Schools Chief Mac Bernd Takes Texas Job
Mac Bernd, the superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, will leave his post to head a Texas school system more than twice as big.
Bernd was chosen over eight candidates from Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana to take the helm at the Arlington Independent School District, which serves 52,000 students. He succeeds Arlington’s top administrator Lynn Hale, who will retire Dec. 31.
“I believe there’s an excellent match between their needs and my skills,” Bernd said Friday. “And the prospect of living in Texas is very exciting.”
Bernd began at Newport-Mesa in 1993, just as the district was recovering from a $4-million embezzlement by the then-top finance officer, Stephen Wagner. The scandal was the largest theft of school funds in state history.
Bernd worked closely with his staff to place tight controls on district accounts and expanded the duties of an outside auditor.
Bernd also earned praise from parents and teachers for his accessibility and enthusiasm.
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