McKinney, Texas – When students pour through the doors at McKinney High School on August 22 to kick off the 2016–2017 school year, there will be a new principal there to greet them. For those who spent their middle school years at Dowell Middle School, he’ll already be a familiar face.

Current Dowell Principal Alan Arbabi, who has spent the past 13 years of his 20-plus years in education serving in McKinney ISD campus leadership, has been chosen as the new principal of the district’s original high school.

The position became available two weeks ago when current McKinney High School Principal Gordon Butler announced his plan to accept a high school principal position in the Austin area.

McKinney ISD officials considered some 50 applicants for the McKinney High School principal spot, both from within and without the district. For Superintendent Dr. Rick McDaniel, Arbabi was the standout choice.

“Alan Arbabi is not only an outstanding individual, he is a proven leader within the McKinney ISD community,” said McDaniel. “He is well-respected by his peers and has an innate ability to put teams together to form a common vision and then implement a plan to see that the vision is accomplished. More importantly, he is invested in the city and this district and has been here for a number of years serving in different capacities. His track record of success makes him the clear choice to lead McKinney High School for the foreseeable future.”

From 1989–1997, Arbabi served as a staff sergeant with the 95th Infantry Unit in the U.S. Army Reserves during and after college. His career as an educator began in 1994 as a vocal music teacher in Oklahoma before he moved into administration as an assistant principal at Chickasha Junior High School in 1998.

He arrived in McKinney ISD in 2001 to serve as assistant principal at Dowell Middle School, and then transferred to Scott Johnson Middle School in 2004 to serve as assistant principal of that campus. In 2007, Arbabi returned to Dowell as assistant principal and then earned the principal job of that campus in 2012.

During his tenure at Dowell, the campus has earned the title of Intel School of Distinction in Math, become a United Way/Cooper Institute Healthy Zone in Training School, earned a National Healthy School Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, was named an NCEA Higher Performing School and underwent a comprehensive $16 million renovation and expansion project among other accomplishments.

With a great deal of success behind him, Arbabi now looks toward future successes as principal of a campus that is rich in legacy and tradition.

“I have been a part of the McKinney ISD family for 13 years, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to grow within the district,” said Arbabi. “The McKinney High School community is focused on providing a world class education for every student, and it is important for me to honor the legacy of such an amazing school community. One way to do that is to keep the goal of student achievement at the forefront, and I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Arbabi earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from East Central University in 1993 and a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1998.

Need Help?

If you need additional assistance with the content on this page, please contact MISD Communications Department team member Shane Mauldin by phone at 469-302-4007 or by email here .