Abilene ISD
Three new administrators were in place for the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
Stacy Evans is the principal of Bassetti Elementary School, after spending the previous school year as acting principal there. Prior to his time at Bassetti, he was an assistant principal at Bowie and Ward elementaries and Madison Middle School. Now beginning his 29th year as an educator, Evans earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.
An educator with Abilene ISD for 12 years, Gustavo Villaneuva is now principal of Craig Middle School. He taught Spanish at Clack Middle School and Abilene High and served as an assistant principal of Madison Middle School. He most recently was principal of College Heights Elementary School.
Kathryn Walker, who has been with Abilene ISD for 15 years, is the new principal of College Heights Elementary. She was an English teacher at Cooper High School and a ninth grade volleyball and basketball coach. She had a three-year absence from the district during which she was a writer and editor for Paradigm Alternatives Centers. She returned in 2000 as program director and lead teacher for Abilene High’s ninth grade initiative. From 2006 until 2009, Walker was the instructional coordinator at that campus.
Anna ISD
Beginning his 39th year as an educator is Superintendent Larry Johnson. His career began in Quinlan ISD, where he was first a teacher and coach and then an administrator. He was the district’s superintendent from 1998 until 2008. He then took the top job in Commerce ISD, where he remained until moving to Anna ISD to serve as interim superintendent, a position he had held since March. Johnson is a past president of the Texas Association of Community Schools.
Arlington ISD Jina Hopp is the assistant principal at Corey Elementary School. She comes to her new role from Sam Houston High School, where she taught biology and TAKS exit-level science preparation since 1998. She has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Jacquelyn McClendon now serves as principal of Foster Elementary. She began her career in 1991 as a first grade teacher at Elliott Elementary in Fort Worth ISD, becoming the school’s counselor in 1996. She arrived in Arlington ISD in 2000 as assistant principal of Shackelford Junior High. she also served in that role at Pope Elementary and Carter Junior High. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M University at Commerce.
Jennifer Solis-Anderson is the new assistant principal of Newcomer Center. She was a bilingual teacher and instructional specialist in Irving ISD for five years and has been a bilingual/ESL consultant at ESC Region 10 since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas at Irving and her master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University.
Lisa Van Gemert comes to Martin High School as its assistant principal from Lamar High School, where she had taught English since 2003. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Buna ISD John Burt has taken the position of superintendent, moving into the role after serving as the district’s assistant superintendent.
China Spring ISD Jason McCullough is the new superintendent. His career has included service as a classroom teacher and coach, and as an assistant principal in Harts Bluff ISD. His most recent position was deputy superintendent of Mount Pleasant ISD. McCullough earned his bachelor of arts degree in biblical studies from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. His master’s degree in educational administration is from Texas A&M University at Commerce, and his doctorate in educational leadership is from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Clint ISD (El Paso) James Littlejohn will serve as assistant superintendant for instructional services, moving to his new position from his role as executive director of instructional technology for Clint ISD. A 16-year education veteran, he has been a classroom teacher, instructional technology specialist and CATE coordinator. In 2002, he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in Ysleta ISD. He came to Clint ISD in 2003.
Josie Perez is the new assistant superintendent for administrative services. She comes to her new job from Horizon Middle School, where she served as principal. A member of the Clint ISD staff since 1996, she has been a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and associate principal. She was named Assistant Principal of the Year in 1999 by the Texas Association of School Support Personnel.
Columbus ISD
New Superintendent Robert O’Connor returns to Columbus, where he spent five years as principal of Columbus Elementary School, from a stint as superintendent of schools in Holcomb, Kan. Before coming to Columbus in 2003, he was a junior/senior high principal in Smith Center, Kan., where he also served as assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator. In Texas, he has taught and coached in Sealy, Palacios and Bellville ISDs. O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University, and he is completing work on his doctorate from Walden University.
Dallas County Schools
Three assistant superintendent positions have been filled at Dallas County Schools, an intermediate educational agency serving Dallas County’s 14 independent school districts.
Rex L. Cole was named assistant superintendent for transportation services. He was an educator for 30 years, the past seven of which were spent as a middle school principal. He joined Dallas County Schools in 2004 as executive director for support/special services. In 2007, his position became more focused on transportation, and Cole spent two years as assistant superintendent for support services.
Francine Hudson is now assistant superintendent of planning and operations and chief operations officer, having spent the past five years as the assistant superintendent of business and the chief financial officer. Before coming to Dallas County Schools in 2004, she was Texas Wesleyan University’s controller.
Wesley Scott came to Dallas County Schools in August as the new assistant superintendent of business and chief financial officer. He has more than 14 years of experience as a CPA, working with cities and school district budgets of up to $150 million.
El Paso ISD Barron Elementary School nurse Christina Maxwell has been honored as Texas Co-Nurse of the Year by the Texas School Nurses Organization, sharing her award with Sherry Freeland of Richardson ISD. She began her career in 1998 at Andress High School in El Paso ISD; she served at Schuster Elementary before coming to Barron. This summer she was chosen to participate in Johnson & Johnson’s school health leadership program in New Jersey. Maxwell will be recognized for her accomplishments at TSNO’s annual conference in Dallas in November.
Frenship ISD
The new superintendent is David Vroonland, most recently assistant superintendent of Allen ISD. An educator for 23 years, his first assignment was as a teacher and coach in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, followed by similar service at DuVal High School in Lanham, Md. A three-year stint in Akishima, Japan, came next. When he returned to Texas it was to Wichita Falls, where he was an educator and coach from 1995 to 1999. Vroonland then began his administrative career, first as an assistant principal at Zundy Junior High and then as principal of Barwise Junior High. He opened the new Ereckson Middle School in Allen ISD and spent two years as principal at that campus before taking on the role of assistant superintendent in 2006. Vroonland, an Iowa native, has a bachelor’s degree from Centenary College in Shreveport, La., a master’s degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, and a doctorate from the University of North Texas.
Frisco ISD Kent Jackson has been named athletic coordinator and head football coach for Heritage High School, a new campus currently serving ninth- and 10th-grade students with plans to advance to a four-year school in the 2011-2012 academic year. A graduate of Lubbock Christian University with more than 20 years’ experience as a coach and educator, Jackson comes to Frisco after holding a similar position in Sweetwater ISD.
Granbury ISD Judy Gentry is the director of career and technology education. She has taught career and technology courses at Granbury High School since 1997. Since 2007, she has served as chair of the school’s career and technology department. She was named GHS Teacher of the Year in 2008-2009. Gentry earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oklahoma Christian University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Tarleton State University.
Baccus Elementary School counselor Betty White has been named Multi-Level Counselor of the Year by the Texas School Counselor Association. She began her career as a high school science teacher in Winters ISD, later teaching junior high and high school science in San Angelo and at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi ISD. She then became a counselor, serving in Merkel and Corpus Christi ISDs and in Roswell, N.M. Before coming to Granbury, she spent 15 years with the Erath County Education Cooperative, serving as a special education counselor, diagnostician, behavior specialist and transition coordinator.
Harlingen ISD Harlingen ISD has a new assistant superintendent for operations. He is Oscar Tapia, who began his career in 1982 as a construction supervisor in Brownsville ISD. He became the district’s facilitator in 1994, with duties that included planning, budgeting and the completion of $425 million in school construction. He has held construction positions with the city of Brownsville and Cameron County. Tapia has a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
Houston ISD Terry Grier is the new superintendent. He comes to Houston from the San Diego (Calif.) Unified School District, where he also held the top position. Before leading San Diego schools, he was superintendent of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C., for eight years. While in that district, dropout rates were cut in half, high school graduation rates increased to 80 percent, minority student enrollment in advanced placement classes tripled, and college scholarships available to high school seniors more than doubled. In San Diego, he opened Southern California’s first virtual high school and improved student performance on the California Standards Tests to an all-time high. He was named Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators and the North Carolina School Board Association. He also has received the American Association of School Administrators’ Jones Humanitarian award, the North Carolina Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development’s Distinguished Educator award and the Congressional Black Caucus’ ET3 Tech Champion award. Grier earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Carolina University and his doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University.
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Julie McAvoy is the new District 11 president-elect of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. She has been with the district for eight years and currently serves as principal of Lakewood Elementary School. An educator for 20 years, McAvoy was previously with Fort Worth ISD. Her bachelor’s degree is from Texas Christian University and her master’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Joshua ISD Kevin Sellers has been named superintendent of Joshua ISD. He currently holds the top position in Keene ISD, where he will remain until January.
Kirbyville CISD Kirbyville CISD’s new superintendent is Richard Hazelwood. He served as the interim superintendent from March to June, when he accepted his new position. He began his career as a teacher and coach in Newton ISD, where he spent 13 years, including service as the district’s junior high school principal. He was an elementary principal in Burkeville, Spurger and Jasper ISDs before arriving in Kirbyville as assistant superintendent in 2006. Hazelwood earned his bachelor’s degree and superintendent certification from Lamar University in Beaumont, and his master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.
LaPryor ISD
The district’s new superintendent is Joe M. Ximenez. An educator for 10 years, he began his career as a teacher in Somerset ISD and spent the majority of his career in Kenedy ISD, where he served as a teacher, coach, special education coordinator, principal and, most recently, chief academic officer. He also spent 14 years working with youth organizations. Ximenez has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his master of science degree in educational leadership from Walden University, where he is a doctoral candidate in administrative leadership for teaching and learning.
Lubbock ISD Rafael “Ralph” Madrid is retiring after 45 years in education, 39 of them with Lubbock ISD. He is the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources, a position he has held for the past 30 years. Madrid began his career in Ector County ISD, teaching physical education at Hayes Elementary School. He then transferred to Ector High School to teach physical science and biology and to coach tennis. Madrid came to Lubbock in 1971 as an earth and life science teacher at Mackenzie Middle School. A year later he accepted a recruiting position in the district’s personnel office. For the next 36 years, he served as a personnel recruiter, coordinator of the student teacher program, assistant director, director, executive director and ultimately assistant superintendent for human resources. Madrid’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees were earned from Texas A&M University at Commerce (formerly East Texas State University). He did post-graduate work at Texas Tech University. He is a past president of the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators and was the organization’s Administrator of the Year in 1995 and 1997.
Kathy Rollo has been named executive director of professional development. Until accepting her new position, she served since 1999 as principal of Murfee Elementary, a school she led to 10 TEA “exemplary” ratings. Rollo earned her bachelor’s degree in education, her master’s degree and her superintendent certification from Texas Tech University, where she is completing her doctorate in educational leadership.
Marshall ISD
The district’s new superintendent is Bruce Gearing, who comes to Marshall from Mount Pleasant ISD, where he served as a teacher and administrator since 2001. He began his career as an educator in 1995 when he taught physical science, math and computer studies at St. Matthew’s Catholic High School in Soweto, South Africa. Following that assignment, he was a teacher in London and Upminster, England. He returned to the United States in 1998, teaching math at Texas High School in Texarkana. In 2001, he accepted the position of principal of Sims Elementary School in Mount Pleasant ISD and then at Mount Pleasant Junior High, where he remained until taking on the role of assistant superintendent for the district; he remained in that job until becoming the district’s superintendent in 2007. Gearing has a number of degrees: a bachelor of science in mathematics and chemistry; a bachelor of science in mathematics education; a higher diploma in education, mathematics/physical science from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa; a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University at Texarkana; and a doctorate in educational administration from the same institution.
McKinney ISD Superintendent Tom Crowe has announced his upcoming retirement. An educator for 38 years, he has been with McKinney ISD since 2004. After spending the first nine years of his career in Indiana, where he taught math and served as a coach, Crowe has been a math teacher, assistant principal and associate principal in Spring ISD, a principal in Texas City ISD, deputy superintendent of Katy ISD and superintendent of Willis ISD.
Prairiland ISD James Morton, superintendent since 2000, will retire from his position with Prairiland ISD at the end of November. He began his career as a teacher and coach, first in North Hopkins ISD and then at West Lamar and Delmar ISDs. He took on his first administrative role when he was named K-12 principal in West Lamar, where he also continued to coach. He subsequently served as an elementary and junior high principal in Chisum ISD, followed by service as secondary principal and coach in Sulphur Bluff ISD. He was Sulphur Bluff’s superintendent from 1994 until 2000, when he took the lead role at Prairiland. Morton has an associate’s degree from Paris Junior College; his bachelor of science and master of education degrees are from Texas A&M University at Commerce (formerly East Texas State University).
Richardson ISD Sherry Freeland has been named Texas Co-Nurse of the Year by the Texas School Nurses Organization, sharing the award with Christina Maxwell of El Paso ISD.
Roosevelt ISD Jimmy Parker has been appointed superintendent. He was initially an agriculture science teacher in Clyde ISD, advancing to serve as assistant principal and high school principal in that district. He was then high school principal in Tahoka ISD, and subsequently served as superintendent there for 10 years. Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture science from Tarleton State University.
Round Rock ISD Amy Jacobs is the new principal of Forest North Elementary School. She comes to Round Rock from San Antonio, where she most recently served as assistant principal of Northern Hills Elementary in that city’s North East ISD. She helped to lead the school from a TEA “acceptable” rating to “exemplary.” Other administrative positions Jacobs has held include summer school principal and professional development specialist. Her bachelor of arts degree in humanities is from Trinity University in San Antonio. She holds two master’s degrees, in teaching and school administration, both also from Trinity.
San Marcos CISD Melanie Allien is the new assistant principal of Miller Middle School. Prior to arriving in San Marcos, Allien taught science in Austin ISD and Hays CISD. She then was academic dean and assistant principal for the SSI summer academy and recovery center in San Antonio’s North East ISD. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Kansas and her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
The new assistant director of San Marcos CISD’s business office is Ulla Durham. She worked as a business manager in her native Germany before relocating to Texas, where she was a high school secretary in Ropesville ISD. She then was business manager and PEIMS coordinator for Smyer ISD. She most recently held the same positions in Loop ISD, where she subsequently served as a school business consultant.
Texas Association of Rural Schools
Six Texas superintendents have been named officers. They are: president, Shirley Coleman, San Vicente ISD; president-elect, Gene Sheets, Muleshoe ISD; first vice president, Greg Gilbert, Santo ISD; second vice president, Paul Vranish, Tornillo ISD; secretary, Phil Worsham, Joaquin ISD; treasurer, Jim Rumage, Banquete ISD.
Tomball ISD Joseph Ferguson is the new assistant principal of Willow Wood Junior High. A graduate of Tomball High School, he served in the U.S. Army before beginning his education career in 2005 as a Texas history teacher in Spring ISD. He also has taught fourth grade and was a campus test coordinator. He earned a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University and a master of education degree from Sam Houston State University.
Victoria ISD
A new bilingual/ESL learning facilitator has been named for the district. She is Martha Zuniga, most recently the parent liaison at Gross Montessori Magnet School. A member of the Victoria ISD staff since 1992, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston at Victoria; her doctorate in educational administration is from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi.
Waco ISD Nina LeBlanc is the principal of Tennyson Middle School, a newly reconfigured seventh and eighth grade campus that will eventually be an international baccalaureate candidate school. A graduate of Waco High School, she has been an educator for 15 years, nine of those with Waco ISD. She was an assistant principal in Hillsboro ISD and the curriculum specialist at Waco High before her most recent assignment as assistant principal of Brazos Middle School. LeBlanc is completing work on her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
Ysleta ISD
Four administrators have been appointed to support a reorganization of the district’s 61 campuses. The schools have been divided into three areas, each area to be supervised by an associate superintendent.
Associate Superintendent Anna Perez will have charge of Area 1, which includes the Del Valle, Riverside and Ysleta high schools area. She began her career in Fort Worth ISD, serving 21 years in that district as an instructional aide, teacher, team and project leader, project coordinator, elementary principal and assistant director of elementary schools. In New Mexico, she was superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools and assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and ultimately superintendent of the Cobre Consolidated Schools in Bayard. She came to El Paso and Ysleta ISD in 2003, where she has been associate superintendent of operations until her new appointment. Perez holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Christian University and a doctorate in administration and supervision from the University of New Mexico.
Area 2, which is comprised of the Bel Air and Eastwood high schools area, will be led by Associate Superintendent Rick Bentley, who most recently was associate superintendent of academics for Ysleta ISD. He earned an associate of arts degree from the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany. He then attended The University of Texas, where he gained a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama education. His master’s degree in educational administration is from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), and his doctorate in educational administration is from The University of Texas.
Guiding Area 3, which includes the Hanks and Parkland high schools area, as well as the district’s nontraditional campuses, is Tom Miller, formerly chief of staff. He has worked in El Paso and New Mexico as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, college professor, instructional specialist and executive director of academics. He also has been a popular presenter to numerous state and national conferences on the successes of the Ysleta district.
Pauline Dow has been named chief academic officer. Formerly an associate superintendent in Canutillo ISD, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as a doctorate in educational leadership, from The University of Texas at El Paso. Dow has served on the professional boards of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education, National Association for Bilingual Education, National Network for Educational Renewal, Girls Scouts of the USA, Community Scholars Inc. and the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance. She served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Women from 1985 to 1987 and was a member of the K-16 Collaboration Committee at UT-El Paso in 2006. She is a founding member of the Institute for Language and Education Policy.
after spending the previous school year as acting principal there. Prior to his time at Bassetti, he was an assistant principal at Bowie and Ward elementaries and Madison Middle School. Now beginning his 29th year as an educator, Evans earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.
now principal of Craig Middle School. He taught Spanish at Clack Middle School and Abilene High and served as an assistant principal of Madison Middle School. He most recently was principal of College Heights Elementary School. 
the new principal of College Heights Elementary. She was an English teacher at Cooper High School and a ninth grade volleyball and basketball coach. She had a three-year absence from the district during which she was a writer and editor for Paradigm Alternatives Centers. She returned in 2000 as program director and lead teacher for Abilene High’s ninth grade initiative. From 2006 until 2009, Walker was the instructional coordinator at that campus.
Johnson. His career began in Quinlan ISD, where he was first a teacher and coach and then an administrator. He was the district’s superintendent from 1998 until 2008. He then took the top job in Commerce ISD, where he remained until moving to Anna ISD to serve as interim superintendent, a position he had held since March. Johnson is a past president of the Texas Association of Community Schools.
School. She comes to her new role from Sam Houston High School, where she taught biology and TAKS exit-level science preparation since 1998. She has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Elementary. She began her career in 1991 as a first grade teacher at Elliott Elementary in Fort Worth ISD, becoming the school’s counselor in 1996. She arrived in Arlington ISD in 2000 as assistant principal of Shackelford Junior High. she also served in that role at Pope Elementary and Carter Junior High. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M University at Commerce.
principal from Lamar High School, where she had taught English since 2003. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. 
instructional services, moving to his new position from his role as executive director of instructional technology for Clint ISD. A 16-year education veteran, he has been a classroom teacher, instructional technology specialist and CATE coordinator. In 2002, he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in Ysleta ISD. He came to Clint ISD in 2003. 
administrative services. She comes to her new job from Horizon Middle School, where she served as principal. A member of the Clint ISD staff since 1996, she has been a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and associate principal. She was named Assistant Principal of the Year in 1999 by the Texas Association of School Support Personnel. 
where he spent five years as principal of Columbus Elementary School, from a stint as superintendent of schools in Holcomb, Kan. Before coming to Columbus in 2003, he was a junior/senior high principal in Smith Center, Kan., where he also served as assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator. In Texas, he has taught and coached in Sealy, Palacios and Bellville ISDs. O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University, and he is completing work on his doctorate from Walden University. 
transportation services. He was an educator for 30 years, the past seven of which were spent as a middle school principal. He joined Dallas County Schools in 2004 as executive director for support/special services. In 2007, his position became more focused on transportation, and Cole spent two years as assistant superintendent for support services.
and operations and chief operations officer, having spent the past five years as the assistant superintendent of business and the chief financial officer. Before coming to Dallas County Schools in 2004, she was Texas Wesleyan University’s controller.
new assistant superintendent of business and chief financial officer. He has more than 14 years of experience as a CPA, working with cities and school district budgets of up to $150 million. 
honored as Texas Co-Nurse of the Year by the Texas School Nurses Organization, sharing her award with Sherry Freeland of Richardson ISD. She began her career in 1998 at Andress High School in El Paso ISD; she served at Schuster Elementary before coming to Barron. This summer she was chosen to participate in Johnson & Johnson’s school health leadership program in New Jersey. Maxwell will be recognized for her accomplishments at TSNO’s annual conference in Dallas in November. 
assistant superintendent of Allen ISD. An educator for 23 years, his first assignment was as a teacher and coach in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, followed by similar service at DuVal High School in Lanham, Md. A three-year stint in Akishima, Japan, came next. When he returned to Texas it was to Wichita Falls, where he was an educator and coach from 1995 to 1999. Vroonland then began his administrative career, first as an assistant principal at Zundy Junior High and then as principal of Barwise Junior High. He opened the new Ereckson Middle School in Allen ISD and spent two years as principal at that campus before taking on the role of assistant superintendent in 2006. Vroonland, an Iowa native, has a bachelor’s degree from Centenary College in Shreveport, La., a master’s degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, and a doctorate from the University of North Texas.
football coach for Heritage High School, a new campus currently serving ninth- and 10th-grade students with plans to advance to a four-year school in the 2011-2012 academic year. A graduate of Lubbock Christian University with more than 20 years’ experience as a coach and educator, Jackson comes to Frisco after holding a similar position in Sweetwater ISD.
She has taught career and technology courses at Granbury High School since 1997. Since 2007, she has served as chair of the school’s career and technology department. She was named GHS Teacher of the Year in 2008-2009. Gentry earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oklahoma Christian University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Tarleton State University. 
named Multi-Level Counselor of the Year by the Texas School Counselor Association. She began her career as a high school science teacher in Winters ISD, later teaching junior high and high school science in San Angelo and at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi ISD. She then became a counselor, serving in Merkel and Corpus Christi ISDs and in Roswell, N.M. Before coming to Granbury, she spent 15 years with the Erath County Education Cooperative, serving as a special education counselor, diagnostician, behavior specialist and transition coordinator. 
Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. She has been with the district for eight years and currently serves as principal of Lakewood Elementary School. An educator for 20 years, McAvoy was previously with Fort Worth ISD. Her bachelor’s degree is from Texas Christian University and her master’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington. 
educator for 10 years, he began his career as a teacher in Somerset ISD and spent the majority of his career in Kenedy ISD, where he served as a teacher, coach, special education coordinator, principal and, most recently, chief academic officer. He also spent 14 years working with youth organizations. Ximenez has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his master of science degree in educational leadership from Walden University, where he is a doctoral candidate in administrative leadership for teaching and learning.
of them with Lubbock ISD. He is the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources, a position he has held for the past 30 years. Madrid began his career in Ector County ISD, teaching physical education at Hayes Elementary School. He then transferred to Ector High School to teach physical science and biology and to coach tennis. Madrid came to Lubbock in 1971 as an earth and life science teacher at Mackenzie Middle School. A year later he accepted a recruiting position in the district’s personnel office. For the next 36 years, he served as a personnel recruiter, coordinator of the student teacher program, assistant director, director, executive director and ultimately assistant superintendent for human resources. Madrid’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees were earned from Texas A&M University at Commerce (formerly East Texas State University). He did post-graduate work at Texas Tech University. He is a past president of the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators and was the organization’s Administrator of the Year in 1995 and 1997. 
development. Until accepting her new position, she served since 1999 as principal of Murfee Elementary, a school she led to 10 TEA “exemplary” ratings. Rollo earned her bachelor’s degree in education, her master’s degree and her superintendent certification from Texas Tech University, where she is completing her doctorate in educational leadership.
to Marshall from Mount Pleasant ISD, where he served as a teacher and administrator since 2001. He began his career as an educator in 1995 when he taught physical science, math and computer studies at St. Matthew’s Catholic High School in Soweto, South Africa. Following that assignment, he was a teacher in London and Upminster, England. He returned to the United States in 1998, teaching math at Texas High School in Texarkana. In 2001, he accepted the position of principal of Sims Elementary School in Mount Pleasant ISD and then at Mount Pleasant Junior High, where he remained until taking on the role of assistant superintendent for the district; he remained in that job until becoming the district’s superintendent in 2007. Gearing has a number of degrees: a bachelor of science in mathematics and chemistry; a bachelor of science in mathematics education; a higher diploma in education, mathematics/physical science from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa; a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University at Texarkana; and a doctorate in educational administration from the same institution.
retirement. An educator for 38 years, he has been with McKinney ISD since 2004. After spending the first nine years of his career in Indiana, where he taught math and served as a coach, Crowe has been a math teacher, assistant principal and associate principal in Spring ISD, a principal in Texas City ISD, deputy superintendent of Katy ISD and superintendent of Willis ISD. 
School. She comes to Round Rock from San Antonio, where she most recently served as assistant principal of Northern Hills Elementary in that city’s North East ISD. She helped to lead the school from a TEA “acceptable” rating to “exemplary.” Other administrative positions Jacobs has held include summer school principal and professional development specialist. Her bachelor of arts degree in humanities is from Trinity University in San Antonio. She holds two master’s degrees, in teaching and school administration, both also from Trinity.
School. Prior to arriving in San Marcos, Allien taught science in Austin ISD and Hays CISD. She then was academic dean and assistant principal for the SSI summer academy and recovery center in San Antonio’s North East ISD. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Kansas and her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
office is Ulla Durham. She worked as a business manager in her native Germany before relocating to Texas, where she was a high school secretary in Ropesville ISD. She then was business manager and PEIMS coordinator for Smyer ISD. She most recently held the same positions in Loop ISD, where she subsequently served as a school business consultant. 
Junior High. A graduate of Tomball High School, he served in the U.S. Army before beginning his education career in 2005 as a Texas history teacher in Spring ISD. He also has taught fourth grade and was a campus test coordinator. He earned a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University and a master of education degree from Sam Houston State University.
newly reconfigured seventh and eighth grade campus that will eventually be an international baccalaureate candidate school. A graduate of Waco High School, she has been an educator for 15 years, nine of those with Waco ISD. She was an assistant principal in Hillsboro ISD and the curriculum specialist at Waco High before her most recent assignment as assistant principal of Brazos Middle School. LeBlanc is completing work on her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
1, which includes the Del Valle, Riverside and Ysleta high schools area. She began her career in Fort Worth ISD, serving 21 years in that district as an instructional aide, teacher, team and project leader, project coordinator, elementary principal and assistant director of elementary schools. In New Mexico, she was superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools and assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and ultimately superintendent of the Cobre Consolidated Schools in Bayard. She came to El Paso and Ysleta ISD in 2003, where she has been associate superintendent of operations until her new appointment. Perez holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Christian University and a doctorate in administration and supervision from the University of New Mexico. 
schools area, will be led by Associate Superintendent Rick Bentley, who most recently was associate superintendent of academics for Ysleta ISD. He earned an associate of arts degree from the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany. He then attended The University of Texas, where he gained a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama education. His master’s degree in educational administration is from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), and his doctorate in educational administration is from The University of Texas. 
area, as well as the district’s nontraditional campuses, is Tom Miller, formerly chief of staff. He has worked in El Paso and New Mexico as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, college professor, instructional specialist and executive director of academics. He also has been a popular presenter to numerous state and national conferences on the successes of the Ysleta district.
associate superintendent in Canutillo ISD, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as a doctorate in educational leadership, from The University of Texas at El Paso. Dow has served on the professional boards of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education, National Association for Bilingual Education, National Network for Educational Renewal, Girls Scouts of the USA, Community Scholars Inc. and the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance. She served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Women from 1985 to 1987 and was a member of the K-16 Collaboration Committee at UT-El Paso in 2006. She is a founding member of the Institute for Language and Education Policy.