School board members approved five new principals for the Denton school district Tuesday evening.

Of those five, three are coming from outside the district. One assistant principal within the district has been promoted to a principal’s position and the other district employee is making a lateral move from one school to another.

They should all assume their new roles for the upcoming school year.

“I’m thrilled to be here to serve the children and families of Denton ISD,” said Karen Satterwhite, who will be the principal of Blanton Elementary School when it opens in the fall.

She is currently principal at an elementary school in Crowley.

This will be her fourth new school that she’s opened as a principal, and she said Wednesday that she takes “great joy” in coming in, building from the ground up and doing what’s best for the children.

“We love them first and teach them second,” she said of her motto.

Part of why Satterwhite was picked for Blanton was her past experience opening new schools, said Jamie Wilson, assistant superintendent of secondary academic programs.

Both Wilson and Satterwhite worked in the Keller school district at the same time, and although Wilson said he never worked directly with Satterwhite, he recalls “she had a great rapport when working with parents.”

The principal for Harpool Middle School, opening in the fall next to Blanton, was named about a year ago, said district spokeswoman Sharon Cox.

Mike Vance, former principal at Strickland Middle School, accepted that position.

Rob Southard, who has been principal at Savannah Elemen­tary School since it opened two years ago, will assume the same post at the new Olive Stephens Elemen­tary School in Shady Shores.

“I love opening new schools … [and] setting new traditions,” said Southard.

He said the layout of the new school is the same as at Savannah, so he will be familiar with the system even though it’s in a new setting.

To help ease school overcrowding, officials decided to open Stephens Elementary on 133 Garza Road in August, a year ahead of schedule, and possibly with reduced staff and student enrollment.

“I feel like this is going to be a place I can call home for quite a while,” said Southard, adding that the school is essentially in his backyard — only about a six-minute drive.

Replacing Southard at Savan­nah is Michael McWilliams, principal at Mitchell Boulevard Ele­men­tary School in the Fort Worth school district.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead a learning community within the Denton Inde­pen­dent School District,” Mc­Wil­liams said after board approval Tuesday evening.

After much research, he said, he saw many great things about the district.

McWilliams, an educator for 12 years, said Wednesday that he sees his move to the Denton school district as a “great opportunity to grow.”

Not just for himself, he said, but also as a chance for his children to became a part of a school district with a good record of achievement.

He saw the fact that Denton’s school district is much smaller than Fort Worth’s as a draw because of the opportunity to have more collaboration with other schools.

Although the setting will be different, McWilliams’ goal as a principal remains the same.

“That is making sure that all students learn at a higher level,” he said.

Gary Miller, a principal in the Keller school district, will go to Ryan Elementary School, replacing Principal Dalton Gregory, who retires at the end of the school year.

“I love it,” said Miller, about coming back to the district where he and his children were educated.

He attended Borman Elemen­tary School and Calhoun Middle School and graduated from Denton High School in 1977.

Although he has worked in the Keller district for 12 years, he has kept a Denton address and he makes about a 30-minute commute to work.

His next commute will be five to 10 minutes, and he’s looking forward to being more accessible and being able to respond quicker to any after-school needs. 

Miller’s initial career path was not in education. His interest in teaching grew after he volunteered at Borman when his daughter was a student there. He said he came full circle with that experience and with the supportive environment of the faculty.

“This is where I want to be, this is how I can help the best,” Miller said of work in education.

“I’m very excited,” Missey Chavez said about becoming principal at Ginnings Elementary School. She said she’s looking forward to “having the ability to really make a positive impact with the students.”

Chavez, who has been an educator for about nine years, is currently assistant principal at Strickland Middle School.

This is the first time she will serve a school as a “full-fledged” principal, and Chavez said she will continue to work toward lifelong student success.

Although she will be playing a different role next year, she said, “I have wonderful resources within the district.”

Debi Lokey, the current principal at Ginnings, is moving out of the district with her family.

Since some students from Ginnings go on to Strickland, Chavez said she feels it’s a benefit that she will get to work with some of the same families and siblings of former students.

AMY DODD THOMPSON can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is athompson@dentonrc.com .

 

Missey Chavez

Ginnings Elementary School

Family: One child

Highest education: master’s, Texas Woman’s University, 2005

Currently: assistant principal at Strickland Middle School since 2005, team district staff development trainer since 2006

 

Michael McWilliams

Savannah Elementary School

Family: Wife, two children

Highest education: master’s, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 2001

Currently: principal at Mitchell Boulevard Elementary School in the Fort Worth school district since 2002

 

Gary Miller

Ryan Elementary School

Family: Wife, two children

Highest education: master’s, University of North Texas, 2002; master’s, Oklahoma State University, 1983

Currently: principal at North Riverside Elementary School in the Keller school district since 2000

 

Karen Satterwhite

Blanton Elementary School

Family: Husband, one child

Highest education: master’s, UNT, 1991

Currently: principal at Hargrave Elementary School in the Crowley school district since 2004 and adjunct faculty member at Texas Christian University since 2006

 

Rod Southard

Olive Stephens Elementary School

Family: Wife, four children

Highest education: master’s, TWU, 1992

Currently: principal at Savannah Elementary School since 2006