McKinney, Texas — McKinney ISD has named Debra Fort its new Director of Guidance and Counseling. Fort brings 33 years of experience in education to the job, having served as a teacher, school counselor, Special Populations Coordinator, and most recently, MISD’s Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in School Counseling from East Texas A&M University.
She began her career in McKinney ISD in 1993 as a special education teacher at Caldwell and Webb Elementary Schools. In 1999, she transitioned to school counseling, serving in Bland ISD, Garrison ISD and Lubbock ISD before returning to McKinney ISD in 2007 as a Special Populations Coordinator. In 2012, she became lead counselor at McKinney North High School and was named McKinney ISD’s Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling in 2024.
In her new role, Fort will lead the district’s comprehensive guidance and counseling program, supporting students’ academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social-emotional development across McKinney ISD.
Fort has earned numerous honors throughout her career. She was named McKinney ISD's Counselor of the Year in 2021 and was selected as Texas High School Counselor of the Year in 2022 by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA). Under her leadership, the McKinney North counseling team earned two CREST Awards from TSCA.
"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to serve MISD in this new role," said Fort. "My goal is to build strong, professional relationships that encourage shared learning, innovative practices, and continuous growth. I am confident that by working together, we can create a supportive environment where all students have the resources and guidance they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.”