Will Barnes, who just completed his third year as an assistant principal at Cleburne High School, has been named the new principal of Coleman Elementary.

            At Tuesday’s called school board meeting, Barnes was among the list of ten personnel recommendations approved by Trustees. He has been a member of the CHS faculty since 2013, where he served four years as a social studies teacher before becoming a campus administrator in the fall of 2017. He implemented and was the first coordinator of the AVID program at CHS and has been the District’s secondary summer school principal the past three years.

Barnes has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences from Lamar University and a Master of Education Degree in Educational Administration. He is currently working on his doctoral degree

“Coleman is a strong campus with a positive culture and amazing teachers and staff,” Dr. Kristi Rhone, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction said. “While we are sad to see Marla Roth leave after six years of leading the Colts, we are excited to see the path Mr. Barnes will take in his leadership at Coleman.”

“The interview committee chose Will, in making their recommendation, for his strong leadership skills and passion for growing students and teachers,” Rhone said. “He made an impact on students as an assistant principal at CHS and we expect that drive to transfer over to his work with the students at Coleman.”

Barnes, who was in attendance at the meeting with his family, thanked the board for the opportunity and had special remarks for the campus he would be leaving.

“I would like to recognize my CHS family,” he said. “I have learned so much from the students and my colleagues. I am so thankful for that experience. Coming from a place of profound admiration and respect for the educators at Coleman Elementary, I am so excited to become a part of that family. I am honored and privileged to now call Coleman home.”

Also approved for employment were Allyson Cortinas, third grade teacher-Irving; Braxton Deford, sixth grade English/language arts/reading teacher-Smith Middle School; Cailyn Fenn, social studies teacher/coach-Smith MS; Lyric Jackson, fifth grade teacher-Irving; Wacey Newman, agriculture science teacher-Cleburne HS; Dr. Michelle Parsons, behavior intervention coordinator; Dr. Belsie Pinero, bilingual dyslexia specialist; Summerly Sherlock, marketing, multimedia and web coordinator; Brynna Taylor, seventh grade English/language arts/reading teacher-Smith MS.