Waco Independent School District this past week appointed four new principals that school officials said were chosen to strengthen campuses and improve student achievement.
The new principals at Tennyson Middle School and Bell’s Hill, West Avenue and Brook Avenue elementary schools bring more than six decades of educational experiences, from classroom to administrative levels.
Here are some notes about the new leaders:
- Monica Green, Tennyson Middle School: Former director of equity at Omaha Public Schools experienced with economically disadvantaged Title 1 districts. At Benson West Elementary, she increased student writing scores by 20% and exceeded teacher retention rates of 95%. Green holds a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University and is completing her superintendent certification from the University of Nebraska.
- Thia Johnson-Allen, Brook Avenue Elementary: Secondary assistant principal at Waco High School, brings more than 25 years of leadership experience. She helped reduce campus discipline referrals by 41%. She has also served as assistant principal at G.L. Wiley Opportunity Center an instructional specialist. She was recognized with Waco ISD Lead from the Heart Award and named a teacher of the year. Johnson-Allen holds a master’s degree in education from Tarleton State University and a business degree from Baylor University.
- Anthony Baney, Bell’s Hill Elementary: Has worked as an elementary and secondary campus administrator around Central Texas, turning one F-rated elementary campus to a C. He is a certified Texas firefighter and first responder who served with the Killeen Fire Department. He earned his master’s in educational leadership from Texas A&M University.
- Bradley Knox, West Avenue Elementary: Former interim principal, assistant principal and sixth grade coordinator at Tennyson Middle School. Previously served as an administrator at G.L. Wiley Opportunity Center and a reset behavior teacher at West Avenue, where he was named outstanding teacher of the year. He has a master’s degree in education administration from Lamar University and bachelor’s degrees from Tennessee State University.
"We are thrilled to deploy these extraordinary leaders to their respective campuses," said Waco ISD Superintendent Tiffany Spicer. "Each administrator brings a specialized set of skills that perfectly aligns with our strategic priorities – whether that is accelerating literacy and mathematics growth, strengthening school culture, or ensuring strict instructional compliance. We are confident that their leadership will yield immediate benefits for our students, staff, and communities."
This article first appeared on The Waco Bridge. The Waco Bridge is an independent, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to empowering Wacoans with high-quality local news and information that connects communities and fosters public engagement.
