Tim Harkrider, Ed.D., became Superintendent of Willis ISD in 2013. He was Principal of Willis High School for one year before being named head of schools. Prior to joining Willis ISD, Dr. Harkrider was a classroom teacher, coach and administrator for eleven years in Grand Prairie ISD and White Settlement ISD, among others in the East Texas area.

Dr. Harkrider has won multiple awards for his work in education. Most recently he was named the 2019-20 Empowered Superintendent by the K-12 Chief Technology Officer Council for his work to advance meaningful use of technology in classrooms. In 2018, he was named the Region 6 Superintendent of the Year in the Texas Association of School Boards Annual Program, and was one of five finalists in the state competition.

Under Dr. Harkrider’s leadership, Willis ISD has seen an improvement in student performance and innovation, staff wellness, technology access, facilities improvement and financial stability. 

Dr. Harkrider, hailing from the small town of Carthage, Texas, originally attended The University of Texas at Austin on a baseball scholarship. After playing there for three years, he spent four years in the minors with the Anaheim Angels. The trajectory of his future was changed by a career-ending ankle injury that prevented him from advancing to the major leagues.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Principal Certification from The University of Texas at Arlington, Superintendent Certification from Lamar University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.

Dr. Harkrider and his wife, Toni, have three children - Dylan, 24; Reece, 20; and Meredith, 13.

The Superintendent's office is located in the Sharon Hill Jennette Administration Building, located at 612 N. Campbell. For more information, call the district offices at 936-856-1200.

Mrs. Rodgers is the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. She has been with the district for 37 years.