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DeSoto Independent School District is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Leon Darden as the Interim Head Principal of DeSoto High School, following the transition of former principal Jasen Campbell into a district-level leadership role. Campbell was promoted to serve as Dallas ISD’s Wilmer Hutchins High School Feeder Pattern Executive Director—a return to familiar ground, as he previously served as the principal of Wilmer Hutchins High School prior to his tenure at DeSoto High.
“We are proud of Mr. Campbell’s growth and the impact he has had at DeSoto High School. and we know he will continue to make a powerful difference in education,” said Superintendent Dr. Usamah Rodgers as she praised Campbell’s leadership and celebrated the transition to Darden’s appointment. We are equally excited to welcome Dr. Leon Darden as Interim Principal. His strong and positive rapport with students, families, and staff—along with his commitment to school culture—makes him the right leader to carry DeSoto High forward with pride and purpose.”
Dr. Darden brings more than 20 years of educational leadership experience with a deep commitment to serving students from diverse and underserved backgrounds. A results-driven and visionary administrator, Dr. Darden has led campuses across Texas with a focus on academic excellence, innovative instructional practices, and positive school culture.
“Dr. Darden is poised to lead DeSoto High School into its next era of greatness,” said DeSoto ISD Chief Academic Officer Stephanie McCloud. “His commitment to creating a holistic environment that mirrors the district’s Triple A Experience—Academics, Arts, and Athletics—ensures that both scholars and staff have the opportunity to truly soar.”
Dr. Leon Darden has served in several impactful leadership roles within DeSoto ISD since joining the district as Principal of The Meadows Elementary, where he focused on strengthening student achievement, enhancing campus culture, and increasing parent engagement. He went on to serve in the district’s Student Support Services Office, where he leveraged his deep expertise in educational leadership to help shape districtwide strategies for scholar success. Following that role, Dr. Darden returned to campus administration as Principal of the DeSoto Alternative Education Program, later advancing to lead the DeSoto High School Freshman Campus and, most recently, serving as Director of the DeSoto High School Early College High School, where he championed academic readiness and post-secondary pathways for students. Prior to his service in DeSoto ISD, Darden led Advantage Academy in Grand Prairie, where he led a PreK–6 campus with a strong emphasis on balanced literacy, small group instruction, MAP data analysis, and community engagement. Prior to that, he was Principal of Chilton Secondary Schools (Grades 6–12), where his leadership produced seven TEA academic distinction designations in just two years, including exceptional recognitions in academic growth and post-secondary readiness.
Throughout his career, Dr. Darden has:
- Designed and implemented campus-wide instructional strategies, including Explicit Instruction and RTI frameworks.
- Launched a New Teacher Academy and multiple career academies, including Criminal Justice, Business Technology, and Health & Human Services.
- Led teacher development sessions on best practices, student behavior intervention, and diversity training.
- Achieved measurable student success in both traditional and alternative school settings.
Dr. Darden earned a doctoral degree from Dallas Baptist University and holds a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Concordia University–Austin, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Baylor University. He is a certified EC–12 Principal, a member of the Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society, and a respected contributor to several professional education organizations.
Please join DeSoto ISD in welcoming Dr. Leon Darden into his new role at DeSoto High School. His leadership, passion for student success, and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding choice to guide our campus through this important transition.