Shawn Pratt was born and raised in Plano, Texas, where he attended Plano Senior High School and was a proud member of the Wildcat football team that won the 1986 5A State Championship.

Pratt’s career in education spans 30 years, all of it invested in McKinney ISD, as he has progressed from one position of leadership to the next. When he began his career in 1993, he was mentored by longtime, legendary coach Ron Poe, and when MISD opened McKinney North High School in 2000, Pratt was named head football coach and campus athletic coordinator. In 2009, he was promoted to MISD director of athletics.

Pratt’s accomplishments while leading the MISD athletics department were far-reaching. He provided leadership during successful bond elections in 2016 and 2021, and he was part of the team that facilitated and planned two new high schools, one middle school and the MISD Stadium and Community Event Center. In addition, Pratt was instrumental in securing the bid to host the NCAA DII Football National Championship game and was awarded a proclamation by the City of McKinney for “Athletic Director Shawn Pratt Day.”

He served on various committees and received numerous awards during his 11 year tenure as athletic director. He was the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Athletic Director committee chair for four years and was named the THSADA State Athletic Director of the Year in 2017. Pratt was also a two-time recipient of the THSADA Regional Athletic Director of the Year award.

In 2020, Pratt was named assistant superintendent, where his leadership role broadened to encompass not only athletics, but also fine arts, health services and the district’s safety and security department.

In that role, Pratt continued to strengthen the district’s partnerships with the McKinney Police Department and Fire Department through ongoing coordinated response planning and preparation. In conjunction with the McKinney Fire Department, he helped facilitate the administration of 60,000 vaccinations during the COVID crisis, using the stadium as the primary hub of operations. Under his leadership, MISD received the 2021 National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Facility of Merit for Safety and Security Award.

Now, Pratt begins a new chapter of his career as superintendent of McKinney ISD.

“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to serve the McKinney ISD community as superintendent,” said Pratt. “McKinney has been my home since 1992 when I began my student teaching at McKinney High School and Faubion Middle School. My wife and I have raised our three children here, and all three have benefited from an outstanding educational experience. MISD has exceptional students, teachers, administrators and board members, and I consider it a true privilege to lead the MISD family.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history and his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he is currently working toward a doctorate in educational administration.

Pratt lives in McKinney with Deanne, his wife of 26 years, who serves as a calculus teacher and AP coordinator at McKinney North. They have three children: Collin (24), Cade (21) and Whitley (19), all McKinney North graduates.