Who’s News
Alba-Goldstein ISD
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD
Superintendent
Superintendent
Cole McClendon will retire in
Abilene ISD After a 30-year career as a coach and athletics administrator, including serving as Abilene ISD’s executive director of athletics since 2015, Phil Blue has announced his upcoming retirement, effective at the end of May. Prior to joining Abilene ISD, he worked in Grapevine-Colleyville and Georgetown ISDs. Chad Drake, who most recently served as principal of Dyess Elementary School, now holds that position at Mann Middle School. He joined the district in 2017 as assistant principal at that campus.
Former Lubbock ISD assistant athletic director Jim Garfield is now Abilene ISD’s athletic director. The Eastern New Mexico University graduate has 35 years of coaching experience, including serving as head football coach in Elgin and Flour Bluff ISDs. Brandon Stover has been named head baseball coach at Cooper High School following 14 years as an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University and four years with Southern Arkansas University.
Veteran Abilene ISD employee Kevin Wellborn has been appointed principal of Bonham Elementary School. He joined the district in 2004 as a teacher at Bonham, going on to serve as an assistant principal at four AISD campuses. He is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Julie Wilson has accepted the
position of director of early childhood education. She was an instructional coordinator for the program since 2014, having joined the district a year earlier as a pre-K teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and her master’s degree in early childhood education from Texas A&M University at Commerce.
Michael Barrera has announced his upcoming retirement after four years in the top position in the district.
June after two years leading the district. He has been an educator for 30 years, 11 of those as a superintendent.
Aldine ISD
Birdville ISD
Aldine ISD has announced the hiring of Adam Galván as its chief information officer. He comes to his new position with 24 years of experience, 12 of those in educational technology. He was most recently assistant superintendent of operations and technology for Lockhart ISD.
Birdville ISD has announced the appointment of Mark McCanlies as principal of the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning. He was principal of Richland High School since 2019 and previously was assistant principal of North Ridge Middle School and a teacher and coach at other district campuses. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Argyle ISD Paul Cairney has retired from his position as Argyle ISD’s police chief. He served in that role since 2014. Scott Collins has been named to fill the
position of police chief. He held the same job in Aubrey ISD since 2014 and has more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical services.
Bastrop ISD Bastrop ISD has selected Laura Faircloth as principal of Bluebonnet Elementary School. She was assistant principal of Cedar Creek Intermediate School since 2019 and was previously a counselor at Bluebonnet. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in school counseling from Lamar University. Jake Griedl, former Marshall
ISD athletic director and head football coach, now serves in that position at Bastrop ISD. He began his career at the collegiate level at Southern Arkansas University, where he also did post-graduate studies, then taught and coached in Boerne and Lake Travis ISDs. He is a graduate of Concordia University.
The new athletic coordinator and head football coach at Cedar Creek High School is Josh Thomas, who began his career as a coach at Cedar Creek Middle School in 2008, followed by a stint as Bastrop High’s assistant baseball coach. He then worked in Smithville ISD. The Bastrop High School graduate holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.
Kyle Pekurney is the new
principal of Richland High School, having served as principal of Smithfield Middle School since 2011. Before that, he was an administrator, teacher and coach at Richland and Birdville high schools and North Richland, Smithfield and Watauga middle schools. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University. Jason Turner now leads
Smithfield Middle School as principal after serving as its assistant principal since 2011. Prior to that, he was a special education teacher and coach there. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and his master’s degree from Lamar University.
Blackwell CISD Brian Shipman has been promoted from
Blackwell High School principal to district superintendent. He is a graduate of Angelo State University with a master’s degree from Sul Ross State University and is at work on a doctorate at Texas Tech University.
Bloomington ISD Bloomington ISD has hired a new athletic director and head football coach, Brandon Craus. The Lamar University graduate previously spent eight years as athletic director and head football coach at Groveton ISD.
> See Who’s News, page 8
Texas School Business MAY / JUNE 2022
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