October is National Principals Month

October is National Principals Month #ThankAPrincipal
Posted on 10/01/2021
October is Principals Month

The past year and a half has ushered in some dark days, our principals across the district have persisted as beacons of light in their communities. Not only have they gone above and beyond to ensure their students’ academic success, they’ve also worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of every person in their learning communities. With every new challenge, they’ve risen to the occasion and led their learning community forward with the bold leadership it deserves because they are the experts in what their students and schools need.

Celebrated every October, National Principals Month is an opportunity for district leaders, elected officials, parents, students, teachers, staff, school leaders, and communities to celebrate and honor our incredible principals for their visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student.

National Principals Month is a collaboration between American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Use the following  captions to celebrate your principals on social media:

October is National Principals Month! I’ll be celebrating Principal [LASTNAME] all month long. #ThankAPrincipal
_________, _________, and _________. These are three reasons why I’m thankful for Principal [LASTNAME] during National Principals Month. #ThankAPrincipal

Find out more about our Principals 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-- Melvlyn Lowe

Melvlyn “Sissy” Lowe has been in education for more than three decades.  She is the first African-American Principal in DeSoto ISD.  She has won the TMEA Distinguished Educator Award, TAASP Excellence Award, Principal of the year, and many more.
Mrs. Lowe is currently acting as an interim principal at Woodridge Elementary. Mrs. Lowe has dedicated her career in education to make sure her students, parents, and teachers always feel supported.
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.