MARLIN, Texas — Marlin ISD Superintendent Dr. Darryl J. Henson confirmed with 6 News on Tuesday that he will be serving as principal of Marlin High School during the 2023 to 2024 school year.
"I want to be heavily involved in the academic outcomes of our children," Henson said during a live interview on 6 News at 6. "As the principal, I will be supporting our teachers, supporting our students, supporting our families and meeting all requirements along the way."
He added that the high school will also have an interim principal.
This announcement comes a day after Henson told 6 News the new graduation date (June 22) and that they anticipate a 100% graduation rate for the third year in a row.
Back in May, only five out of 38 seniors within the district were eligible to graduate per standards set by the state of Texas. Despite the district giving students outlines of graduation requirements, an overwhelming majority of students failed to meet the 90% attendance requirement.
"So along the way, there were constant checks, but we have to understand... that the main issue was attendance," he said. "So if you're missing attendance hours in late April, in the middle of May, no matter how much hours you're making up, you're still going to owe attendance hours."
By the time this article was published, 33 students became eligible to graduate. The remaining five will complete their requirements by the new graduation date, he said.
"The system works, the plan works, now it's time to support our seniors, hold them accountable and give them every resource that we have to be successful," he said.
Despite the good news, Henson said accountability also extends to the district.
"In our research, despite the overwhelming issue being attendance, there were some things on behalf of the district that we could've done and we should've done better, and we are 100% for a fact, like our graduation rate, fix them for next year," he said.
Regarding the status of John Ensley II -- who was hired as principal for Marlin High School during the 2022-2023 school year -- Henson said he could not give a comment.
However, a school official told 6 News Ensley is no longer with the district.