Who’s News Cleveland ISD Janie Snyder began the new academic year as principal of Southside Primary School. She comes from Livingston ISD, where she was a teacher and an assistant principal. An educator for 25 years, she is a graduate of Sam Houston State University. Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Chris Oldham is principal of Lincoln Junior High School. He was most recently a high school assistant principal in Conroe ISD. He previously worked for Klein, Hempstead and Magnolia ISDs as a math and Chris Oldham science teacher and a coach. Prior to becoming an educator, he was a combat medic in the U.S. Army. Como-Pickton ISD Cassie Bland, former testing and student services coordinator, is principal of Como-Pickton Junior High School. Chris Bradshaw is the new principal of Como-Pickton High School. He comes from North Zulch ISD, where he was a principal. Coppell ISD Mike Waldrip, former Frisco ISD deputy superintendent of administrative operations, is the new superintendent. He joined Frisco ISD in 2002 when he became principal of Clark Middle School. He then opened Liberty Mike Waldrip High School as principal in 2006 and worked as assistant superintendent of instructional support services. Prior to joining Frisco ISD, he was a teacher and coach in Victoria, Goliad and Seminole ISDs. Waldrip earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, his master’s degree from Sul Ross State University and his doctorate from the University of North Texas. Copperas Cove ISD Glenn Graham has been named the district’s executive director of business services. Most recently director of financial services for Round Rock ISD, he previously was assistant superintendent of business and finance in Marble Falls ISD. Graham also has worked for Lago Vista
ISD, Georgetown Transportation and the Williamson County Auditor’s Office. Sherri Welch, former principal of Halstead Elementary School, has been named director of assessment and accountability. She began in the district as a biology, chemistry and integrated physics teacher and a volleyball and track coach at Copperas Cove High. She next was a fourth and fifth grade teacher, an instructional coach and assistant principal at Ledger Elementary. She was assistant principal of Clements-Parsons Elementary until taking her most recent position at Halstead in 2013. Corpus Christi ISD Roland Hernandez, former chief administrative officer, is the new superintendent. He has been an educator since 1992, when he joined Angleton ISD as a teacher and coach and eventually an assistant principal. Roland He also has worked for Hernandez the Texas Education Agency, The University of Texas and Spring Branch, Belton, Tyler and Waco ISDs. Hernandez is a graduate of Texas State University with a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and a doctorate in educational administration from The University of Texas. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Dillon Brady has been named assistant superintendent for facilities and construction. With a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Nebraska, he has 14 years of experience in construction and facility services for K-12 educaDillon Brady tion. He formerly was general manager of construction services for Houston ISD; he has managed more than $2 billion of K-12 bond programs and construction projects in Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio and Texas. Jersey Village High School Principal Ralph Funk has been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Ralph Funk
Secondary School Principals (NASSP). NASSP is composed of 22,000 secondary school administrators from across the United States. Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Brent Barker is now the district’s athletics director. He comes from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., where he was head football coach and athletic director and also coached the school’s baseball and golf proBrent Barker grams. The Fort Worth native began his coaching career after attending Texas Christian University, working in Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Carroll ISDs, as well as Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth. Chaney Curran is principal of Remington Point Elementary School. She was the school’s assistant principal since 2013. She has been an educator for 10 years and an administrator for five. Curran received her bachelor’s Chaney Curran degree from Austin College and her master’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She is pursuing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Texas. The new principal of Willkie Middle School is Elisha McDonald, who was most recently assistant principal of Highland Middle School. Prior to that, she was the school’s counselor. She has been an educator for 12 years, Elisha McDonald beginning in Mansfield ISD. A graduate of Texas Wesleyan University, McDonald has a master’s degree in school counseling from Amberton University. Tricia Leavitt is the assistant principal of Prairie Vista Middle School. She has been an educator since 2003, working in Fort Worth ISD before joining the district. She taught business and was the girls’ athletic coordinator and head girls’ basketball coach at Saginaw High School. In addition, she has been assistant women’s basketball coach at Texas Christian University, where she earned a bachelor’s See WHO’S NEWS on page 20 October 2014 • Texas School Business
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