Mansfield ISD renames school facilities

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The Mansfield ISD School Board has approved the naming of six buildings as a reflection of the impact those individuals left in the district.

The MISD Center for the Performing Arts will be named after Jim Vaszauskas, the district’s former superintendent whose leadership transformed The Center into a community hub featuring Grammy-winning performances and communitywide events.

Vaszauskas served 39 years in education. More than 10 of those years were in Mansfield ISD. During his tenure as superintendent, Vaszauskas was named Region 11 Superintendent of the Year and was named the top five superintendent in Texas in 2017.

The Lake Ridge High School Multipurpose Athletic Complex will be named after Billy Smith. He was an influential MISD football coach who passed away in 2019 from cancer while still coaching at Lake Ridge High School.

During his 15 years at Mansfield ISD, Smith coached at Mansfield High School, Legacy High School and Lake Ridge High School. He was known for his quiet strength and courage and left a legacy of extreme integrity.

Legacy High School’s Multipurpose Athletic Complex will be named after Mike Wynn. Wynn served in the district for 24 years. He was the head of grounds and maintenance before retiring in 2021.

Wynn helped to build and maintain all of the district’s athletic facilities. MISD’s reputation for having impeccable fields is attributed to his dedication and leadership.

The Mansfield High School Multipurpose Athletic Complex will be named after Daniel Maberry. Maberry served 22 years in education, all of which were in Mansfield ISD.

Maberry taught and coached football at Mansfield High for 18 years before he passed away from cancer in 2020. He left a legacy behind of having faith and finding joy no matter what the circumstances are.

The Multipurpose Athletic Complex at Summit High School will be named after Donna Grant. She helped open the school in 2002 and was the first female high school principal in MISD.

Grant has been a Texas educator for more than 32 years. During her time at Summit High School, she set the culture of loving and caring for one another—now coined as “Summit Love.” Grant retired in 2007.

Timberview High School’s Multipurpose Athletic Complex will be named after Terry Cron, the school’s first head football coach. He served 37 years in education as a teacher, coach, athletic coordinator and athletics director.

While at Timberview High School, Cron led the football team to the playoffs from 2006 to 2009. He retired in 2009, but his impact of building the future generation of leaders on and off the field can still be felt.

MISD sought community input about the naming of the facilities in March. Nearly 2,000 suggestions were submitted. The suggestions were then studied by a committee, and recommendations were brought to the school board for approval.

The school board unanimously approved the naming recommendations May 25. Dedication ceremonies for the six facilities will be held in the fall.

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