25 Sep Forney ISD Welcomes New Principals for 2014-2015

BY LARRY COKER

When the first bell of the new school year sounded on Monday, August 25, students filed into classrooms to meet their teachers, many of them new to the district. But in addition to the new teachers, students also had the opportunity to meet some new principals.

One key newcomer is Dr. Jason Johnston at North Forney High School. Dr. Johnston replaces Dr. Joe Kucera, who had been the school’s only principal since opening its doors in 2009, and who has accepted an assistant superintendent position at China Spring ISD.

Dr. Johnston comes to Forney from Rockwall ISD, where he was the principal at Maurine Cain Middle School, and was in 2014 named the H-E-B Excellence in Education Secondary Principal of the Year.

“It’s an honor to be named the principal at North Forney High School,” says Dr. Johnston. “Dr. Kucera, the campus administrators, and the teachers at North Forney High School built a great foundation here at North Forney, and I look forward to working with the students and staff to continue building on that success.”

Dr. Johnston began his education career in 2001 as a business teacher and coach at Rowlett High School in Garland ISD. In 2006, he was named the assistant principal at Garland’s Cecil Webb Middle School before becoming principal at Maurine Cain.

Dr. Johnston received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of North Texas in 1998. In 2008, he earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M Commerce, where he also earned his doctorate in educational administration in 2013.

Over the summer, the district also announced the new principal at Warren Middle School. Joseph Pouncy replaces Kenneth Pearce, who has been named principal at Royse City High School in Royse City ISD.

Pouncy has more than twelve years of experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He began his career in 2002 as a business instructor and head track coach at Irving High School in Irving ISD. In 2006, he was named the business instructor and head track coach at Richardson High School in Richardson ISD. In 2008, he was named the offensive/strength and conditioning coordinator and business teacher at Bryan Adams High School in Dallas ISD. He became assistant principal at Forney High School in 2010.

Pouncy received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University and his master’s degree in education from Abilene Christian University. He completed his principal certification in 2011.

In July, the district also announced new principals for two Forney ISD elementary schools. Jeff Hutcheson, formerly principal at Criswell Elementary, takes over as principal at Smith Elementary School following the departure of Dr. Amie Pennington, who accepted a principal position in Garland ISD earlier this year. Theresa Hale, who has been with the district for more than 15 years and has served Criswell as assistant principal for the past five years, will step up to Criswell Elementary’s principal position to continue the great educational programs developed by Mr. Hutcheson.

Forney Living: October/November 2014