Department of Educational Leadership News
Documentary Directed by Lion Alum Premieres at Major L.A. Film Festival
A documentary directed by an East Texas A&M University alum detailing the damage, impact and community resurgence following the devastating Eaton Fire recently premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
East Texas A&M Hosts Regional Education Workshop
School board trustees and future superintendents gathered at ETAMU for a day of learning, leadership development, and real-world insights.
East Texas A&M Alumnus Named Seguin ISD Superintendent
Dr. Jack Lee, a 2020 graduate of East Texas A&M University’s Ed.D. in Educational Administration program, has been named the lone finalist for superintendent of Seguin ISD.
Region 10 Superintendent Certification Program Students Enjoy Golf and Networking
Region 10 students gathered and shared experiences at their recent golfing event. They had the opportunity to network while enjoying a day of fun and connecting.
ETAMU Alum Named Lone Finalist for GPISD Superintendent Position
Dr. Gabriel Trujillo was recently named the lone finalist for the position of superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District.
East Texas A&M Doctoral Student Named Assistant Superintendent for Bonham ISD
A seasoned educator and administrator with more than 25 years of experience, Branam is pursuing a doctorate in educational administration at ETAMU.
Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Selects ETAMU Alum Texas High School Principal of the Year
McCowan gained eligibility for the award following his selection as Principal of the Year for the Region 11 Education Service Center.
East Texas A&M Professor Joins Educational Administration Group’s Executive Board
Ross brings more than 28 years of experience in education to the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration executive board.
Interdisciplinary Team of Faculty Publish Title on Hispanic Leadership
The book is a result of a joint effort between the provost and the College of Education and Human Services to promote cross-discipline collaboration at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce Alum, Plano ISD Superintendent Profiled in Video Series
Two-time TAMUC alum Dr. Theresa Williams shares her insights on leadership, personal growth and the value of strong professional networks.
A&M-Commerce Alum Takes on Leadership Role at KISD
Dr. Terri D. Osborne stepped into the new role on Sept. 30.
Pair of TAMUC Alumni Named to Quinlan ISD Hall of Fame
The Quinlan Independent School District in Quinlan, Texas recently announced their 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, which include a pair of Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni.
A&M-Commerce Alums Honored with New Middle School in Forney ISD
The couple are noted Forney ISD alums and educators.
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Region 10 Principal of the Year
Creel will now vie for the title of Texas Principal of the Year.
TAMUC Alum to Join Arlington ISD as Deputy Superintendent
The Arlington Independent School District (AISD) recently named Dr. Jennifer Collins, an A&M-Commerce alum, its new deputy superintendent.
Collins has an extensive background in education. She taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students in Sunnyvale, Forth Worth and Marshall. She served…
A&M-Commerce Alum to Head New School for Student Empowerment
The Cheltenham School District in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, has named Texas A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Christine Zubairu (‘23) as principal at its newly established Cheltenham Empowerment Center (CEC).
Aimed at students facing challenges in the traditional school setting, the center's mission…
A&M-Commerce Alum Joins Renowned Architecture Firm
Texas-based Pfluger Architects recently announced its selection of A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Young ('98) as communications and engagement manager.
Texas A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Young. Photo courtesy of Pfluger Architects.
The retired superintendent and 29-year educator brings a wealth of…
TAMUC Alum Named Superintendent of Schools for Abilene ISD
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. John Kuhn ('16) is the new superintendent of Abilene Independent School District. He previously served as superintendent at Mineral Wells ISD, overseeing approximately 3,000 students compared to Abilene's 15,000.
“This will be a challenge because there is…
Black History Month Extended: Celebrating the Contributions of Five Impactful TAMUC Professors
Black History Month Series Part 3: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family
As the echoes of Black History Month fade, the legacy of trailblazers like Dr. David Talbot continue to inspire forthcoming generations of brilliant professors…
TAMUC Well-Represented at Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education Annual Conference
A&M-Commerce had a strong showing at the 51st annual Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education conference held Feb. 11-14 in Frisco, Texas.
Numerous faculty and staff presented at the conference, with two receiving some of TABPHE's highest awards.…
TEA Appoints TAMUC Alum as Deputy Commissioner of School Programs
The Texas Education Agency recently confirmed its appointment of A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Shannon Trejo ('23) as deputy commissioner for its Office of School Programs.
In her new role, Trejo will oversee three departments tasked with providing resources, services and program…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Named 2023 Administrator for the Gifted
The Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) named A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cheryl Beard as its 2023 TAGT Administrator for the Gifted. The award recognizes service, contributions and commitment to gifted education.
Beard has been an educator and district…
Educational Leadership Council Names TAMUC Professor ‘Living Legend’
The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) selected A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Nathan R. Templeton as the recipient of its 2024 Living Legend award, which recognizes service, scholarship and overall contributions to ICPEL and the field of education.
Templeton—a…
Decades After Escaping Abuse, TAMUC Alum Now Aids Domestic Violence Victims
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Aaliyah Miranda ('19) is featured in a recent Dallas Morning News article describing her journey from experiencing domestic violence to becoming a champion for victims of domestic abuse.
Born and raised in Mexico, Miranda immigrated to the…
A&M-Commerce Professor Selected as Researcher of the Year
The Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) has selected A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Kriss Kemp-Graham to receive its 2023 Researcher of the Year award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of educational research and inquiry.
Kemp-Graham's research…
A&M-Commerce Helping Fill School Leadership Pipeline in Texas
In a recent Dallas Morning News article, Tiffany Huitt, Dallas ISD's chief of school leadership, noted A&M-Commerce as one of four higher education institutions the district utilizes to bolster its local pipeline of principal candidates in preparation for expected school…
Templeton Named Inaugural Presidential Faculty Fellow
A&M-Commerce Professor Nathan Templeton is the university's first Presidential Faculty Fellow.
Templeton will assist the university's leadership team with initiatives including enrollment strategies for Dallas College students at A&M-Commerce and management of Dallas ISD and Tyler ISD cohorts in the…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Alum Selected for Superintendent Post
The Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees recently named A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Deana Steeber as the lone finalist to become its next superintendent.
Her 27 years of experience in education includes serving as principal at the elementary, middle…
Lewisville ISD Taps A&M-Commerce Alum as New Elementary Principal
Lewisville Independent School District has appointed A&M-Commerce alum Jennifer Driver as the new principal at its Indian Creek Elementary School campus. With 24 years in education, Driver brings with her more than 10 years of principal experience at the elementary…
A&M-Commerce Educational Leadership Professor Receives Distinguished Award
Dr. Nathan Templeton, professor for the Department of Educational Leadership at A&M-Commerce, has been selected by the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) as recipient of the 2023 Achilles-Hoyle Service Award.
According to its website, ICPEL is professional…
A&M-Commerce Alum Selected for Rising Presidents Fellowship
The Aspen Institute has selected A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Jerry Thomas to participate in its Rising Presidents Fellowship program. The intensive fellowship aims to reduce turnover in community college presidency by recruiting diverse leaders to drive change and contribute to student…
A&M-Commerce Alum: “They Call Me an Office on Wheels”
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Samuel Ogbonna is featured in a recent profile published by Focus Daily News in Dallas, Texas, highlighting his 39-year career in education.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Ogbonna moved to the U.S. at age 21 to attend…
Grapeland ISD Selects A&M-Commerce Alum as Next Superintendent
Grapeland Independent School District has unanimously selected A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Maass as the district's next superintendent, according to The Messenger newspaper in Grapeland.
Maass earned his master's degree in educational administration in 2006, and his doctorate in higher education…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Next Superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Wendy Eldredge is the sole finalist to become the next superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, following a unanimous decision by the district's board of trustees.
Eldredge earned her doctorate in supervision, curriculum and instruction at A&M-Commerce in…
A&M-Commerce Professor Receives Advocate of the Year Award
Dr. Nathan R. Templeton, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at A&M-Commerce, received the Advocate of the Year award from the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA). The award recognizes outstanding professors focused on service to…
Graduates Give High Marks for TAMUC Region 10 Superintendent Certification Partnership
Two A&M-Commerce Region 10 ESC Superintendent Certification graduates shared their experiences in the Fall 2022 edition of Reach!, a biannual magazine published by the Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC).
Ben Dickerson and Michael Gipson were in the 2022 cohort…
TAMUC Alum Selected as Finalist for National Principal of the Year
Colleyville Middle School principal David Arencibia, Ed.D., was selected as one of three finalists for the National Principal of the Year award by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Arencibia graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2004 with a Master…
Lion’s Lecture Speaker Series Returns at A&M-Commerce
A&M-Commerce faculty, staff and students gathered on Sept. 29 to welcome the return of the Lion's Lecture Series presented by the Graduate School and First-Year TRAC. Drs. Matt Wood and Sharonda Pruitt entertained the audience with two 20-minute presentations in…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Member Receives Prestigious Award
The Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) granted A&M-Commerce Regents Professor Julia Ballenger, Ph.D., with its James A. Vornberg Living Legend Award at the organization's fall meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
TCPEA established the award in 2006 to…
TAMUC Faculty Member Published in Management Teaching Review
The September 2022 issue of Management Teaching Review, a journal published through SAGE Journals, features an article co-authored by A&M-Commerce faculty member Peter Williams, Ph.D., and Robert Morris University faculty member Stuart Allen, Ph.D.
“Remote Oral Doctoral Dissertation Defenses in…
TAMUC College of Education and Human Services Publishes Online Journal
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce has published the first issue of Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services. The peer-reviewed, online journal endeavors to provide a collection of high-quality literature reviews for topics related to education…
A&M-Commerce Personnel, Alumni Honored by Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education
The Texas A&M University-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) honored several of the university's personnel and alumni at an awards ceremony on April 30 in the Rayburn Student Center on campus.
Awards and…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Named Executive Director at Ector County ISD
A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cindy Retana has been a teacher, counselor and principal during her more than 25 years in education.
She joined Ector County ISD in October 2021 as an executive director of leadership and principal supervisor. She discussed her…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Finalist for Plano ISD Superintendent Position
An alumna of Texas A&M University-Commerce was recently named as the sole finalist to take over the position of superintendent of the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas. Theresa Williams, Ed.D, was announced as the finalist by the Plano…
TAMUC Employees Build Bridges to Student Success
Nearly a quarter of Texas A&M University-Commerce employees are Bridge Builders, a term referring to current faculty and staff who give financial gifts to the university. The Philanthropy and Engagement team at A&M-Commerce is hoping to boost that percentage over…
A&M-Commerce Offers Multiple Pathways for Aspiring Latino Educators and Leaders
Texas A&M University-Commerce is committed to growing the number of Latino educators in Dallas ISD and school districts throughout the region.
Rene Martinez, community activist and special assistant to A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin, said Latino educators have a measurable impact…
A&M-Commerce Will Shine Blue for World Teachers’ Day
Texas A&M University-Commerce will shine blue again this year, joining campuses across The Texas A&M University System in recognition of World Teachers' Day. Beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5, prominent buildings across the A&M System will be illuminated…
TAMUC Alum Sanchez Makes List of Finalists for Superintendent of the Year
A&M-Commerce alum H.T. Sanchez, Ed.D., is one of five Texas finalists for the state's Superintendent of the Year award. The award, sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), recognizes superintendents across the state for excellence and achievement.
With…
Blue Ridge ISD Names TAMUC Alum Todd as Assistant Superintendent
Blue Ridge ISD named A&M-Commerce alum Matthew Todd as assistant superintendent. He previously served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction and will continue leading the district's teaching and learning work. He has worked for the district in roles…
TAMUC Faculty Williams Co-hosts Doc101 Podcast Series
Peter Williams, associate professor of educational leadership at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is co-host of the Doc101 podcast series along with Drs. Linnea Rademaker and Scott Self from the School of Educational Leadership at Abilene Christian University.
Geared toward doctoral students,…