On June 10, DeSoto ISD introduced its 2021-2022 roster of principals to central staff leaders, Board members and community leaders.
Read a brief description of each DeSoto ISD campus leader below:
Frank D. Moates Elementary--Angela Robinson
Angela Robinson comes to Moates after serving as principal at Cockrell Hill Elementary. Prior to her arrival in DeSoto ISD, Robinson held a number of administrative appointments in the Lancaster Independent School District. Robinson is described as a forward-thinking leader with a track record of success for improving educational systems through strategic planning and program and curriculum development.
Because Moates will transition to serve students in grades three through five and given Robinson’s body of experience with specialized expertise in elementary and bilingual education, DeSoto ISD leaders are confident in her ability to effectively serve Moates’ students, teachers and families.
Principal Robinson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Texas A&M Commerce.
Curtistene S. McCowan Middle School--Dr. Kelli McWashington
Dr. Kelli McWashington has more than 20 years in education in various roles consisting of teacher, department chair, instructional coordinator, assistant principal and, currently, as principal at McCowan Middle School. Her diverse background has afforded her the opportunity to excel as an educator by providing best practices that benefited student success at various levels. Dr. McWashington joined the Desoto ISD family in 2015 as an Instructional Coordinator at DeSoto High School. With her dedication to student success and the support for teacher growth, Dr. McWashington advanced in her career to become an Assistant Principal at DeSoto High School. During her tenure at DeSoto High School, Dr. McWashington was the senior House Principal and administrator over the Science Department. Through her continued passion to serve the students of DeSoto ISD, Dr. McWashington has led as the proud principal of McCowan Middle school since 2018.
DeSoto Alternative Education Program--Homer Webb
Homer Webb attended the University of Texas at Dallas where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. After graduating, he began a career in elementary education in Dallas ISD while working on a Master of Education at Dallas Baptist University. Webb joined the DeSoto ISD family in 2005 as an assistant principal at Amber Terrace Intermediate before helping facilitate the transition from an intermediate to elementary campus. Desiring a new challenge, Webb went on to serve as an AP at the district’s Disciplinary Alternative Education before assuming his current role as DAEP lead principal.
The Meadows Elementary--Dr. Ysanne Williams
Dr. Ysanne Williams began her career in education as a middle school teacher and curriculum specialist before transitioning to roles as a curriculum reviewer and writer for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Resource System. Dr. Williams, then, went on to serve as an assistant principal at Dan Powell Intermediate School in Everman ISD before assuming her most recent role as a principal and academic director of Uplift Elevate in Fort Worth where, under her leadership, the school was top five in STAAR performance Meets and Masters across all three grade levels in math, reading, and science.
Dr. Williams later earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education (2009) and a doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership (2014) from Grand Canyon University in Arizona.
Williams was born in Jamaica but raised in upstate NY. As a collegiate, she competed as a track and field scholar-athlete at the University of California at Los Angeles before pursuing a professional track career which led her to compete in the 2008 Olympics.
Ruby Young--Noel Greenwood
Noel Greenwood brings more than 12 years of educational experience to DeSoto ISD as a teacher and campus leader earmarked by innovative solutions to school improvement and successful student academic outcomes. Prior to joining DeSoto ISD, Greenwood served as an administrator in Burleson ISD, Garland ISD and McKinney ISD.
Greenwood has a Bachelor of Arts in Community and International Economic Development from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, GA; a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University and is slated to complete a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University this summer.
Cockrell Hill Elementary--Dina Jammer
Dina Jammer brings more than 17 years of educational experience to her role in DeSoto ISD, beginning her educational career at Wilmer Elementary before serving as a private school instructor at St. Anthony School in Dallas. Jammer would later serve in several capacities in Lancaster ISD starting as a teacher before serving the district’s STEM department and then transitioning to serve as an assistant principal at Rosa Parks/Millbrook Elementary. Before joining DeSoto ISD, Jammer served as the principal of Barbara Bush Global Leadership Academy in Grand Prairie ISD.
Jammer has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership (Curriculum and Instruction) from Lamar University.
Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy--Dr. Michelle Neely
For 19 years, Dr. Michelle Neely has worked across the spectrum of K-12 education in the DFW area. Dr.
Neely earned a Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television and Film from Sam Houston State University; a Master of Arts in Communications Arts from Southern Methodist University; and a Doctorate in Pre-Kindergarten through 12 Education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
After graduate school, Dr. Neely started her career in education in Dallas ISD before assuming the role of founding Associate Principal of Teaching and Learning at the nationally-recognized Blue-Ribbon School, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy (BOMLA) in Dallas ISD.
Woodridge Elementary--Jerri A. Johnson
Dr. Jerri A. Johnson brings more than 24 years of diverse and multi-faceted educational experience to her role in DeSoto ISD. Dr. Johnson began her career as an elementary classroom teacher in Missouri before assuming roles as an instructional coach, reading specialist and principal. Dr. Johnson has mentored other aspiring educational leaders at Columbia University in New York and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Most recently, Johnson served as the Director of Education at the Community Impact Network in St. Louis while simultaneously leading her own educational consultancy.
Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the Harris-Stowe State College in Missouri; a Master of Educational Administration and a doctorate in Teaching and Learning processes from the University of Missouri.
West Middle School-Dr. Edmond Henderson II
Dr. Edmond Henderson II brings more than 17 years of educational experience to his role in DeSoto ISD. Dr. Henderson began his career as an elementary classroom teacher in Dallas ISD before assuming roles as an assistant principal and principal in Irving ISD. Dr. Henderson has a formidable reputation for leading and supporting student academic achievement.
Dr. Henderson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University; a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University; and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University.
DeSoto High School--Monica Smith
Monica Smith brings a long-ranging and in-depth career in education to her role as a principal in DeSoto ISD. Smith’s educational career began as a math teacher before transitioning to serve as a counselor at both the elementary and secondary levels in Dallas ISD schools before advancing as Dean of Students at Plano ISD’s Clark High School. Smith later held administrator positions in Crowley ISD, Duncanville ISD and DeSoto ISD. Before rejoining DeSoto ISD, Smith served as the Director of Governance and Management in Irving ISD.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Math with a minor in Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in School Counseling from Prairie View A&M University.
DeSoto ISD will host a virtual event to introduce the 2021-2022 campus principals via the DeSoto ISD Facebook page.
Click here to register to receive a reminder about this live virtual event via email.