McKinney ISD Administrative Update

McKinney, Texas – With McKinney ISD virtual learning now in full swing, it’s an opportune time for the annual MISD administrative update, as the district recaps administrative transitions that have taken place over the spring and summer.

Among the group are some administrators new to the district and others who are familiar faces in new roles. They all bring a wealth of experience and expertise as they help point the way forward during the most unique start to a school year MISD is likely to ever experience.

Listed alphabetically by campus or department.

Principals

Karla Massey—Principal, Caldwell Elementary
Karla Massey’s journey began far from McKinney, Texas; it was her childhood dream of becoming an educator that would lead her from Honduras to the United States and, years later, to McKinney ISD where she now serves as the new principal of Caldwell Elementary.

Along the journey, Massey has accumulated 27 years of experience in education—15 as a campus administrator.

“We are so pleased that Karla Massey has accepted the principal position for Caldwell Elementary,” said MISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Suzy Woodard. “Karla has a proven record of success, and the fact that she is bilingual will be a great asset for the Caldwell community. We are looking forward to what she will accomplish in the years ahead.”

Born and raised in Honduras, Karla Massey grew up speaking Spanish and learned English through a bilingual program during her elementary and secondary years. When she graduated high school, she dreamed of becoming a teacher and, one day, to lead a school of her own as principal.

Her dream began to take flight in 1989 when she came to the United States on an academic scholarship to attend Harding University in Arkansas. At Harding, Massey earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and elementary education and, after graduating, accepted a job as a special education teacher.

Four years later, she relocated from Arkansas to Texas, where she would serve as a kindergarten and third grade bilingual teacher in Garland ISD for the next seven years. In 2005, she made the move from the classroom to campus administration—and to a new district—to serve as an assistant principal in Lewisville ISD.

Massey would return to Garland ISD two years later where she continued to serve as an elementary school assistant principal. The opportunity to lead her own campus came in 2016 when she accepted the principal job at Garland ISD’s Bradfield Elementary. During her time at Bradfield, the school earned the TEA 2019 Gold Ribbon designation for Children at Risk.
Now, Massey comes to MISD from Montclair Elementary in Garland.

“I look forward to working with the students and families of Caldwell Elementary through open and consistent communication that creates and maintains a student-centered, collaborative learning community,” Massey said. “As your new principal at Caldwell Elementary, it is my sincere pleasure and honor to serve the students and this community in McKinney ISD. I am assuredly enthusiastic to contribute to the already established educational excellence in this district as I continue my educational journey!”

In addition to her bachelor’s degree from Harding University, Massey holds a master’s degree in business administration from Amberton University.

Kyle Luthi—Principal, DAEP
For Kyle Luthi, the new school year brings with it a new setting. In June, he moved from his long time position as principal of Webb Elementary to the MISD Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), where he now serves as principal. Luthi brings 13 years of experience as a campus administrator and 18 years in education—all in MISD—to his new role.

“I very excited to have Kyle as the new principal at DAEP,” said Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Student Support Dr. Melinda DeFelice. “He is an amazing person and will bring so much to that campus.”

Luthi began his career in 2002 as a fifth grade teacher at Malvern Elementary. By 2007, he had moved from the classroom into campus administration to serve as the assistant principal at Webb. In 2010, Luthi accepted the principal job at Webb and served in that capacity for 10 years.

As Luthi begins the new school year as principal of DAEP, he looks back with fondness on his time at Webb. “It has been an honor to serve the wonderful students and community of Webb Elementary,” Luthi said. “I am so grateful for the relationships and experiences that have occurred over the past 13 years, and Webb will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Luthi earned his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in education administration from Dallas Baptist University.

“I look forward to working with and serving the students and staff at DAEP,” Luthi said. “I know that together, we can make a difference in the lives of those we serve and make a positive impact on our schools and community.”

Maria Hafner—Principal, Webb Elementary
In June, McClure Elementary Assistant Principal Maria Hafner was named principal of Webb Elementary.

The position became available when Webb Principal Kyle Luthi was chosen to serve as principal of McKinney ISD’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). Hafner has served as assistant principal of McClure for just over four years and brings 24 years of experience in education to her new role as principal at Webb.

“I’m excited to have Maria Hafner come on board as principal of Webb Elementary,” said Suzy Woodard, MISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Student Support. “Along with her deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction, she brings a proven record of success as a campus leader, which was especially evident during her time as the interim principal for McClure Elementary last spring. Maria has a true servant’s heart and will put students first in every decision she makes.”

Hafner began her career in 1995 as a kindergarten teacher in Pinellas County, Florida, where she also taught first grade. Five years later, she moved to Fairfax County, Virginia, to teach first grade and later served as the coordinator of a Professional Development School. Hafner came to Texas in 2005 to serve as a first grade teacher in Frisco ISD where she went on to serve as a reading specialist and then an instructional coach. She came to MISD in 2016 to serve as the assistant principal of McClure Elementary and served as the interim principal at McClure from February 2019–May 2019.

“I have been truly blessed and inspired by my time at McClure and am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside former principal Melanie Raleeh and current principal Matt Arend,” Hafner said. “I will cherish the amazing relationships formed with the staff and community.
“And, I am honored to be joining the Webb family,” Hafner added. “I am looking forward to building strong, collaborative relationships with the students, staff and community as we pursue excellence for each child we serve. I am excited to continue the rich traditions and spirit that Kyle Luthi, Nidia Cedillo [former Webb assistant principal] and the entire Webb family have created and upheld.”

Hafner earned her bachelor’s degree in child development and elementary education from Michigan State University. She earned her master’s degree in elementary curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in math and science from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.

Assistant Principals

Zoraya Palmer—Assistant Principal, Caldwell Elementary
In June, MISD hired Zoraya Palmer to serve as assistant principal at Caldwell Elementary. Palmer has 23 years of experience in education, including four years of experience as an assistant principal.

“It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that we welcome Mrs. Zoraya Palmer to our Caldwell family,” said Principal Karla Massey. “She brings her skill as an educational leader, a vast amount of knowledge of language acquisition, and she is bilingual. She has a sincere desire to serve our diverse community of learners while working collaboratively to ensure the success of our students. Mrs. Palmer will be a great asset to our team due to her commitment to providing excellence in education.”

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Palmer earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1992 but found her true passion when she joined Garland ISD as a 5th grade bilingual teacher in 1997.

In 2003, Palmer received a full scholarship to SMU and earned a master’s degree in bilingual education; by 2008 she was supporting teachers and students across Garland ISD as a K-5 district-level instructional support teacher and bilingual department curriculum writer.

In 2013, her long-held dream of becoming a campus administrator became a reality when she accepted an assistant principal position in Garland. “During this leadership and learning experience,” she said, “I served the community, parents, teachers and students to ensure that every student received equitable opportunities and experiences in education where their academic, linguistic, social and emotional needs were our priority. In 2017, due to illness, I transferred back to the classroom to continue to serve our community of learners as a dual language kindergarten teacher.”

In June, Palmer brought that experience and leadership to Caldwell Elementary.

“It is a great honor to join McKinney ISD and to serve as an assistant principal alongside Ms. Karla Massey at Caldwell Elementary School,” said Palmer. “I am humbled and excited to collaborate with an excellent team of educators, parents, students and the community. I look forward to starting the new school year and building relationships with each and every one of you.”

Teresa Bilyeu—Assistant Principal, Malvern Elementary
In July, Teresa Bilyeu joined the leadership team at Malvern Elementary, where she now serves as assistant principal alongside Principal Rhonda Gilliam and Assistant Principal Rhonda Hamilton. 2020–2021 marks Bilyeu’s 20th year in education—all with MISD—and she brings a wealth of experience to her new role.

“Malvern is so excited to welcome Mrs. Bilyeu as an assistant principal,” said Gilliam. “She has served our students and staff as an instructional coach for two years and has done an outstanding job! She is a dedicated educator with a sharp focus on student success. She sees the value and potential in everyone and clearly communicates her belief that we can all grow and learn and reach amazing potential.”

Bilyeu began her career in MISD in 2001 as a paraprofessional, serving at Vega Elementary and with the PALS program. She earned her teacher certification in 2005 and joined the faculty at Webb Elementary where she taught third through fifth grade for seven years. In 2012, she moved into the middle grades as a seventh grade science teacher at Cockrill Middle School, and for the past two years she has served as an instructional coach at Malvern supporting teachers in data analysis, instructional planning, professional growth and coordinating student intervention.

During her tenure with MISD she has also served as a campus RtI coordinator, mentor, team leader, grade level chair and member of both elementary and secondary district curriculum writing teams.

“I am excited to continue serving Malvern in this new role as assistant principal,” said Bilyeu. “It is such a blessing to work with so many dedicated educators and amazing students.”

Bilyeu earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2005. Bilyeu holds two master’s degrees from Texas A&M-Commerce in educational administration and curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on English language learners.

Heather Piñero—Assistant Principal, McClure Elementary
MISD named Heather Piñero assistant principal of McClure Elementary in June. Piñero brings six years of experience in education—all with MISD—to her new leadership role.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Mrs. Heather Piñero to our McClure family,” said Principal Matt Arend. “Her knowledge of McKinney ISD, balanced with her desire to support students and teachers—along with creating a fun learning atmosphere—will add to the strong culture already established at McClure. Mrs. Piñero will be an excellent example of what being a McClure Marshal is all about.”

Piñero began her career in 2014 as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Webb Elementary. Over the past six years, she has served the campus in a variety of capacities including the role of team leader and, most recently, as an instructional coach.

Her time as an instructional coach has afforded Piñero the opportunity to support teachers in a variety of areas including curriculum and instruction, professional growth and development, mentoring, data analysis and creating a positive culture on campus. During her tenure in MISD, she has also served as co-coordinator for student council, secretary for the Bilingual/ESL Education Association of the Metroplex and as a member of the district curriculum writing teams for both English/Language Arts and Reading and Mathematics.

Piñero earned her bachelor’s degree in 2012 from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2017, she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Texas.

“It is truly an honor to be able to serve the dedicated staff members, students, families and community members at McClure Elementary,” said Piñero. “I am looking forward to a fantastic year of learning!”

Kelli Snyder—Assistant Principal, McNeil Elementary
Kelli Snyder was named assistant principal of McNeil Elementary in March and joined the administrative team of Principal Tracy Meador, AP Jennifer Harrison and new AP Misty Young.

Snyder has been a member of the McKinney ISD family for the past 15 years. She began her career in 2005, as an elementary educator at Vega Elementary where she spent 11 years as a teacher and team leader in second through fourth grades.

In 2016, she made her way to Valley Creek Elementary to further her growth as an educator and gain new experiences while teaching second and third grade. She became an instructional coach in 2018 at McNeil.

Snyder has served as a member of the ELAR curriculum design team for the past six years, and she has been a mentor to many MISD student teachers. As an instructional coach at McNeil, she supported teachers through instructional planning, lesson delivery, and data analysis across all grade levels. She played a key role in helping McNeil attain Marzano High Reliability Schools Level 2 certification, which focuses on ensuring effective instruction in every classroom.

Snyder earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2005. In 2011, her master’s degree in advanced literacy from Concordia University-Texas—which led to her becoming a certified Reading Specialist—and her second master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2015.

Misty Young—Assistant Principal, McNeil Elementary
Former MISD Curriculum Coordinator Misty Young became an assistant principal at McNeil Elementary in March, joining the administrative team of Principal Tracy Meador, Assistant Principal Jennifer Harrison and new Assistant Principal Kelli Snyder.

Misty served four years as the MISD elementary math coordinator and brings 21 years of experience in education to her new role.

She began her career in 1999 as a fourth grade teacher at South Hills Elementary in Ft. Worth. In the following four years, she taught fourth grade in Crowley before moving to Central Elementary in Carrollton in 2006. She went on to serve as fifth grade level chair and then as the ESL/math instructional facilitator at the same campus. From 2011–2016, she served as C-FBISD’s K-5 elementary math specialist while also serving as a principal intern for two years and as assistant principal of summer school.

Young holds a bachelor’s degree is in interdisciplinary studies from Abilene Christian University, and she earned her master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.

“I am honored to join the McNeil family and serve the students, staff and parents in this new role. I am incredibly grateful to be working alongside Tracy Meador and the entire McNeil staff to continue the work they are doing to impact students and bring out the best in each McNeil Mustang. I feel fortunate to become part of their community and couldn’t be more thrilled to start on this journey!”

Rachel Cotton—Assistant Principal, Press Elementary
In July, Rachel Cotton joined Press Elementary where she now serves as assistant principal alongside Principal Rachel Constantinescu. Cotton brings more than 20 years of experience as a classroom instructional leader and, most recently, as an assistant principal for McKinney ISD’s summer school programs.

“We are so excited for Mrs. Cotton to join our Press family,” said Constantinescu. “She is a long-time McKinney educator who truly values relationships with students, parents and staff. She believes her charge and calling is to ensure every student has a quality education and that students are equipped with skills to be productive in the future. Press Elementary was very fortunate to be served by an incredible assistant principal, Dr. Amy Weems for nine years, and Mrs. Cotton is ready to serve our campus with the same focus on relationships and quality education.”

Cotton began her career in 1999 in Hattiesburg, MS teaching first grade as part of an initiative focused on closing the achievement gap for young learners. The following year she moved to Texas with her family and earned a leadership role as a grade level team lead for a Title I campus in Richardson ISD. Cotton came to MISD in 2003 and has been a staple in the community for the last 17 years, serving a diverse group of MISD scholars in a variety of leadership roles at Malvern Elementary, Minshew Elementary and Cockrill Middle School.

“Throughout my journey I have been a champion of effective instruction, behavior intervention, digital learning integration, ELL support and community involvement,” said Cotton. “I am motivated to ensure that all students have the necessary support and tools for success, no matter their situation or circumstances. Part of my charge is to empower all members of the learning community. I am both honored and excited to continue my professional career with MISD alongside Mrs. Constantinescu and the Press Elementary Family. The Pride Family has a culture of commitment and dedication and I’m eager to contribute to the campus’s success. Press Elementary feels like home!”

Cotton earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and later received her Master of Education in Administration from Texas Woman’s University.

Cyndy Bice—Assistant Principal, Slaughter Elementary
Cyndy Bice brings 20 years of experience in education (17 at Slaughter) to her new position as assistant principal of Slaughter Elementary.

“I’m excited to have Mrs. Bice as the new assistant principal at Slaughter Elementary,” said Principal Nick DeFelice. “She offers a wealth of experience, knows the culture of the campus and will continue to support our success with our ‘in it together’ focus.”

Bice began her career in MISD in 2001 as a third grade teacher at Slaughter. During her seventeen years at the school, she has taught third grade and fifth grade, served as an instructional team leader, mentored student teachers and first-year teachers and has most recently served as an instructional coach, supporting teachers in data analysis, instructional planning and professional growth. During the course of her career, she has also taught third grade in Melissa ISD and served as an instructional resource specialist in Lovejoy ISD.

Bice earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M – Commerce and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.

“I am excited to continue to serve the Slaughter Elementary family in my new role,” said Bice. “It is truly an honor to work with so many dedicated and strong educators. I am excited to start a new journey at the campus where I began my MISD career almost twenty years ago.”

Marina Byrd—Assistant Principal, Webb Elementary
In April, MISD announced that Marina Byrd would serve as assistant principal at Webb Elementary. The position became available when Webb Assistant Principal Nidia Cedillo accepted a principal position with another district.

Byrd joins Webb from Slaughter, where she served as assistant principal for the past four years. She brings 25 years of experience in education—19 in MISD—to her new campus. Over the course of her career, she has served as a bilingual classroom teacher, an instructional coach and an assistant principal.

“Marina has many strengths to share with the Webb community, including the ability to analyze data at a deep level and build strong relationships with students, staff and parents,” said MISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Student Support Suzy Woodard. “She will be an asset to the Webb team.”

Byrd earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Sul Ross State University and her master’s degree in administration from Concordia University.

“I am honored and privileged to be a part of the Webb Cubs and the community of Webb Elementary,” said Byrd. “I believe in the power of education, and I look forward to creating long-standing relationships with the students, staff and families at Webb. The Webb community is one of tradition and family.”

Ebonee King—Assistant Principal, DAEP
In June, Valley Creek and Glen Oaks Instructional Coach Ebonee King was named assistant principal of DAEP. King brings 20 years of experience in education—including 14 years in MISD—to her new role.

“We are excited to have Ebonee King as the new assistant principal at DAEP,” said Principal Kyle Luthi. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we are so grateful that she will be joining our team of dedicated staff, as we work together in making a positive impact in the lives of our students.”

King began her career in 2000 in Plano ISD and came to MISD in 2006 to join the staff of Malvern. There, she served in multiple grade levels and leadership roles.

Her work in MISD has been far-reaching. In addition to her time at Malvern, King has taught at Minshew and Webb, serving first through fifth grade and gifted and talented. She has served as a team leader, teacher, student mentor and instructional coach during her time at Valley Creek, Glen Oaks and Finch. She has lent her expertise to district curriculum writing teams and has presented at district professional development training. She is currently the co-chair of the MISD Diversity Committee.

“It is important to me that students know their worth, that we pour into them and build them up and that we strive to give them opportunities to grow into critical thinkers, problem solvers and productive citizens in our society,” King said.

“I look forward to working alongside Mr. Kyle Luthi and the staff at DAEP as we work together in making a difference in the lives of our students and serving the campuses and community of McKinney ISD.”

King earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from San Diego Christian College, a master’s degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Melissa Hernandez—Assistant Principal, Dowell Middle School
Melissa Hernandez joined the leadership team at Dowell Middle School in June to serve as assistant principal alongside Principal Holly Rogers and Assistant Principal Ferlanda Willis.

“I am so excited to have Melissa move into her new role at Dowell,” said Rogers. “She has been a huge part of our success, and her expertise in curriculum and instruction will be crucial as we move into our new school year.”

Hernandez’ career began seven years ago as a chemistry teacher at McKinney North. During her time there, she served as the lead on the chemistry team and IPC team and contributed to district curriculum development. In 2018, she moved to Dowell to take on an expanded academic and leadership role as an instructional coach.

Now, she takes the next step in campus leadership as assistant principal.

“Working with Holly Rogers and the entire Dowell family these last two years has fueled my passion for education!” said Hernandez. “It is a great privilege that I am able to continue to support and collaborate with an exceptional group of educators. I look forward to the 2020-2021 school year as we continue to create a positive impact for our Dowell community!”

Hernandez earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Texas at Dallas and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at Texas Tech University.

Justin James—Assistant Principal, McKinney High School
In July, Malvern Elementary Assistant Principal Justin James moved to McKinney High School to serve as an assistant principal at MISD’s most tenured high school. James served as assistant principal at Malvern from 2019–2020 and brings eight years of experience in education to his new campus.

“We are very excited to have Justin James join us at MHS,” said Principal Alan Arbabi. “He is an amazing young leader with a proven MISD record of working compassionately with teachers and students. We at MHS feel lucky to have Mr. James as part of our Lion Nation!”

James came to MISD in 2019 from Garland ISD where he had previously worked for two years as a secondary ELAR instructional design facilitator for the GISD Department of Teaching & Learning where he provided district professional development, campus instructional support and wrote curriculum. Prior to that, he spent five years at Hudson Middle School in Sachse as a seventh grade English teacher and eighth grade AVID teacher. In addition to his current duties in MISD, James also serves as a national staff developer for the AVID Center which promotes college and career readiness for all students.

In 2013, James was named Rookie of the Year at Hudson Middle School and in 2014 was chosen as Hudson’s Teacher of the Year. The same year, he was named Teacher of the Year by the Sachse Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, he was a Garland Power and Light Teacher of the Month, a Dallas Morning News Teacher of the Month and was recognized as a Young Alumnus by Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

“I’m excited to continue my journey in McKinney ISD and join the learning community of The Original McKinney High School and embrace Lion Nation,” said James. “The investments leaders make in education today will create great rewards in the lives of the next generation. That is why it is my mission to foster opportunities that create leaders, learners and lovers of life to ensure empowerment and hope for all through their educational experience.”

James earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and his master’s degree from the University of North Texas. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Southern Methodist University.

Elise Landrum—Assistant Principal, McKinney High School
McKinney High School Math Department Chair, Instructional Coach and Advanced Placement Coordinator Elise Landrum is now an assistant principal at MHS. Landrum brings 23 years of experience in education to her new position and is in her 15th year with MISD.

“Mrs. Landrum has been an amazing teacher and instructional coach in MISD for many years,” said MHS Principal Alan Arbabi. “Her work ethic and compassion for teachers and students will serve her well as a new assistant principal at MHS.”

Landrum began her career in Garland ISD, where she taught math at the Jackson Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Middle School. She came to MISD in 2005 to teach math at Evans Middle School, where she worked with students across all three middle grade levels. She went on to serve as a secondary math instructional coach for nearly a decade, first at Evans and then, beginning in 2014, at MHS. As an instructional coach, Landrum supported teachers by working with professional learning communities (PLCs), designing engaging lessons, differentiating instruction to meet student needs, analyzing data to track student progress and providing professional growth opportunities for teachers.

Now, she moves into a broader leadership position as assistant principal.

“I am thrilled and tremendously grateful to be able to continue to serve my MHS family in this new role,” said Landrum.

Landrum earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Mount Holyoke College and her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Texas.

Amanda Leader—Assistant Principal, McKinney High School
Amanda Leader also joins the leadership team at McKinney High School as an assistant principal. She has taught and coached for the past five years at MHS and brings 12 years of experience in education to her new position.

“Mrs. Leader has served as an ELAR teacher, a basketball coach and testing coordinator at MHS,” said Principal Alan Arbabi. “She not only takes great care of her job assignments, she continually seeks opportunities to contribute in areas outside of her job title. Her positive attitude and work ethic will serve as great characteristics in her new position as assistant principal at MHS.”

Leader began her career in 2008 in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD where she taught English and Reading and specialized in working with struggling and reluctant learners. She served as an assistant coach in several sports before accepting the position of head women’s basketball coach in 2012. Leader came to MISD in 2015 and has filled a broad range of roles during the past five years: English teacher, team lead, campus testing coordinator, ESL instructional coach, women’s varsity basketball assistant coach and summer school assistant principal.

“McKinney High is a special place filled with outstanding educators and amazing students,” Leader said. “I am beyond blessed to get to continue to serve our campus in this new role.

“I look forward to working with Mr. Arbabi and the rest of the administrative team at McKinney High School. They have an abundance of knowledge and experience and always put students at the forefront of decision making.”

Leader earned her bachelor’s degree in comprehensive secondary English education from Northwest Missouri State University and her master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Nataushe Jordan—Assistant Principal, McKinney North High School
Nataushe Jordan joined the administrative team at McKinney North High School as an assistant principal in July, and with the start of the 2020–2021 school year, begins her 20th year in education.

“MNHS is excited to welcome Mrs. Nataushe Jordan to our Bulldog Family,” said North Principal Jae Gaskill. “Nataushe brings a wealth of experience as a high school administrator with a strong background in ESL and bilingual supports for students as well as curriculum experience across multiple content areas. Students and teachers will quickly see how committed she is to student success, and all are going to love working with Mrs. Jordan.”

Jordan spent the first two years of her career as a bilingual teacher in Dallas teaching second grade students. In 2003, she moved to Plano ISD and invested the next nine years as a Spanish teacher at Rice Middle School. In 2012, she served as an administrative intern at Clark High School and then went on to serve as assistant principal at Shepton High School for six years.

During her time in Plano ISD, Jordan chaired the LOTE department, wrote curriculum and facilitated professional learning for campuses, the district and professional organizations. She also served on numerous campus and district committees, most recently the Strategic Action Planning Team and RTI Task Force.

“I’m thrilled to start my new adventure as a McKinney North Bulldog!” said Jordan. “I have been blessed as an administrator to work in teams that do great things for students and staff, and North will be no exception. It’s truly an honor to be counted among such stellar leaders. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues on campus and throughout the district to reach our common goals of supporting our staff and providing MNHS students with the highest quality instruction!”

Jordan earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and Spanish from Henderson State University and her master’s degree in bilingual/ESL education from Texas Woman’s University. She also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate of Advanced Study—School Principal from Texas Woman’s University.

Michael Westfall—Assistant Principal, McKinney North High School
“MNHS is excited to welcome Mr. Michael Westfall to our Bulldog Family,” said North Principal Jae Gaskill. Westfall was hired as assistant principal in July.

“Michael has extensive leadership experience in both large and small school districts with a strong background in building collaborative teams that support student success. Mr. Westfall is ready to meet all of our Bulldog Family, and we know our students and teachers will love working with him,” said Gaskill.

Westfall comes to MISD from Community ISD where he served as principal of Community High School since 2018. He began his career as a middle school teacher in Richardson ISD in 2000 and—with the exception of two years in Frisco ISD—invested much of his career there serving as a teacher, coach and administrator. In 2010, he moved into an AP position at Berkner High School and earned the Rookie Administrator of the Year Award. He went on to serve as magnet principal at Richardson High School and in 2017 and received the Richardson High School Carolyn Bukhair Servant Leadership Award for his work.

He has now found his new home at North.

“I am excited to be a part of McKinney ISD because of the stellar reputation for academics, athletics and overall student success,” said Westfall. “Everyone I’ve talked to has great things to say about MISD, and I look forward to being a part of it! I’m ready to begin this next chapter of my professional career and make a positive difference in the lives of students!  I can’t wait to get started!”

Westfall earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of North Texas.

Central Administration

Garry Gorman—Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction
In April, McKinney ISD hired Garry Gorman to serve as the district’s new senior director of curriculum and instruction. Gorman comes to MISD from Red Oak ISD, where he served for the past three years as executive director of elementary learning.

He brings nearly a quarter century of experience in education as a teacher, principal and curriculum director to his new position.

The MISD job became available when Dr. Melanie Magee announced in early April that she had accepted the position of deputy superintendent of leading and learning for Terrell ISD.
“We are pleased to have Garry join the Student Support Department and are excited about what his knowledge and experience will bring to our team,” said Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Student Support Suzy Woodard. “Dr. Magee has laid a strong foundation and will be greatly missed. We know that Garry will do a great job of building on that foundation and will continue to move the district forward.”

For Gorman, the move to MISD brings him full circle; he began his career here in 1996 as a choir teacher at Faubion Middle School. He went on to teach third and fourth grade at various campuses across the district before moving into campus administration in 2006 as an assistant principal at Bennett Elementary and, four years later, at Burks Elementary.

In 2012, he accepted the principal job at Baker Elementary in Prosper ISD and would go on to serve there for the next five years. Under his leadership, the campus earned the 2017 Excellence in Professional Learning Award from Learning Forward Texas.

From Prosper, Gorman’s professional journey took him to Red Oak ISD in 2017, where he would serve for three years as the executive director of elementary learning. During his tenure in Red Oak, Gorman oversaw all elementary campus curriculum and instruction and provided support and supervision of campus administration. Other responsibilities included oversight of Red Oak’s District Improvement Plan as well as several district programs: Dyslexia, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Title 1 and Bilingual/ ESL. He was the district’s chief energy officer and implementation chair of the Energy Bus program that led Red Oak ISD to become the first Energy Bus certified district in the United States.

Gorman earned a master’s degree in school leadership from Texas Woman’s University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also holds a superintendent’s certificate from Lamar University.

“I am very enthusiastic and honored to return to McKinney, Texas and serve in McKinney ISD,” said Gorman. “I consider both of them home, and I cannot wait to connect with our students, staff and families. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the excellence that is already established in this district. MISD has always been a district that others look to, and I’m excited to be part of this educational community again.”

Hali Hunt and Shelly Spaulding—Directors of Human Resources
In May, McKinney ISD welcomed Hali Hunt and Shelly Spaulding to the human resources department, where they will serve as directors overseeing vital areas of operations under the direction of Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Chad Teague.

“Our goal in human resources is to support all of our employees in all aspects of their profession, so they may better serve our students,” said Teague. “Ms. Spaulding’s energy and positive nature coupled with her working knowledge of all aspects of a campus along with Mr. Hunt’s HR experience as a director and knowledge of all of the technical aspects of human resources combines to establish a firm foundation of support for all of our employees.”

Hunt came to MISD from Lake Worth ISD, where he has served as director of human resources and communications for the past two years. He brings a broad range of human resources experience over a 23 year career in both the private sector and the public school setting.

As human resources director, Hunt will oversee daily operations of MISD human resources that include but are not limited to T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System) compliance, employee concerns, administrative trainings and working as liaison for campus administration.

Hunt began his career in 1997 as a human resources personnel manager with the U.S. Army. From 2001–2008, he worked in the private sector before coming to education in 2009 to serve as a fourth grade math and science teacher in Dallas ISD. In 2014, he joined the human resources department in DeSoto ISD and has made human resources his home since then, also serving in the human resources departments of Medina Valley ISD and Lake Worth ISD.

“Coming onboard with Mckinney ISD is one of the most amazing things to happen in my human resources career thus far and is equivalent to a ‘Home Coming Celebration’ for my family,” said Hunt. “Prior to moving away to San Antonio, I lived in McKinney, Texas. My wife and I fell in love with McKinney and only dreamed of moving back one day. Well, that day has come, and I look forward to providing support and leadership to the district. My goal is to help McKinney ISD continue to be recognized as a world class organization that supports the recruitment of outstanding employees, which will enhance the district’s vision for student achievement.”

Hunt holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA from Liberty University, and he is currently in the doctoral program for business management at Northcentral University.

Shelly Spaulding moved to the human resources department after five years as an assistant principal at McKinney High School. She brings 16 years of experience in education to her new role as human resources director.

Spaulding began her career in 2004 in Richardson ISD where she would serve as a middle school athletics coach, ELAR teacher and reading specialist over the next four years. She came to McKinney ISD in 2008 to join the staff at Cockrill Middle School and served as a teacher and athletics coach there in addition to serving as an instructional coach from 2014-2015. In 2015, she moved into campus administration as an assistant principal at McKinney High School, where she served students, parents and teachers as a house principal and oversaw the English, ESL, Journalism, ISM and AVID programs.

In her role as human resources director, Spaulding will oversee human resource management with first year teachers, mentors, student teachers and observers, and she’ll be responsible for employee social-emotional learning and employee recognitions.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the HR team in McKinney ISD,” said Spaulding. “I am looking forward to working with Dr. Teague and the HR team to provide support for our teachers, administrators and employees. McKinney ISD is an incredible place to work, with truly amazing educators, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to recruit excellent teachers, to support and mentor staff throughout their time in McKinney ISD and to collaborate with both central office and campus staff to continue our traditions and expectations for excellence.”

Spaulding holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s degree in education administration from Lamar University, and she is currently a doctoral student at the University of North Texas.

Dr. Javetta Jones Roberson—Coordinator of Advanced Academics and Gifted and Talented
In July, MISD welcomed Dr. Javetta Jones Roberson as the district’s new coordinator of secondary advanced academics and gifted and talented.

“We have hired a top-notch educator in Dr. Roberson,” said Garry Gorman, senior director of curriculum and instruction. “Throughout her years in education, Javetta has served in a variety of roles and is extremely knowledgeable in the area of advanced academics, gifted and talented education and currently serves on the state TAGT Board.”

Previously, Roberson served as a high school dean of instruction in Birdville ISD. She has also served as a high school advanced academics and programs of choice coordinator, professional development facilitator for advanced academics, elementary gifted on-campus liaison and gifted dual-language teacher—all in Fort Worth ISD.

“I’m honored to join the MISD family!” said Roberson. “As the coordinator of secondary advanced academics and gifted/talented, I’m eager to serve and support our campus leaders and advanced academics teachers in continuing to build a rigorous and engaging learning environment that will best support all of our advanced and potential advanced level students for academic success.”

Roberson holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University with a focus in family studies, education and reading. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Roberson is very active on the state and national level in gifted education, serving as a board member for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented and the Council of Exceptional Children-Association for the Gifted (CEC-TAG). She also serves on the Diversity, Equity & Access Committee, Education Committee and Special Populations Network with the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC).

Roberson is a published practitioner-scholar that is dedicated to the work of advocacy for various populations in gifted and advanced placement and enjoys educating and supporting school personnel on the importance of serving this dynamic group of students.

Errin French—Coordinator of Counseling
MISD announced in May that Evans Middle School Counselor Errin French would now serve as the district’s coordinator of counseling! She brings 28 years of experience to her new position at central office, where she’ll work under MISD Senior Director of Guidance and Counseling Jennifer Akins to support MISD’s counselors.

Errin spent the first eight years of her career as a teacher in Houston ISD and Katy ISD. It was in Katy that she discovered that her true gift is counseling. And, for the past 20 years, she has served students as a junior high/middle school counselor—15 of them at Evans Middle School.

During that time, Errin served as middle school lead counselor, middle school Naviance coordinator and as a member of the counselor advisory team. She trains counselors yearly across the country as an AVID National Staff Developer and presents across Texas at professional conferences that include LSSSCA, TCA, Region 7 and TSCA, among others.

In 2017, Errin was named the MISD Counselor of the Year and later that year was named the Texas Counselor of the Year by the Texas School Counselor Association.

In 2019–2020, Errin implemented the “Calming Room” at Evans Middle School to help support students with emotional regulation and stress management skills.

“Errin is an excellent school counselor and proven leader on our counseling team,” said Akins. “In her new role, she will provide outstanding training and assistance to our counseling, teaching and other staff so that we can respond even more effectively to our community’s needs.”

Ashley Cruz—Elementary Math Coordinator
In April, Ashley Cruz was hired as the new MISD elementary math coordinator.

Ashley began her journey with the MISD family 10 years ago, teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math at both Faubion and Dowell Middle Schools. She has also served as a summer school SSI math teacher and math curriculum writer for both secondary and elementary levels.

In 2016, Ashley began her work as an instructional coach at Press Elementary where she supported staff with student-centered decision making. Cruz is a district leader in mathematics, having authored and presented multiple district-wide professional development opportunities.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and a second master’s degree in educational administration. In 2014, Cruz began serving as an adjunct professor for Texas A&M Commerce, where she would teach the Introduction to Teaching course to undergraduate students.

“I am eager to join McKinney ISD’s Curriculum and Instruction team as the elementary math coordinator! My passion is to build our students’ confidence in mathematics while preparing them for their futures in school and the workforce. I look forward to working alongside our district’s talented educators to achieve this goal.”

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