TASA is pleased to announce that Robert McLain, retiring superintendent of Plains ISD, will serve TASA members in Regions 16 and 17 as a TASA executive superintendent starting this month.
TASA’s team of executive superintendents includes 11 highly regarded former superintendents who are experts on public school leadership. They serve as an extension of the TASA staff and are on hand to support TASA members in a variety of ways, with an emphasis on helping new superintendents navigate the role. As seasoned administrators, these superintendents are able to listen and provide support based on their own experiences.
“Robert has been a very successful superintendent for many years, and he has also been a highly engaged member of TASA,” says Kevin Brown, TASA executive director. “Serving on the TASA 2025 Task Force in 2018 that developed our Strategic Framework, Robert has been deeply involved in the success of TASA. In fact, he helped TASA envision the role of executive superintendent seven years ago, and it is really great to now see him fill the role he saw as critical years ago. Robert is a man of character and faith; he is an innovative leader, and he is an outstanding mentor and coach for others. He will serve our members extremely well, and I am so thankful he has chosen to extend his career to help others.”
McLain began his career in education 40 years ago as a teacher and assistant coach in Phillips ISD, Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD, and Happy ISD, where he was also the head basketball coach. He then served Channing ISD as a principal (1996-2008) and superintendent (2008-2019). He has been superintendent in Plains since 2019, currently serving as superintendent emeritus through June 30, 2025.
As a superintendent, McLain served on the commissioner of education’s Rural School Task Force, developed and led the West Texas Leadership Academy to help develop leadership capacity in small schools, and participated in the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute. He served in the first cohort of executive coaches in TASA’s Executive Coaching Program and has mentored new superintendents in TASA’s Superintendent Mentoring Program.
A TASA member since 2008, McLain was a member of TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Institute (FRSLI), TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Network (FRSLN), and the TASA 2025 Task Force, which developed the TASA Strategic Framework. His is a former member of the TASA Executive Committee and former chair of the TASA Small Schools Advisory Committee. Currently, he is a member of the TASA Member Engagement Committee.
McLain holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physical education from West Texas State University and a Master of Education in educational administration from West Texas A&M University.
