Mansfield ISD’s Ambassador of Education Award is given to individuals or organizations that closely partner with the district to impact the lives of MISD students, staff members and families.

This year, the designation was given to Dr. Michael Evans. Dr. Evans has been the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist for more than 30 years. He served on the MISD Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2016, only retiring to join the Tarrant County College Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2020.

In December 2020, he was named the mayor of the City of Mansfield.

With every title Dr. Evans has held, he has been a champion for education. Community members said he has a heart of giving back and serving others.

“He has still never taken his focus off of education when he took the seat as the mayor of Mansfield,” said MISD Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Cantu. “He was so intentional about really partnering with the school district, so I feel like we’re experiencing a partnership like we’ve never experienced before between the city and the school district under his leadership.”

Dr. Evans founded several organizations that work for the betterment of individuals and the community. BBC Educational Enrichment Corporation helps more than 1,000 young people throughout the southeast Arlington-Mansfield-Kennedale area with tutoring services, career exploration and summer job placement. Hope House Community Service Network assists indigent individuals in southeast Tarrant County with addiction recovery, medical services and transportation.

He also founded Historic West Mansfield Texas Community Development Corporation, an entity that encourages quality economic development of the Historic West Mansfield Community. The corporation was instrumental in the construction of Bethlehem’s Pioneer Place Senior Adult Independent Living Complex, which opened in 2019.

“He brings the community together, and his passion and excitement for kids and the community and how we can do more things to help support all the people in our village is just unprecedented,” said Michelle Newsom, MISD school board president. “He more than deserves this award. He does so much for each and every one of us in this community.”

Dr. Evans also serves on the advisory council of Tarrant County Habitat for Humanity, the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Advisory Board and the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Advisory Board.

MISD is blessed to have community partners such as Dr. Evans. He was surprised with MISD’s Ambassador of Education Award at the MISD Employee Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 12.