Birdville ISD
Ellen V. Bell has announced her retirement from her current position as associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, effective June 30. She is ending her 51-year career in education with an exemplary record. In the 34 years she spent in Birdville ISD, Bell served as the TAKS readiness and core knowledge (TRACK) project coordinator at the University of Texas System TeleCampus at Austin and as the associate executive director for professional development at the Texas Association of School Administrators. She also once served as the director of curriculum at New Braunfels ISD, the director of programs at the Texas Education Agency and as an associate director at TASA.
Center ISD
Daya Hill has been selected as the executive director of curriculum and instruction, a position she will take immediately. When selected for this newly created position, Hill was serving as the assistant principal at Crestview Elementary School with New Boston ISD. Prior to joining New Boston ISD, Hill served as a P-16 Educational Improvement Consortia School Performance Coach at Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She also served seven years in Texarkana ISD as a teacher, a high school academic advisor and as a coordinator of secondary student services. Hill holds a bachelor of general studies degree with an emphasis in mathematics and a master of education degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She is pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Comal ISD
Lyndon Langford will be principal of Oak Creek Elementarywhen it opens for the 2009-2010 school year. Langford has been a part of the education system since 1974 and has served as an administrator in such districts as Apple Springs, Austin and Pflugerville. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Stepping in to fill the position left vacant by Langdon, Cheryl Lucas, current assistant principal at Freiheit Elementary, will be principal of Goodwin Frazier Elementary. Lucas has been a part of Comal ISD since 1997, when she joined as a teacher at Goodwin Primary, then became a district instructional coordinator and an assistant principal in 2005 at Goodwin Frazier. Prior to coming to Comal ISD, she taught for five years in Marion ISD. Lucas is certified by both The University of Texas at Austin and Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).
Linda Harlan, current principal of Specht Elementary, will be the principal of Johnson Ranch Elementary, opening in the 2009-2010 school year. Prior to becoming principal of Specht in 2006, Harlan served as an assistant principal and principal in both elementary and middle school settings. She began her career in Comal ISD in 1995 after teaching in East Central ISD and Flour Bluff ISD. She holds degrees from both Texas Christian University and Trinity University.
Betsy Nash, current principal at Freiheit Elementary, will be principal at Avery Park Elementary, also opening in the 2009-2010 school year. Nash joined Comal ISD in 2003 as principal of Goodwin Frazier Elementary. Prior to joining the district, she worked in Judson, Northside and Alamo Heights school districts. She holds certifications from Black Hills State University, New Mexico State University and Mississippi State University.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Becky Cook, Cypress-Fairbanks elementary technology coordinator, was recently named the new director of instructional technology. Cook held her position as technology coordinator for 15 years since coming to the district 23 years ago. Prior to joining Cypress-Fairbanks, she taught in elementary schools in Pasadena and Alief ISDs. Cook earned her bachelor of science degree from Lamar University and her master in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.
The director for the new Alternative Learning Center West, set to open for the 2009-2010 school year, has been named. Wendi Witthaus will leave her current position as assistant principal at the Alternative Learning Center to take the role. Prior to her appointment as assistant principal, she spent six years teaching at Cook Middle School, one year as a mid-management intern and half a year as an academic achievement specialist. Witthaus received her bachelor of science in education degree from Texas A&M University and her master of education degree from Prairie View A&M University.
Dan McIlduff has been appointed the new assistant superintendent for educational support services. McIlduff has 30 years’ experience in education, most of which have been served in administration as the assistant principal at Post Elementary School and the director of instruction at Arnold Middle School. He also served as principal at Lieder and Metcalf elementary schools. McIlduff has been appointed from his current position of principal at A. Robison Elementary School, a position he has held for the past six years.
With McIlduff’s appointment, Kelly Gerletti will fill the position of principal at A. Robison Elementary School. Gerletti is currently an assistant principal at Hamilton Elementary. She has spent 20 years serving Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, teaching at several schools. After 11 years of teaching, Gerletti became an instructional specialist at Walker Elementary, where she stayed for three years before becoming assistant principal. She then moved to Hamilton Elementary School to serve as assistant principal. Gerletti received her bachelor of science degree in education from Texas A&M University and her master of education degree from Sam Houston State University. She also has certifications in special education and elementary education and as an EC-12 principal.
Laura Perry has left her position as director of instruction at Cypress Creek High School to become principal at Thornton Middle School. Prior to Cypress Creek High School, she served in the same position at Campbell Middle School. Before that, Perry taught at Hancock Elementary School, where her classroom potential earned her Spotlight Teacher of the Year in 2001-2002. Perry began her venture into administration in 1993 when she was promoted to assistant principal at Truitt Middle School. She had been teaching there since 1990. She began her teaching career in Humble ISD in 1985. Perry obtained a bachelor of science degree from Sam Houston State University and a master of education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also has certification in elementary self-contained, elementary reading, elementary English, supervisor (PK-12) and mid-management administrator (PK-12).
Forney ISD
Joseph W. Cammarata, former principal of Morton Ranch High School, will replace Donna Sweaney as the new assistant superintendant of human resources and administrative services for Forney ISD. Prior to his 2004 hiring at Morton Ranch, he served as principal for Mance Park Middle School in Huntsville ISD and for Katy Junior High School in Katy ISD. Cammarata began his administrative career as the assistant superintendent at Huntsville Intermediate School after several years of teaching middle school at Crispus Attuck Middle School in Houston. He received his bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1986 and his master’s degree in education in 1995, both from Sam Houston State University. Certified in mid-management, Cammarata is pursuing his superintendent certification at The University of Texas at Tyler.
Fort Bend ISD
Michelle Riggs, principal of Holley Elementary School, and Lee Crews, principal of Quail Valley Middle School, have been dually selected as Principal of the Year. Riggs has been a member of Fort Bend ISD since her graduation from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1988. Crews joined the district 18 years ago, giving the vast majority of her 20-year career to Fort Bend ISD. Both administrators have served in several schools across the district; they will be honored for their achievement in June at the Region 4 Education Service Center’s principal recognition dinner.
Goose Creek CISD
Marvin Sedberry Jr. will be the new campus coordinator and head football coach for Robert E. Lee High School. He has been a teacher and coach for the past nine years, serving most recently as the offensive coordinator at Lake Highlands High School in Richardson ISD. Prior to taking his role in Richardson, Sedberry completed three years of student coaching and teaching at Greenville High School in Greenville. He received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas A&M at Commerce, where he attended after graduating from Poteet High School in Mesquite.
Toby York has been named interim superintendent following the retirement of Barbara Sultis in January. York has been a member of the Texas education system for more than 30 years. He has been with Goose Creek CISD since 2001, when he joined as the district’s executive director of school administration.
Hays CISD
Returning to his Texas roots from Hillsboro ISD in Oregon, Jeremy Lyon has been named superintendent of Hays CISD. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University, his master’s degree at The University of Texas-Pan American and his doctorate at The University of Texas, Lyon spent the next seven years in the Texas public education system. He served as a teacher and coach in Gilmer ISD, La Joya ISD and Leander ISD. After 2000, Lyon made the move to Oregon, where he served as both an assistant superintendent and then superintendent of Coos Bay Public Schools.
Houston ISD
After 36 years in public education, Superintendent Abelardo “Abe” Saavedra has announced that he will retire at the end of the spring 2010 semester. Saavedra began his education career as a classroom teacher in 1972. During his service to Houston ISD, he has helped to raise the district’s standards tremendously. When Saavedra joined Houston ISD, only nine schools had reached “exemplary” status; now, he will leave the district with 38 schools earning the top rating. Saavedra worked hard to push teachers and students to accomplish higher goals. He raised testing scores to well above the state average in only two years’ time.
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Following a unanimous vote by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Board of Trustees, Jonathon James has been named the new principal of Central Junior High. James is the current principal of Wilshire Elementary School, a position he has held for the past seven years. He first began his career at Wilshire as an assistant principal and, in his many years there, has brought the school’s state rating to its current rank as “exemplary.” Prior to his coming to Wilshire, James was a teacher at North Euless Elementary. James has served 17 years in the district.
Lamar CISD
Jill Broxson will be the principal for Jane Long Elementary School, following Vicky Stevenson, who left the position open after signing on to be the principal of Thomas Elementary. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1996, Broxson went on to earn her master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in 2003. Prior to her arrival in Lamar CISD in 2005, she taught for nine years in Alief ISD.
Ben Perez is stepping up from his current position as assistant principal to become the principal at Taylor Ray Elementary School. Perez has held his current position since 2004. He also has served as an elementary summer school principal for Lamar CISD since 2005. After beginning his career in education at Lamar CISD as a paraprofessional at Bowie Elementary in 1996, he served as a math and science coordinator and teacher at Pink Elementary from 1999 to 2004. Perez received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, and a master’s degree from the University of Houston–Victoria.
Leander ISD
Kim Adcock will be principal of Ronald Reagan Elementary School, scheduled to open in the fall. She was the principal of Cox Elementary, where she served until March, when she left to prepare for the opening of the new school.
Sheri Hawthorne is the new principal of Cox Elementary. She was the assistant principal at Vista Ridge High School, a position she held since the fall of 2007. Prior to her time in Leander ISD, Hawthorne spent six years as a middle school principal and one year as an assistant principal for kindergarten through 12th grade.
Jim Rose has moved from Indiana to become the new principal of River Ridge Elementary School, which opened this spring. Rose brings with him 12 years of experience in public education, several of which have been spent at the administrative level. He has served as a middle school athletic director and an assistant principal in Indiana, and as assistant principal and principal in Texas. Rose began his career as a coach and teacher at the high school and middle school levels. He received his bachelor of science degree from Franklin College in 1997 and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Indiana University in 2001.
Manor ISD
Randy Willis, principal of Manor High School, has achieved the prestige of being ESC Region 4 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year, presented by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Prior to being chosen by his peers to receive this honor, Willis has been a part of the administration department of both Manor High School, and Lamar High School in Houston ISD. He has served as assistant principal and dean of instruction at Lamar CISD.
Pearland ISD
Joining the board of 33 superintendents statewide, Superintendent Bonny Cain has been selected for a two-year term on the Texas Academic Decathlon Board of Directors. Cain has been superintendent of Pearland ISD since 2000. Cain, along with her fellow board members, will approve competition sites and budgets and hire personnel for the Texas Academic Decathlon, one of the largest academic programs in the United States.
Sweetwater ISD
Leaving his position as athletic director/head football coach at Clyde CISD and crossing rival lines, Craig Slaughter is the new athletic director for Sweetwater ISD. Prior to taking on his role at Clyde, Slaughter was also the athletic director at Hearne ISD. He has served as an assistant coach for several school districts. Slaughter has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology with a minor in history from Angelo State University.
Tomball ISD
Jeanine Deyoe is the new principal of Creekside Forest Elementary School. She is a 25-year veteran of public school education, having spent 19 of those as a classroom teacher. Prior to joining Tomball ISD in 2007 as principal of Rosehill Elementary, she was a teacher and educator in Conroe ISD for 15 years. Deyoe has a bachelor of science degree from Fort Hays State University (in Kansas) and a master’s degree in administration from Sam Houston State University.
Greg Chappell will be the new principal of Rosehill Elementary School. Taking on Deyoe’s previous role, Chappell brings 16 years of experience in public education to his position. Prior to joining Tomball ISD five years ago as the assistant principal at Tomball Junior High, he worked as an assistant principal at Jenkins Elementary in Spring ISD. Chappell earned his bachelor of arts degree from Abilene Christian University and a master of education degree from Sam Houston State University.
Ysleta ISD
Paul Covey has been named principal of Valley Verde Early College High School. Joining Ysleta ISD in 1989 as a social studies teacher at Hanks High School, he was promoted to assistant principal in 1999, a position he held until taking the top post at Hillcrest Middle School in 2005. He earned a bachelor of science degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master of education degree in administration from The University of Texas at El Paso.
Lucy Luzano has been selected as principal of Hillcrest Middle School. She previously was the assistant principal at Parkland High School, where she served since 2005. Luzano began her career with Ysleta ISD as a biology teacher at Ysleta High school in 1998. She returned to Ysleta in 2005 after teaching at Apollo Junior High in Richardson ISD for several years while pursuing her doctorate degree. Lozano received her bachelor of science degree in health from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1998, followed by a master of science degree in education in 2000. She also obtained her doctorate of philosophy in health science from Texas Woman’s University in 2005.
position as associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, effective June 30. She is ending her 51-year career in education with an exemplary record. In the 34 years she spent in Birdville ISD, Bell served as the TAKS readiness and core knowledge (TRACK) project coordinator at the University of Texas System TeleCampus at Austin and as the associate executive director for professional development at the Texas Association of School Administrators. She also once served as the director of curriculum at New Braunfels ISD, the director of programs at the Texas Education Agency and as an associate director at TASA.
when it opens for the 2009-2010 school year. Langford has been a part of the education system since 1974 and has served as an administrator in such districts as Apple Springs, Austin and Pflugerville. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Lucas, current assistant principal at Freiheit Elementary, will be principal of Goodwin Frazier Elementary. Lucas has been a part of Comal ISD since 1997, when she joined as a teacher at Goodwin Primary, then became a district instructional coordinator and an assistant principal in 2005 at Goodwin Frazier. Prior to coming to Comal ISD, she taught for five years in Marion ISD. Lucas is certified by both The University of Texas at Austin and Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).
principal of Johnson Ranch Elementary, opening in the 2009-2010 school year. Prior to becoming principal of Specht in 2006, Harlan served as an assistant principal and principal in both elementary and middle school settings. She began her career in Comal ISD in 1995 after teaching in East Central ISD and Flour Bluff ISD. She holds degrees from both Texas Christian University and Trinity University.
principal at Avery Park Elementary, also opening in the 2009-2010 school year. Nash joined Comal ISD in 2003 as principal of Goodwin Frazier Elementary. Prior to joining the district, she worked in Judson, Northside and Alamo Heights school districts. She holds certifications from Black Hills State University, New Mexico State University and Mississippi State University.
coordinator, was recently named the new director of instructional technology. Cook held her position as technology coordinator for 15 years since coming to the district 23 years ago. Prior to joining Cypress-Fairbanks, she taught in elementary schools in Pasadena and Alief ISDs. Cook earned her bachelor of science degree from Lamar University and her master in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.
to open for the 2009-2010 school year, has been named. Wendi Witthaus will leave her current position as assistant principal at the Alternative Learning Center to take the role. Prior to her appointment as assistant principal, she spent six years teaching at Cook Middle School, one year as a mid-management intern and half a year as an academic achievement specialist. Witthaus received her bachelor of science in education degree from Texas A&M University and her master of education degree from Prairie View A&M University.
superintendent for educational support services. McIlduff has 30 years’ experience in education, most of which have been served in administration as the assistant principal at Post Elementary School and the director of instruction at Arnold Middle School. He also served as principal at Lieder and Metcalf elementary schools. McIlduff has been appointed from his current position of principal at A. Robison Elementary School, a position he has held for the past six years.
principal at A. Robison Elementary School. Gerletti is currently an assistant principal at Hamilton Elementary. She has spent 20 years serving Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, teaching at several schools. After 11 years of teaching, Gerletti became an instructional specialist at Walker Elementary, where she stayed for three years before becoming assistant principal. She then moved to Hamilton Elementary School to serve as assistant principal. Gerletti received her bachelor of science degree in education from Texas A&M University and her master of education degree from Sam Houston State University. She also has certifications in special education and elementary education and as an EC-12 principal.
Cypress Creek High School to become principal at Thornton Middle School. Prior to Cypress Creek High School, she served in the same position at Campbell Middle School. Before that, Perry taught at Hancock Elementary School, where her classroom potential earned her Spotlight Teacher of the Year in 2001-2002. Perry began her venture into administration in 1993 when she was promoted to assistant principal at Truitt Middle School. She had been teaching there since 1990. She began her teaching career in Humble ISD in 1985. Perry obtained a bachelor of science degree from Sam Houston State University and a master of education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also has certification in elementary self-contained, elementary reading, elementary English, supervisor (PK-12) and mid-management administrator (PK-12).
School, will replace Donna Sweaney as the new assistant superintendant of human resources and administrative services for Forney ISD. Prior to his 2004 hiring at Morton Ranch, he served as principal for Mance Park Middle School in Huntsville ISD and for Katy Junior High School in Katy ISD. Cammarata began his administrative career as the assistant superintendent at Huntsville Intermediate School after several years of teaching middle school at Crispus Attuck Middle School in Houston. He received his bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1986 and his master’s degree in education in 1995, both from Sam Houston State University. Certified in mid-management, Cammarata is pursuing his superintendent certification at The University of Texas at Tyler.
retirement of Barbara Sultis in January. York has been a member of the Texas education system for more than 30 years. He has been with Goose Creek CISD since 2001, when he joined as the district’s executive director of school administration.
Lyon has been named superintendent of Hays CISD. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University, his master’s degree at The University of Texas-Pan American and his doctorate at The University of Texas, Lyon spent the next seven years in the Texas public education system. He served as a teacher and coach in Gilmer ISD, La Joya ISD and Leander ISD. After 2000, Lyon made the move to Oregon, where he served as both an assistant superintendent and then superintendent of Coos Bay Public Schools.
“Abe” Saavedra has announced that he will retire at the end of the spring 2010 semester. Saavedra began his education career as a classroom teacher in 1972. During his service to Houston ISD, he has helped to raise the district’s standards tremendously. When Saavedra joined Houston ISD, only nine schools had reached “exemplary” status; now, he will leave the district with 38 schools earning the top rating. Saavedra worked hard to push teachers and students to accomplish higher goals. He raised testing scores to well above the state average in only two years’ time.
Trustees, Jonathon James has been named the new principal of Central Junior High. James is the current principal of Wilshire Elementary School, a position he has held for the past seven years. He first began his career at Wilshire as an assistant principal and, in his many years there, has brought the school’s state rating to its current rank as “exemplary.” Prior to his coming to Wilshire, James was a teacher at North Euless Elementary. James has served 17 years in the district.
School, following Vicky Stevenson, who left the position open after signing on to be the principal of Thomas Elementary. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1996, Broxson went on to earn her master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in 2003. Prior to her arrival in Lamar CISD in 2005, she taught for nine years in Alief ISD.
principal to become the principal at Taylor Ray Elementary School. Perez has held his current position since 2004. He also has served as an elementary summer school principal for Lamar CISD since 2005. After beginning his career in education at Lamar CISD as a paraprofessional at Bowie Elementary in 1996, he served as a math and science coordinator and teacher at Pink Elementary from 1999 to 2004. Perez received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, and a master’s degree from the University of Houston–Victoria.
School, scheduled to open in the fall. She was the principal of Cox Elementary, where she served until March, when she left to prepare for the opening of the new school.
was the assistant principal at Vista Ridge High School, a position she held since the fall of 2007. Prior to her time in Leander ISD, Hawthorne spent six years as a middle school principal and one year as an assistant principal for kindergarten through 12th grade. 
River Ridge Elementary School, which opened this spring. Rose brings with him 12 years of experience in public education, several of which have been spent at the administrative level. He has served as a middle school athletic director and an assistant principal in Indiana, and as assistant principal and principal in Texas. Rose began his career as a coach and teacher at the high school and middle school levels. He received his bachelor of science degree from Franklin College in 1997 and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Indiana University in 2001.
Superintendent Bonny Cain has been selected for a two-year term on the Texas Academic Decathlon Board of Directors. Cain has been superintendent of Pearland ISD since 2000. Cain, along with her fellow board members, will approve competition sites and budgets and hire personnel for the Texas Academic Decathlon, one of the largest academic programs in the United States. 
Elementary School. She is a 25-year veteran of public school education, having spent 19 of those as a classroom teacher. Prior to joining Tomball ISD in 2007 as principal of Rosehill Elementary, she was a teacher and educator in Conroe ISD for 15 years. Deyoe has a bachelor of science degree from Fort Hays State University (in Kansas) and a master’s degree in administration from Sam Houston State University. 
College High School. Joining Ysleta ISD in 1989 as a social studies teacher at Hanks High School, he was promoted to assistant principal in 1999, a position he held until taking the top post at Hillcrest Middle School in 2005. He earned a bachelor of science degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master of education degree in administration from The University of Texas at El Paso. 
School. She previously was the assistant principal at Parkland High School, where she served since 2005. Luzano began her career with Ysleta ISD as a biology teacher at Ysleta High school in 1998. She returned to Ysleta in 2005 after teaching at Apollo Junior High in Richardson ISD for several years while pursuing her doctorate degree. Lozano received her bachelor of science degree in health from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1998, followed by a master of science degree in education in 2000. She also obtained her doctorate of philosophy in health science from Texas Woman’s University in 2005.