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Opening the first public schools in Fort Worth came with challenges, but a woman led the district through its tumultuous beginnings with strength.

Despite a landslide victory for a school tax in 1877, those against public education managed to lobby for another election. Public education prevailed once again. 

On Aug. 20, 1878, Fort Worth passed its first city ordinance establishing public schools. This time, opponents took their opposition all the way to the attorney general, who ruled that public funds could not be used for school purposes. 

In 1880, Fort Worth held a third election, with a vote of 425 to 45 in favor of public schools. After the vote, the city council appointed three people to the school board.

On Dec. 24, 1881, the council chose M. Sue Huffman as the first superintendent of free schools in Fort Worth. Huffman, previously employed at a private school, decided to lead the first public schools in Fort Worth.

With a small team of teachers, Huffman established the foundation of a legacy of a school district that would eventually encompass thousands of teachers and serve tens of thousands of students. 

Born on May 12, 1859, in Richmond, Kentucky, Huffman received her education from Fort Worth High School, Galveston Female Academy, and the Sam Houston Normal Institute in Huntsville. She was incredibly smart, during an examination at Sam Houston Normal Institute she scored a remarkable average of 100 throughout the exam. In 1880, she graduated with a Peabody Medal. 

Huffman organized the public schools in Fort Worth and Decatur and was the first woman superintendent in Texas. Throughout her career in education, she worked as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. 

After leaving her role as superintendent, she founded and ran the Warren Institute in 1890, where many women received their education.

At just 22, Huffman was tasked with the monumental job of establishing and leading Fort Worth’s public schools. She faced opponents of public education and had to resign when another tax election was called, before the district was permanently established in 1882. 

Despite the challenges, she led campuses for over 600 students with a small staff. Even after her time leading Fort Worth ISD concluded, Huffman remained committed to educating the women of Fort Worth.