Conroe Courier August 2, 2023

As the 2023-24 school year is soon to begin, Montgomery County students will be returning to school with several new principals and administrators. 

New Caney ISD students return to class Aug. 7. Magnolia and Splendora students return Aug. 9. Montgomery students are back Aug. 10 and Willis students start the year Aug. 16. 

Here is what’s new at several districts in the county:

Montgomery ISD

Montgomery ISD parents and students will be returning to school with several new faculty and staff members, and new technology. 

New staff: In July, Superintendent Heath Morrison announced his departure with the district to be the chief executive officer for Teachers of Tomorrow, a national alternative teacher certification program. Amy Busby, assistant superintendent of student services and innovation, was named the interim superintendent until the district finds a replacement. 

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The district named Rickey Dorre, a Tomball police captain, as the district’s new police chief as Police Chief Stephen Phillips is expected to retire Aug. 31. 

Tracking technology: Montgomery ISD parents and the district’s transportation department will be able to track students’ bus routes through the use a SMART tag monitoring system. Students will be assigned an ID card that will register when and where they get on and off their school bus. The system also would provide bus arrival notifications for parents and school administrators. 

The ID cards are read via a passive radio-frequency chip containing a unique identification number and is read through a SMART tag on-board tablet.

Willis ISD

Willis ISD parents and students will be returning to school with several new appointments. 

In June, Superintendent Tim Harkrider announced his departure with the district to work for College Station ISD in a leadership role. The following month, the district named former Willis ISD superintendent Tom Crowe for the interim role. 

The district named also three new principals and administrative hires.

In April, the district named Eric King to serve as the principal for Willis High School after former Principal Chad Smith submitted his resignation. In May, Parmley Elementary Principal Kelley Moore was named the new principal for Lynn Lucas Middle School after serving as principal for the elementary school since 2018. Parmley Elementary Assistant Principal Allie Wilkins replaced her former boss, as a first in her career to serve in the principal role.

On YourCourierNews.com: Montgomery County school supply drives ahead of first day of classes

Ann H. Lê, former behavioral specialist for Tomball ISD, was also hired in May to serve as the assistant director of special education, the new role created for additional support for the district’s special services program. John Vaglienty, former principal for Tomball ISD’s Creekside Park Junior High, was named the executive director of secondary education role after it had been left vacant since the beginning of the 2022-23 school year.

Magnolia ISD

Magnolia ISD named a new head swim coach and choir director. 

In April, Donovan Coskey was named as the head swim coach for Magnolia High School. He formally was the head coach for Brenham Junior High and the assistant coach for Brenham High School, according to a release by the district.

In June, Joseph Akers also was named as the director of choirs for Magnolia High School after Jennifer Franz-Melady announced her retirement. Akers was formally the head choir director of the Cypress Springs High School (6A) choral program in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

Splendora ISD

Splendora ISD named several new administrative hires and principals over the summer break. 

In May, the district announced four new hires, including an executive director for special services, three principals, and a truancy and residency officer. Brandi Perkins is to serve as the executive director of special services, taking over the role after Jennifer Stewart announced her departure.

Sonya Simpson, assistant principal for Piney Woods Elementary, was selected to serve as the principal for Greenleaf Elementary School. Allen Painter will serve as the principal for Splendora High School after Sheree Bogany announced her resignation at the end of the school year. And Molly Buford was named principal for Splendora Junior High after Duana Brashear announced her retirement. 

Traci Mixon was hired to serve as the district’s first Truancy and Residency officer to address upticks in attendance and residency issues.

In June, the district announced two administrative hires. Reading specialist Shelley Wells was named as the early literacy coordinator and Sarah Crawford was named the district assessment coordinator. 

In July, Charles Rawls was named the director of child nutrition after Nancy Montalbo announced her departure. 

New Caney ISD

New Caney ISD parents and students have a new principal at New Caney High. 

In February, the district announced that Keefer Crossing Middle School principal Jonathan Powell will be the principal for the high school, who started his new role in April. 

The district also successfully passed a $695 million bond package in May, which includes new campuses, facilities, expansions and renovations. Â