McKINNEY – The McKinney ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three elementary school principals for the 2005-2006 school year during their regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, March 28. All three principals are current assistant principals within the McKinney Independent School District.
The board approved Nick DeFelice, current assistant principal at Malvern Elementary, as the new principal at Webb Elementary School, located at 810 E. Louisiana. DeFelice replaces Michelle Embry, who was recently approved by the board to be the new principal at Wilmeth Elementary, the district’s 17th elementary school scheduled to open in the fall of 2005.
DeFelice received his bachelor’s degree in education in 1985 from East Texas State University in Commerce where he also completed his master’s degree in education administration in 1992. He began his career in education in 1985 in the Richardson Independent School District. Throughout his 16 years in RISD he was an elementary teacher, a junior high teacher and a high school coach. Before coming to McKinney ISD as the assistant principal at Malvern Elementary in 2001, DeFelice was the assistant principal at Wallace Elementary School in RISD from 1999 to 2001.
Paige Hanks, currently the assistant principal at Wolford Elementary, was approved to be the new principal at Bennett Elementary School, located at 7760 Coronado Drive. Hanks will replace current principal Terri LeBleu, who will be relocating to the San Antonio area at the end of the current school year.
Hanks began her career in education in 1990 as a fifth grade teacher in the Guilford County Schools in North Carolina. In 1991 she moved to Florida and taught elementary school for four years before becoming an administrator in 1994 at Beaches Episcopal School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Hanks joined McKinney ISD in 2001 as the assistant principal at Wolford Elementary. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from High Point College and her master’s degree in educational leadership from University of North Florida.
The Board of Trustees also approved Melanie Raleeh, assistant principal at Bennett Elementary, to be the new principal at Eddins Elementary School, located at 311 Peregrine. Raleeh replaces Lisa Bond, who is relocating to Nashville at the end of the current school year.
Raleeh received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in 1993 and her master’s degree in education from Texas A&M University in Commerce in 1999. She earned her principal certification in 2001, also from Texas A&M University in Commerce. Raleeh began her career in education in 1993 as a fourth grade teacher in the Bonham ISD. She came to McKinney ISD in 1997 as a fourth grade teacher and team leader at Glen Oaks Elementary before becoming the assistant principal at Eddins Elementary in 2001. Raleeh was named the assistant principal at Bennett Elementary in June of 2003.
“I am pleased to recommend three of our finest assistant principals for these positions,” said Tom Crowe, superintendent of McKinney ISD. “While we had many applicants, these three candidates certainly know McKinney and the level of expectations we have for our schools. I am confident that each of them will apply their own special talents to the campuses and move each campus forward in a positive direction.”
In addition to the hiring of new principals, the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees also accepted the resignation of Peg Murphy, principal at McNeil Elementary School. Murphy has announced her retirement will be effective at the end of the current school year.
“I truly treasure my years as an administrator in McKinney,” Murphy said. “McKinney is a topnotch district, and it has been my honor to have been part of such a forward thinking, collaborative group. I learned much from my experience here, and I know that I will take my learning to the next step along my career path”
Murphy joined McKinney ISD in 1998 as the principal at Glen Oaks Elementary School. She was named the principal at McNeil Elementary in 2003. Prior to coming to McKinney ISD, Murphy worked in the Highland Park Independent School District for 19 years as a teacher, department head, counselor and assistant principal.
“We always hate to lose an employee of Peg Murphy’s quality,” Crowe said. “While I have not known her for long, I have been impressed with her hard work, dedication and willingness to share ideas with other campuses. She is truly a team player and we will miss her greatly. We wish her nothing but the best of luck in the future.”
For more information about the McKinney Independent School District, contact Diana Gulotta, special assistant to the superintendent for communications at 469-742-4095 or by e-mail at dgulotta@mckinneyisd.net