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Who's News
Alpine ISD Superintendent Stephen White comes to his new job from Granger ISD, where he also held the top position.
Boerne ISD
A new superintendent is in place. He is David Stelmazewski, who was principal of the district’s Champion High School since it opened in 2008. Before joining Boerne ISD, he was principal of Kingsborough Middle School in Harlandale ISD, from 1998 to 2001. He then spent seven years heading McCollum High School in Harlandale ISD, where he was named 2008’s ESC Region 20 Principal of the Year by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Additionally, his early career saw him serving as assistant principal of Clark High School in San Antonio’s Northside ISD and as a teacher and basketball coach at Jay High School in the same district. Stelmazewski holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in education, from Eastern Illinois University.
Brownsville ISD Carl Montoya has been named the district’s superintendent after having served as interim superintendent since June. An educator for 35 years, he has been an administrator in Dallas ISD and in New Mexico school districts. Prior to coming to Brownsville, where he also served as area superintendent of the district’s Rivera cluster schools, he spent six years as superintendent of Aransas Pass ISD. He has been with Brownsville ISD for four years. A certified police officer, Montoya served on the Texas School Safety Board as an appointee of Gov. Rick Perry.
Delores Emerson, most recently principal of Morningside Elementary School, is now principal of a new campus, Breeden Elementary, which will open next year. Kimberly Hopkins will serve as the interim principal of Morningside Elementary. She has been an assistant principal at Gonzalez Elementary for the past 10 years.
Michelle Seney, who has been the administrator of the district’s Hanna Technology, Medical and Health Professions Magnet School, is taking on the same duties at Brownsville ISD’s new Science, Technology, Architecture and Medical Professional (STAMP) College Preparatory Program. It is scheduled to open in the fall at Veterans Memorial High School. She was in her previous position for 10 years.
Cooper ISD Denecia Hohenberger is the district’s new superintendent.
Cotulla ISD
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Denton ISD
Elgin ISD Bill Graves, superintendent for the past seven years, has announced his upcoming retirement, which will become effective at the end of this academic year. He began his career in Texas public education in 1963 as an English teacher and football coach at Lubbock ISD’s Slaton Junior High School, adding guidance counselor at the school to his duties in 1966. He next was director of student activities in Lubbock ISD’s Coronado High School, assistant principal of Lubbock High School and vice principal of Coronado. A move to Abilene came next when he accepted the position of principal of Abilene High School, which was followed by a term as director of human resources for the district. His first superintendency was in Winters ISD, where he served for four years before taking on the same job in Andrews ISD. He then held the top position in San Angelo and Paint Rock ISDs before joining Elgin ISD in 2004. Additionally, while in San Angelo, he was an associate professor of educational administration at Angelo State University. Graves earned his bachelor’s degree in education from North Texas State University and his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas Tech University. He also did post-graduate work in the same concentration at Texas Tech.
Fort Bend ISD Stacy Crews is the district’s new director of communications. With more than 15 years of experience in public relations and corporate communications, she most recently worked for Devon Energy Corp. as a public affairs specialist.
Walker Station Elementary School now has Lesli Fridge as principal. In Alief ISD, she was assistant director of human resources. She also has been a social studies teacher, assistant principal and guidance counselor. Now leading Commonwealth Elementary is Principal Joanna Hagler. She was previously principal of Armstrong and Horn elementary schools.
The new director of facilities is John Holmes. He spent seven years with Amtrak as a district manager and resident manager and also worked as director of operations for Community Treatment Solutions in New Jersey.
Lori Ruckman is now principal of Armstrong Elementary School. She previously spent four years as the assistant principal of Scanlan Oaks Elementary.
Georgetown ISD
Granbury ISD Longtime Superintendent Ron Mayfield will retire at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. He began his career as a vocational agriculture teacher in Loraine, Amherst and Lamesa ISDs, going on to serve as an assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent in Lamesa ISD. He was superintendent in Reagan County ISD and in Stockton ISD, where he served from 2005 until joining Granbury ISD in 2009. Mayfield’s bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s degree in education were earned from Texas Tech University.
La Pryor ISD Benny Hernandez, formerly high school principal of Iraan-Sheffield ISD, is the district’s new superintendent.
Lake Travis ISD
Brad Lancaster, former superintendent of Midway ISD, is the new superintendent. He has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director for curriculum and assistant superintendent in College Station, Ennis and Allen ISDs. Lancaster earned his doctorate in education from Texas A&M University.
Longview ISD James Wilcox retired at the end of December from his position as superintendent, which he had held since 2007 when he arrived in Longview from Waxahachie ISD.
Lufkin ISD Jesus Gomez has been appointed principal of Lufkin Middle School. He was serving as associate principal of the campus.
Millsap ISD
Montgomery ISD Beau Rees, who was superintendent of Graham ISD, is now Montgomery ISD’s superintendent. A graduate of Texas A&M University who also holds a master’s degree in education from Abilene Christian University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Texas Tech University, he has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, elementary and secondary principal and curriculum director.
Mt. Enterprise ISD Former Big Sandy ISD junior high Principal Byron Jordan is the district’s new superintendent.
New Waverly ISD Clay Webb, superintendent for the past eight years, has announced his upcoming retirement.
Northside ISD
Pampa ISD
Pearsall ISD Esthela Rodriguez is the new superintendent. She has more than 20 years of experience in education. She has served school districts in Texas in the following capacities: bilingual and regular classroom teacher, federal programs director, teaching facilitator, academic programs supervisor, curriculum director, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction and superintendent of schools. She also has worked as a graduate research assistant and teaching assistant at The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Pearsall ISD, she served The University of Texas at Austin’s Charles A. Dana Center as the district services director. Additional experiences included working for Partners in School Innovation in San Francisco, Calif., and as the district partnership director for the San Jose Unified School District, in San Jose, Calif. Rodriguez also worked as a knowledge, learning and results manager for the Stupski Foundation, where she conducted organizational assessments for urban school districts in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee. Rodriguez holds a doctorate of philosophy in educational administration and policy and planning from The University of Texas at Austin.
Pflugerville ISD Longtime educator Cindy Gee, who was director of the district’s extended day program, completed more than 30 years as an educator when she retired in November. Before coming to Pflugerville, she was a teacher and coach in San Antonio’s North East ISD, a teacher in Austin ISD, and a teacher, coach and administrator in Del Valle ISD. With Pflugerville ISD, she has served as principal of Windermere Primary School, Windermere Elementary School and Caldwell Elementary. She was also executive director of the district’s Elementary Educator Department and an assistant superintendent.
Plano ISD An interim superintendent has been appointed for Plano ISD. Richard Matkin, who is the district’s associate superintendent for business services, took on the role when Superintendent Doug Otto retired last month. Matkin will continue his responsibilities as associate superintendent while serving in the interim role.
Riviera ISD Newly hired Superintendent Karen Unterbrink comes to Riviera ISD from Taft ISD, where she served as assistant superintendent.
Robstown ISD
Royse City ISD
San Angelo ISD
San Marcos CISD
Seguin ISD
Sonora ISD Superintendent Don Gibson has announced his upcoming retirement. James Hartman has been named Sonora ISD’s new superintendent. He comes to his new job from Marion ISD, where he was superintendent.
South San Antonio ISD Linda Ziegler has been appointed to serve as the district’s interim superintendent. Most recently vice principal of Madla Elementary School, she has been with the district for 25 years. She is the first woman to serve as superintendent in the district’s 88-year history. After earning a bachelor’s degree in education from The University of Texas at San Antonio, she was hired by South San Antonio ISD as a reading teacher. She then spent 15 years as the library services director before serving as vice principal of Shepard Middle School, where she remained until taking her most recent position at Madla. Her superintendent certificate was awarded from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Spearman ISD Clay Montgomery is the district’s new superintendent. His first job in education was as an agricultural science teacher in Gustine ISD. He next moved to Gruver ISD to lead that district’s agricultural science program. After 10 years in that position, he transferred to White Deer ISD as high school principal, remaining there for four years. In 2005, he returned to his hometown of Valley View to serve in the same capacity until 2007, when he accepted his most recent position as superintendent of Lefors ISD. Montgomery studied at Tabor College in Kansas, earning his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Tarleton State University.
Springtown ISD
Superintendent Mike Kelley now leads the district. An educator since 1991, he spent seven years with Groesbeck ISD as a social studies teacher and football, basketball and baseball coach. He arrived in Springtown in 1998, where he spent three years as a high school teacher and coach, two years as a middle school assistant principal and the past six years as principal of Springtown High School. Kelley earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor University and his master’s degree in education from Tarleton State University.
Stamford ISD
Thrall ISD
Tomball ISD
Amy Schindewolf is the new principal of Tomball Junior High School. An educator for 14 years, she has been an intermediate school language arts teacher, a high school English teacher, and an intermediate school assistant principal. Before coming to Tomball, she was an associate principal at Collins High School in Klein SD. Schindewolf earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M Universitys and her doctorate in educational leadership from Sam Houston State University.
Tyler ISD
Weatherford ISD The district’s newly hired superintendent, Jeffrey Hanks, was most recently superintendent of Burnet CISD. He began his career in 1982 as a teacher in Temple ISD, going on to teach and coach in Palestine ISD. He also has served as a principal in several Texas districts.
Willis ISD
Thelma Garza has been named Willis ISD’s executive director of human resources. She comes to Willis ISD from Houston ISD. She was a bilingual teacher, principal, district superintendent, regional superintendent and interim chief academic officer. Garza earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.
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The district has a new superintendent. He is Jack Seals Jr., who had been serving as interim superintendent. He began his career as an eighth grade earth science teacher and coach in Rice CISD, going on to serve in the same capacity in Beeville ISD. He next was an administrative intern in Killeen ISD, then spent nine years with Taylor ISD as an assistant principal and principal of Taylor High School. He was the district’s business manager and, ultimately, assistant superintendent for finance. From 1988 to 1990, he was with the Texas Education Agency as executive director of the data resource unit in the division of accreditation and school improvement. He was named superintendent of Dilley ISD in 1990, where he remained until accepting his new job in Cotulla. Seals earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Southwestern University and both his master’s degree and doctorate in educational administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
The district’s first police chief was appointed in December. He is Alan Bragg, who comes to the district from Spring ISD, where he spent 21 years as chief of police. Additionally, he was a lieutenant in Houston ISD’s police department from 1981 to 1990 and a police officer for Midwestern State University for three years. He also served with the Wichita Falls police department from 1972 to 1978. Bragg studied criminal justice at Midwestern State University and graduated from the Wichita Falls Police Academy, the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Series.
Mike Mattingly, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and staff development, has received the Advocacy for Excellence in Literacy Award from the Askew Reading Recovery and Literacy Institute. He received his recognition at the Institute’s regional fall conference in Dallas. An educator since 1981, Mattingly began in Grand Prairie ISD as a middle school science and high school biology teacher, going on to serve as a principal in that district at Crockett, Eisenhower and Powell elementary schools. He left Texas for Georgia in 1999, serving as executive director of elementary operations for the Houston County Board of Education, then as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning there. During his time in Georgia, he was also an assistant professor of instructional supervision at the University of Georgia. He accepted his current position with Denton ISD in 2007. Mattingly earned his associate of arts degree from Trinity Valley Community College, his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from The University of Texas at Austin and his master’s degree in public school administration from the University of North Texas. His doctorate in educational leadership was conferred from the University of Georgia.
The district has a new interim chief financial officer, Steve West, who comes to his new position after 35 years in school business management— 23 of those have been spent at the assistant superintendent level. He served as chief financial officer for Midway and Austin ISDs and was president of the Texas Association of School Business Officials in 2005.
David Belding has been appointed superintendent of the district. He was most recently principal of Weatherford High School in Weatherford ISD. A graduate of Weatherford High, he spent more than 20 years in the district as a teacher and administrator, becoming the high school’s principal in 2007. Before that time, he was director of assessment and organizational development for three years, principal of Curtis Elementary for seven years and assistant principal of Hall Middle School for three years. He also served as a band director in Fort Worth, Weatherford and Azle ISDs. Belding earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas Christian University and his master’s degree in education and doctorate in educational leadership from Tarleton State University.
John Folks, who has led Northside ISD as superintendent for almost 10 years, will retire at the end of June. An educator for 42 years, he was named 2011 Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of Schools Boards. A native Oklahoman who received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Oklahoma, he came to Texas to begin his career in Port Arthur ISD. In addition to his tenure in Texas districts, he was superintendent of Midwest-Del City Public Schools in suburban Oklahoma City and dean of the school of education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also served as Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction, which is comparable to Texas’ commissioner of education.
Superintendent Barry Haenisch has announced his retirement, which will become effective at the end of this academic year. An educator for 41 years, Haenisch began his career as a coach and teacher in Van Horn and Menard ISDs, where he also served as athletics director. He next moved to McCamey ISD, where he was a junior high counselor, teacher and coach. In Gruver ISD, he served in the same capacities and then became the district’s high school principal and, ultimately, the superintendent. He next held the top job in Merkel ISD before joining Pampa ISD as superintendent in 2003. Haenisch holds a bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in Abilene and earned his master’s degree in education from Texas Tech University.
Superintendent Alfonso Obregon has announced his plan to retire at the end of the school year. An educator since 1970, he began as an elementary and junior high school teacher in Pearsall ISD, spending three years there before leaving to pursue his master’s degree in education at San Diego State University. Returning to Texas in 1975, he was assistant superintendent for federal programs in Crystal City ISD, followed by an eightyear stint as assistant superintendent and then superintendent of Dilley ISD. After spending a year as an accreditation specialist with the Texas Education Agency, he returned to school administration, giving seven years to Progreso ISD as superintendent and three to Asherton ISD in the same capacity. He then spent two years as director of education at Correctional Services Corporation’s Frio Detention Facility. He came back to public school service in 1998 as superintendent of Charlotte ISD, before arriving to take the top job in Robstown ISD in 2009. In addition to his master’s degree, Obregon holds an associate of arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). He also has completed post-graduate degree work in educational leadership. 
Superintendent Randy Hancock has announced his upcoming retirement. An educator for 34 years, he will leave the district at the end of June. After spending 12 years as a classroom teacher, Hancock took his first administrative assignment in 1991, serving as an assistant principal in Pleasant Grove ISD. He next was a high school principal in Howe ISD, accepting his first superintendent position in Maypearl ISD, where he served for three years before returning to Howe ISD to take the top position there. He came to Royse City ISD in 2007. Hancock earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Texas State University.
The district’s director of career and technical education, Joann Walter, has been named Outstanding Career and Technical Education Administrator by the Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association of Texas. She received her recognition during an Excellence in Education Awards ceremony in Dallas. Walter has been with San Angelo ISD for 32 of her 34 years as an educator, beginning as a family and consumer sciences teacher before becoming an administrator. She is now in her second year as the director of career and technical education.
A new assistant superintendent of business and support services has been appointed. He is Jason Gossett, who was most recently director of business services in Frenship ISD. Beginning as a business teacher and coach in Mineola ISD, he served as Wylie ISD’s accounting and purchasing coordinator before making the move to Frenship. Gossett, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Angelo State university, is completing coursework for his master’s degree in the same concentration at Texas A&M University at Commerce.
After 41 years as an educator, Vicki De La Rosa, assistant superintendent of information systems and instructional technology, has announced her upcoming retirement. She began her career in Seguin ISD after earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). She left Seguin ISD for four years to work at Texas Lutheran University and then returned to the district to serve as a math and computer science teacher, the math department chair, an assistant principal, the first director of the district’s Even Start program and the director of technology. De La Rosa earned a second bachelor’s degree, in computer science, from Texas Lutheran University, and two master’s degrees, one in math and one in computer science, from Southwest Texas State University.
Springtown’s first female superintendent, Andrea Hungerford, has retired. A graduate of Springtown High School, she has spent all of her 27 years as an educator with the district. She taught high school and served as the district’s UIL director, assistant high school principal, elementary principal, director of federal programs and executive director for administrative services. She has been superintendent for the past four years. Hungerford earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Woman’s University and attended Lamar University’s Superintendent Academy.
Shaun Barnett, who most recently was superintendent of Dublin ISD, is the new superintendent. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Angelo State University, he taught and coached baseball and football in Brownfield ISD. He next served as head baseball coach at Olton High School in Olton ISD and Gorman High School in Gorman ISD . He began his administrative career in Mexia ISD as assistant principal and then principal at Mexia High School. He next was principal of Paradise High School in Paradise ISD before taking on the position of superintendent of Cumby ISD. He came to Dublin ISD as superintendent in 2009. Barnett earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Sul Ross State University.
A new superintendent is in place. He is Tommy Hooker, who was most recently primary and secondary principal in Cameron ISD. He began his career in 1995 as a science teacher, coach and athletics director in Willis ISD, going on to serve as an assistant principal and principal in Huntsville ISD. Hooker earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sam Houston State University.
A new principal is in place for Tomball ISD’s eighth elementary campus, Timber Creek Elementary, slated to open for the 2012-2013 school year. She is Jo Ann Colson, who has spent the past nine years as principal of Willow Creek Elementary. Colson, who was named Tomball ISD’s 2011 Elementary Principal of the Year, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is completing her doctoral degree in educational leadership at Lamar University.
Michael Timms, associate principal of curriculum and instruction at Tyler High School, has been named Texas Assistant Principal of the Year by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. This will mean a trip to Washington D.C., where he will meet the other 49 finalists from around the country who also are competing for the national title. An educator for 24 years, Timms began his career as a substitute teacher in Dallas ISD. He went on to teach high school biology, then was an assistant principal and principal in Dallas-area schools, serving at both the elementary and secondary levels. Timms, who has been with Tyler High School since 2010, holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University at Commerce.