Abilene ISD
John Martinez has been named the first director of the district’s Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy that will open in the fall. Martinez has been an educator for eight years, five of which have been spent as a technology teacher. He also has served as an elementary/intermediate school principal and a college adviser at Abilene High School, a position he held for two years. He has a bachelor of science degree in multidisciplinary studies from McMurry University in Abilene and a master’s degree in school administration from Angelo State University in San Angelo.

Andrews ISD
After 36 years of working in education, Superintendent David Mitchell has announced his retirement, which is effective at the end of this school year. Mitchell has worked in Andrews ISD since 2003. After graduating from high school in 1966, Mitchell served his country in the Armed Forces from 1968 to 1970. Upon completion of duty, he obtained a bachelor of science degree from Sul Ross State University in 1973. Mitchell began his career in education as a teacher and coach for Kermit ISD, where he stayed until a brief venture into oil drifting took him away from teaching from 1976 to 1980.

Mitchell came back to public education in 1980, when he became a teacher and coach for Denver City ISD. After another brief absence from teaching from 1982 to 1986, he re-entered the classroom and spent the next 20 years teaching and coaching in Seagraves ISD and in Denver City ISD, until finally landing at Andrews ISD as the assistant superintendent of instruction in 2003. He became the superintendent in 2006.

Mitchell has a master’s degree in educational leadership, as well as his principal certification and superintendent certification, all from The University of Texas–Permian Basin.

Assistant Superintendent for Operations Thomas Carroll also has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the school year. Carroll served his entire career in education in Andrews ISD. After graduating from San Angelo State University with a bachelor of science degree in 1981, he joined Andrews ISD as a physical education teacher in 1983. Carroll spent the next 10 years in that position before becoming a high school assistant principal in 1993. In 1994, he became the assistant principal of Andrews Middle School, where he stayed and eventually served as principal from 1998 to 2002. That year, he landed his current position as assistant superintendent of operations. Carroll has a mid-management certification from Sul Ross State University.

Birdville ISD
Carla Saddler Rix, current principal of North Ridge Middle School, has been named the new principal of Richland High School. She takes the position left vacant by Randy Cobb’s recent move to Irving ISD. Prior to taking the helm at North Ridge Middle School in 2006, Rix served as a science teacher at Richland High School from 1984 to 2004. She taught middle school science from 1979 to 1984 at East Newton School District in Granby, Mo. She also taught at Christ the King School in Okinawa, Japan, for one year after working at Union School District in Tulsa, Okla. Rix earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and her master’s degree from Tarleton State University.

Comal ISD
Wisconsin native Michael Keranen, current principal of Robert E. Lee High School in North East ISD, will be Smithson Valley Middle School’s new principal next year. He has 21 years of education experience underneath his belt, including 17 years in administration. Prior to his arrival in Comal ISD in 2004, Keranen served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal in Brownsville ISD. Since arriving at Comal ISD in 2004, he has led two magnet programs and a comprehensive high school of nearly 2,400 students. Keranen has degrees from the University of Wisconsin–LaCrosse and The University of Texas–Brownsville.

Judson ISD Principal Jackie Sundt will return to Comal ISD as Specht Elementary’s new principal in the fall. Prior to spending the past eight years as a principal of Salinas Elementary in Judson ISD, Sundt served as an assistant principal and principal at Bill Brown Elementary School. Sundt began her 20-year career in education in East Central ISD, after obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Trinity University.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Vicki Snockhous, associate principal at Cypress-Fairbanks High School, will take over as principal for the 2009-2010 school year. She brings with her 25 years of experience in education, starting in Oklahoma as a high school teacher before moving to Texas to be a middle school teacher for Mesquite ISD. She began her career in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD as a teacher at Dean Middle School; she also served one year as a helping teacher for at-risk students at Cypress-Fairbanks High School. Snockhous has a bachelor’s degree in education from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in education from Sam Houston State University.

Janet Bakondy, formerly the assistant principal at Jowell Elementary School, was recently named the new principal at Ault Elementary School, effective in March of this year. Bakondy is no stranger to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD; she has spent all 14 years of her career in the district. She began teaching for Ault Elementary School nine years ago and spent two years as an instructional specialist. She then served in the same position at Keith Elementary School, before becoming the assistant principal of Jowell Elementary in 2005. Bakondy obtained her bachelor of science degree in education from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University.

Ector County ISD
Gary Gaines is returning to the district as the head football coach and athletic coordinator for Permian High School. Gaines’ first stint as head coach in Ector County ISD, from 1986 to 1989, was the inspiration for the book “Friday Night Lights.” Prior to his return to the district, Gaines served as the assistant coach at Texas Tech University, and as a head coach at Abilene Christian University, Abilene High School and San Angelo High School. He also spent two years as the executive director of athletics for Ector County ISD and two years in the same position in Lubbock ISD.

Harlingen CISD
Alejos Salazar is the new principal of Wilson Elementary School. Salazar began his career in education as a bus driver for South Texas ISD, where he later served as a paraprofessional. He then moved on to fill the positions of special education resource teacher and football coach for Santa Maria ISD and Santa Rosa ISD. After serving a short term as the special education transition unit case manager, Salazar became the assistant principal at Myra Green Middle School in Raymondville ISD. He then returned to Harlingen CISD in 2005 as the first assistant principal of Moises V. Vela Middle School. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from The University of Texas–Brownsville and a master’s degree in education administration from The University of Texas–Pan American; he is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in education. 

Irving ISD
After 44 years of serving Irving ISD, Superintendent Jack Singley has announced his retirement, citing health reasons. He joined Irving ISD in 1965 as a math teacher at MacArthur High School, where he continued on to serve as a teacher, principal, personnel director and eventually the assistant superintendent for administration until 1988. That year, he was appointed to superintendent, making Singley one of the longest-serving school superintendents in Texas.

Mandy Hamilton is now executive director for the Irving Schools Foundation. She is a nonprofit veteran, having worked for such organizations as Best Buddies International, the American Heart Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Killeen ISD
Robert Muller, who has served as the interim superintendent since October, is now the superintendent. Muller has been a part of Killeen ISD since 2003. He has served as the executive director for student services, assistant superintendent for administration and operations and deputy superintendent. He also has held positions as associate commissioner and chief of staff with the Texas Education Agency. Moreover, his résumé includes a stint at Van Alstyne ISD, where he served as a high school principal, teacher and coach. Muller obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a doctorate degree from The University of Texas.

Marshall ISD
After a brief trial run in the position, Carrie Alexander is now officially the district financial services director. She took on the duties of the office earlier this semester after Zane Beck held the post for a brief interim.

New Boston ISD
Fourteen years in education have gained Jennifer Cokely a recent appointment to principal of Crestview Elementary School. Cokely will take office for the 2009-2010 school year as Crestview Elementary transitions from a pre-k to fourth grade campus to a third grade through fifth grade school. She currently is in her second year serving as Crestview Elementary’s assistant principal, as well as a reading coach and gifted and talented teacher. Prior to joining New Boston ISD in 2001, Cokely coordinated the gifted and talented program for six years at Simms ISD, where she also taught middle school English, high school theater arts and middle school speech. She holds a bachelor of science degree and a master of education degree from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She received her principal certification in February 2008.

Pasadena ISD
Executive Director of Technology Services Bob Daughrity has been named CTO of the Year by the Texas K-12 CTO Council, a chapter of the Consortium for School Networking. Prior to obtaining his current role in 2004, Daughrity served as the director of technology for Brazosport ISD for two years.

River Road ISD
Sarah Lawson, current assistant principal at Amarillo High School, is the new principal at River Road High School. A native of Princeton, Texas, Lawson began her 25-year career in education in Hereford ISD, where she gained her first experience in administration at the middle school and high school levels. After serving 17 years at Hereford ISD, Lawson then moved on to serve the next eight years in Amarillo ISD, where she was a state finalist for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals’ Assistant Principal of the Year Award in 2008.