Who’s News Abilene ISD Chris Halifax now leads
Reagan Elementary School as principal. She began her career in 1998 after earning a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University. Her master’s degree in administration was awarded from Texas Woman’s University. Sergio Jimenez, who was
most recently assistant principal of Cooper High School, is now principal of Ortiz Elementary. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sul Ross State University. Cody Salyers, a native of Abilene and graduate of Abilene High School, is the new head baseball coach at Cooper High School. He has spent the past seven years in that position at Greenville High School in Greenville ISD. Salyers is a graduate of Abilene Christian University.
The Woodson Center for Excellence has welcomed Jaime Tindall as principal. A graduate of McMurry University, she began her career in Abilene ISD in 1998 and has been an instructional specialist at Mann Middle School for the past two years. Katheryn Walker has been tapped to serve as principal of Mann Middle School. An educator with Abilene ISD for 21 years, she was principal of the Woodson Center for Excellence since 2012. Walker earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.
An Abilene native and product of Abilene ISD schools has been named district superintendent. David Young spent the past three years in the top position at Pampa ISD.
Allen ISD The new principal of Boyd Elementary School is Regina Frazier, who returns to Allen ISD from Royse City ISD, where she was principal of Cherry Intermediate School since 2013. She holds degrees from Abilene Christian University, the University of North Texas and Dallas Baptist University.
6
Texas School Business NOVEMBER\DECEMBER 2015
Alpine ISD A new superintendent has been hired for the district. Rebecca Watley was most recently director of ESC Region 18’s 588 Special Education Cooperative.
Bangs ISD Bill Foster, superintendent of Bangs ISD
since 2008, has retired. He worked in Texas public education for 33 years, 26 of those as an administrator. Before joining Bangs ISD, he was superintendent of Rising Star ISD.
Beaumont ISD Now leading Ozen High School as principal is Shannon Allen, who was principal of Marshall Middle School since 2007. Brandon Basinger is the principal of Mar-
shall Middle School. He comes to his new position from Dishman Elementary, where he also held the top job.
Odie Harris has retired from his position as principal of Ozen High School.
Birdville ISD Susan Nall has been chosen to lead Snow Heights Elementary School as principal. She has worked as an assistant principal at several Birdville ISD elementaries since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her master’s degree from Texas Christian University.
Brazosport ISD Maria Espinoza, who has been with Brazosport ISD for 11 years and was assistant principal of Brannen Elementary since 2014, is now principal of Fleming Elementary School. She is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and has a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.
The new director of special services is Lorin Furlow, a product of Brazosport ISD schools. Furlow received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University. Now serving as principal of Clute Intermediate School is Chris Loftin. He comes to the district from Clear Creek ISD, bringing with him nine years of administrative experience. Loftin has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Long Elementary School began the school year with Margaret Meadows as principal. The 17-year veteran educator has spent the past two years as principal of West Brazos Junior High. She holds a bachelor’s degree in child development and family rela-
tionships from The University of Texas and a master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. The new principal of Ney Elementary School is Vicky Parr. She returns to the district, where she was assistant principal of Ney from 2003 to 2009, after spending five years with the U.S. Department of Defense as principal of an elementary and a middle school campus on the Marine Corps air station installation in Beaufort, S.C. Tracie Phillips, executive director of administrative services, has been an educator for 30 years, nine of those with Brazosport ISD and the past two as principal of Brazosport High. The Brazosport High School graduate received her associate’s degree from Brazosport College and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston.
Brazoswood High School welcomed Rita Pintavalle as principal when the academic year began. She comes from Kennedale ISD, where she was principal of discipline and grants, as well as a high school principal. The new chief academics officer, Clara Sale-Davis, returns to the district where she previously worked for 25 years after serving Pasadena ISD as executive director of curriculum and instruction. Richard Yoes is now principal of Lanier
Middle School after serving as executive director of curriculum and instruction in Pasadena ISD.
Bryan ISD The district has named a new director of special education. Deborah Akin, who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Texas, has worked in the same capacity in Lexington ISD since 2007.
Burkeville ISD Brant Graham, the new superintendent,
was previously the director of special education services in Beaumont ISD.
Canutillo ISD Jesus Barba has been appointed principal of Damian Elementary School. The El Paso native was most recently an assistant principal at Desert Wind School in Socorro ISD. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish from The University of Texas and his master’s degree in education administration from Concordia University.