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first grade and physical education teacher and spent 10 years as an administrator in Forney and Katy ISDs. Vercher holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Sterling College and a master’s degree in education management from the University of Houston. Pflugerville ISD Brookhollow Elementary School now has Lisa Harris as principal. She was the school’s assistant principal since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Huston-Tillotson University and her master’s degree in education administration from Prairie View A&M University. Amanda Johnson has been appointed principal of Westview Middle School. She comes from Leander ISD, where she was dean of instruction and assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Vista Ridge High School. Before that, she worked in Lake Travis and Round Rock ISDs. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and her master’s degree in educational administration from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). The new principal of Dessau Middle School is Jeremy Le Jeune. He comes to his new job from Pflugerville High School, where he was an assistant principal. He was a teacher in Luling, Judson and North East ISDs and worked as an assistant principal in Orangefield ISD. A graduate of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) with a bachelor’s degree in sports science, he received his master’s degree in physical education from the same institution. Kermit Ward, who was principal of Westview Middle School for the past four years, is now principal of Connally High School. He came to Pflugerville ISD in 2009 and has served as assistant principal of Pflugerville High in Kermit Ward addition to his most recent job. Prior to that, he worked in Austin and Waco ISDs. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from Tarleton State University. Plains ISD Stephanie Howard has been tapped as Plains ISD’s superintendent. She began her 20-year education career as a teacher in Big Spring ISD, before moving to Stanton ISD to 26
Texas School Business • July/August 2015
teach and coach. For 13 years, she worked in Midland ISD, where she was a speech and debate teacher, coach, administrative intern, assistant principal and principal. In 2013, she became Ector County Stephanie Howard ISD’s executive director for curriculum and instruction. Howard is a cum laude graduate of Angelo State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and communications. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Her doctorate in the same field is from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Plainview ISD The new principal of Hillcrest Elementary School is Ysenia Pardo, who was assistant principal of Thunderbird Elementary for the past two years. She also worked as a second grade bilingual teacher at Highland Elementary for 10 years and spent seven years as a language arts and dyslexia teacher at Lakeside Elementary. Now serving as the district’s associate director for student support services is Brandy Tirey, who was assistant principal of La Mesa Elementary for the past two years. Previously, she was a special education resource and early childhood teacher and fourth grade teacher. In addition, she worked for ESC Region 17 as a mentor for the Texas Early Education Model grant. Tirey received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University. Angie Valdez, former assistant principal of Edgemere Elementary School, will lead the school as principal. She came to Plainview ISD in 1978 and has worked as a third grade teacher, TAAS coordinator, bilingual fourth grade teacher, and, for the past eight years, as assistant principal and the gifted and talented coordinator. Valdez earned her bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies and her master’s degree in educational administration from Wayland Baptist University. Rodney Wallace, who was assistant principal of Estacado Middle School since 2014, is now principal of Houston School. He is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in education. Prior to becoming an administrator, he was a math teacher for 17 years at the middle and high school levels.
Red Lick ISD New Superintendent Nick Blain had been serving as the district’s interim superintendent. Blain began his career in Nassau County Schools in Fernandina Beach, Fla., before returning to Texas to teach in Greenville ISD. After 10 Nick Blain years of teaching vocational agriculture, Blain went on to Liberty-Eylau ISD, where he worked as a vocational director, assistant principal, director of instruction and personnel, and superintendent. He retired, but returned 10 years later to Liberty-Eylau to be the interim and active superintendent. ESC Region 8’s 1996 Superintendent of the Year, Blain earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A&M University at Commerce. Roxton ISD Paul Trull, former superintendent of Paris ISD, has agreed to serve as Roxton ISD’s interim superintendent. San Angelo ISD New Superintendent Carl Dethloff has worked in San Angelo ISD for the past six years, most recently as assistant superintendent of human resources and staff development. He is in his 23rd year as an educator. Before coming to San AngeCarl Dethloff lo, Dethloff was principal of three schools in College Station ISD. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Austin College and received his doctorate from Texas A&M University. Brent McCallie, the new executive director of athletics, comes to his new job from Canyon ISD, where he has worked since 2008. He coached and taught for 12 years before taking the position of athletic director in Dumas ISD. Five years Brent McCallie later he joined Canyon ISD. McCallie attended Western Oklahoma State University on a baseball scholarship and received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He attended Sul Ross State University and West Texas A&M University for graduate studies.