleges. Fort Worth ISD is also working with Texas Wesleyan in a similar program.