Marlin Alum Ortega McDavid Speaks at National Alliance of Black School Educators Conference

A native of Marlin, Texas, Ms. McDavid is a 2003 graduate of Marlin High School and a proud product of the Marlin community. She dedicated nearly nine years of service to Marlin Independent School District, where she was employed from August 2016 through June 2025, impacting students both on and off the court.

Ms. McDavid currently serves as the Head Girls Basketball Coach for Dallas ISD, where she continues to lead, mentor, and develop young athletes through discipline, education, and sportsmanship. She also remains actively involved in her hometown, holding active membership with the Marlin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., continuing her commitment to service and leadership.

Recently, Ms. McDavid achieved a significant professional milestone when she was invited to speak at the 53rd National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Conference. She presented in the Aspiring Athletic Strand, marking the first time this strand was ever offered at the national conference. Notably, Ms. McDavid was the only female selected as a speaker and presenter for this strand, further highlighting her leadership and influence in the field of athletics and education.

“Speaking at NABSE was an overwhelming moment of gratitude and emotion for me,” McDavid said. “To stand in that space as the only woman in the Aspiring Athletic Strand, sharing my journey, reminded me that every challenge, sacrifice, and setback had purpose. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that God had planned for me.”

Her accomplishments reflect not only personal achievement but also bring pride to the Marlin community she continues to represent at the state and national levels.