Who’s News Abilene ISD Audra Ude has been appointed associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She has been an educator for 23 years, serving as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction of Flour Bluff ISD in Corpus Christi for Audra Ude the past 10 years. She began her career in Corpus Christi ISD, teaching middle school and serving as an assistant principal. She then was an assistant principal in Aransas County ISD and a principal in Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco CISD before joining Flour Bluff ISD in 1998 as assistant director of instruction. A year later she was named director of instruction. Ude earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and political science from Abilene Christian University. She holds two master’s degrees, one in educational administration and one in curriculum and instruction, from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, where she also completed her doctoral degree. Allen ISD Superintendent Ken Helvey has announced his intention to retire at the end of September. He has been superintendent since 2006 and, prior to that, served for five years as the district’s assistant superintendent for student services. He began his career as a vocational agriculture teacher in Anna ISD, then taught in Celina and Denison ISDs. He was athletic director and head football coach at S & S CISD. In Graham ISD, he was assistant principal at the high school and junior high levels and held the position of director of finance and technology. He also was an assistant superintendent in Nacogdoches ISD. Beth Nicholas, who was the district’s assistant superintendent for learner services since 2010, has been tapped to serve as interim superintendent. Prior to her most recent job, she spent two years as director of curriculum and assessment. She also served as assistant principal and then principal of Ereckson Middle School. The district has created a new department and hired John Palm as director of risk management. He will be in charge of comprehensive safety and security, as well as loss prevention. He has worked in risk management for the city of Mesquite and Mesquite ISD.
Amanda Tabor has been appointed principal of Story Elementary School. She opened Olson Elementary in 2009 as assistant principal. She started her career in Garland ISD’s Lakeview High School and also worked as a kindergarten teacher and student support instructor for Marion Elementary in Marion ISD. Tabor is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Commerce, from which she also received a master’s degree. Amarillo ISD Newly appointed principals were in place for the beginning of the school year. They and their schools are: • David Bishop, Caprock High School; • Pam Camarata, Paramount Terrace Elementary School; • Jermaine Cantu, Sunrise Elementary School; • Nathan Culwell, Fannin Middle School; • Traci Gabel, Woodlands Elementary School; • David Manchee, Travis Middle School; • Alan Nickerson, Austin Middle School; • Kris Schellhamer, Olsen Park Elementary School; • Dalea Tatum, Wolflin Elementary School; and • David Vincent, Bonham Middle School. Arlington ISD Arlington ISD has named five educators as deans of instruction. They are: Jason Davis, Arlington High School; Kirsten Lundin, Seguin High School; Ketura Madison, Bowie High School; Zandra Marshall, Martin High School; and Katrina Semones, Sam Houston High School. Other appointments made were: Teri Conley, principal, Larson Elementary School; Jill Galloway, director of instructional technology; Violet Maxwell, director of elementary personnel; Carlin Thomas, assistant principal, Nichols Junior High; and Dara Williams-Rossi, assistant principal, Nichols Junior High.
Bastrop ISD Allison Hall has been named assistant principal of Cedar Creek Intermediate School. Most recently, she was a math and science specialist with Austin ISD, where she also worked as a fifth grade ESL math and science teacher and summer staffing specialist. She began her career in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD as a first grade teacher. Both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees were awarded from Prairie View A&M University. Melissa Schuelke is now assistant principal of Bastrop Intermediate School. She has been with the district for 20 years, most recently serving as an art teacher at Bastrop High. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) and her master’s degree from Concordia University in Austin. Cynthia Sneed started the new academic year as principal of Bastrop Intermediate School. Sneed joins Bastrop ISD from Austin ISD, where she worked for 14 years, most recently as academic dean at Mendez Middle School. She also was assistant principal of Kealing Middle School and Harris Elementary, a behavior specialist and reading interventionist at Harris, special education teacher at Jordan and Blackshear elementary schools and a first grade teacher at Barrington Elementary. She spent 2007 to 2010 with Pflugerville ISD as the academic principal of Westview High. Sneed, who received her bachelor’s degree in health from Texas A&M University, holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M University. Birdville ISD Greg Bicknell has been named principal of Porter Elementary. He comes to his new position from Smithfield Elementary, where he was principal since 2007. The new principal of Smithfield Elementary is Melissa R. Greg Bicknell Minix. She was assistant principal at Francisco, Snow Heights and Hardeman elementary schools and was a kindergarten teacher at Hardeman. Minix earned her bachelor’s degree from OklaMelissa R. Minix
See WHO’s on page 14 September 2013 • Texas School Business
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