McKinney, Texas – McKinney ISD announced Tuesday night at its October board meeting that Eddins Elementary Assistant Principal Cari Owens has been chosen as the new principal of Eddins.

The move follows the retirement announcement of long-time Eddins Principal Sharon Havard. Her successor Owens brings to the position a wide range of experience gleaned from 27 years in education, including eight years in campus administration.

Owens came to MISD five years ago to serve as assistant principal at Wilmeth Elementary, and MISD Assistant Superintendent Suzy Woodard said that it has been gratifying to watch Owens grow as a campus leader during her time at Wilmeth and Eddins.

“Cari was a great partner for [Principal] Kristin Ellis at Wilmeth,” Woodard said. “They developed successful systems and structures, and I know that Cari has been able to bring some of those to Eddins to enhance the great work that they are already doing there. Eddins is a high performing school, and I think that Cari’s thoughtfulness, attention to detail and her ability to analyze data will help them go to an even higher level. She’s very supportive of teachers and very good at helping them establish and meet their personal goals. I am excited about what she brings to Eddins.”

Owens began her career in 1993 as a teacher in Caddo Parish Schools in Louisiana. In the ensuing years, she served in Round Rock ISD and Frisco ISD as an elementary and middle school teacher. In 2014, she joined the ranks of campus leadership as an elementary assistant principal in Frisco ISD and then later as a middle school assistant principal. In 2018, she came to MISD to join the administrative staff of Kristin Ellis at Wilmeth, where she served until she transferred to Eddins in June.

Woodard said that, with the move to Eddins and the relationships that Owens has established during her time there, the transition from assistant principal to principal should be a smooth one. “The feedback that I’ve received is that they’ve already gotten to know and love her,” said Woodard. “And, I think that the campus has already embraced her as a leader. She knows the expectations of the community and the parents, and she’s had the opportunity to learn the traditions that are already established at the campus. I think she is going to be able to smoothly transition into the role of principal, and she is going to keep things moving on an upward trajectory.”

Owens said that she is excited about the opportunity to continue serving the district in a new leadership role. “I am very thankful to plant my roots deeply here in McKinney ISD,” she said. “My journey in MISD began at Wilmeth with Kristin Ellis—from whom I learned how special our district truly is. She continues to serve as both a mentor and friend to me. Now, I look forward to writing the next chapter in the history of Eddins Elementary alongside each staff member, student and parent. You are what makes Eddins Elementary so special!”

Owens earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University.

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