Houston A+ Challenge Ramps Up Leadership Academy Faculty With Former Principals, Support Staff

Aug. 29, 2008

Six dynamic, experienced former principals have joined the faculty of Houston A+ Challenge’s new academy for aspiring principals, and two seasoned A+ staff members will transition into new roles supporting the Academy, the nonprofit organization announced today.

Marshall Dupas, Debbie Emery, Lawrence Kohn, Shundra McKinnie-Cannon, Rena Ramirez and Bonnie Roberts will serve as coaches in the Regional Principal Leadership Academy, providing guidance and support for Principal Interns during their yearlong residency in local public schools.

In addition, two Houston A+ Challenge program coordinators will transition into new roles supporting the Academy.  Angela Prince has been named Curriculum Specialist for the Academy, and P. Tim Martindell has been named Houston A+ Challenge’s Assistant Director for Teacher Leadership.

“The team we have assembled brings a wide variety of experiences, perspectives and strengths to the Academy,” said Sheri Miller-Williams, Director of Leadership for Houston A+ Challenge.  “The Principal Interns will have access to a wealth of talent, and their learning will be guided by leaders among leaders.”

Houston A+ Challenge's full-time faculty coaches and part-time consulting coaches will work in conjunction with host schools and their mentor principals to ensure that the residency portion of the three-year Regional Principal Leadership Academy experience is rigorous and aligned to the goals of the Academy, which aims to prepare new leaders to serve in the Houston region’s most challenged middle and high schools.  Coaches will continue their support of the aspiring leaders as they transition into their future roles with partner districts.

MARSHAL DUPAS, Consulting Coach
Marshal Dupas was honored in 2001-02 as a Region IV Principal of the Year. During his 30 years of practice in the state of Texas, Marshal worked at the secondary level as a science teacher, assistant principal, middle and high school principal in the North Forest Independent School District.  During his tenure as a principal, Marshal led two campuses to the rating of “TEA Recognized” in 2000 and 2002.  The Louisiana native also serves as an adjunct instructor in the College of Education for the University of Phoenix, specializing in instruction design and standards-based curriculum and instruction.
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DEBBIE EMERY, Consulting Coach
After 30 years in public education, Debbie Emery recently retired as Associate Superintendent for School Administration and Human Resources in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district, where one of her main responsibilities was hiring, coaching and providing professional development for the district’s 74 campus principals. Debbie also served as a campus principal at the elementary and middle school level for 14 years.  Since 2000, she has also worked as an adjunct professor for Sam Houston State University teaching “The Role of the Principal” and supervising principal interns.
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LAWRENCE KOHN, Consulting Coach
Lawrence Kohn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Sam Houston State University, where he teaches methods courses to aspiring teachers. He also has served as an adjunct professor for the University of St. Thomas and the University of Houston. An educator of 27 years, Lawrence has served as principal of Atascocita High School and Quest High School in Humble ISD and as an English teacher in Humble ISD. He is a published author of multiple articles and book chapters and is currently working on a book about high school reform and redesign. He has been active in Houston A+ Challenge and Annenberg work since 1999 when his school, Quest, was named an Annenberg Beacon School.
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SHUNDRA MCKINNIE-CANNON, Faculty Coach
Shundra McKinnie-Cannon has served in education for the past 13 years, most recently as Director of Education (Principal) for St. John’s Academy.  She began teaching as a 1995 Teach For America Corp Member; after six years in the elementary school classroom, she joined the Houston ISD Principals Academy and served in an administrative role for several years. She has been named a Teacher of the Year and the ACP Teacher of the Year for Houston ISD, and has served on many professional committees and boards in developing and implementing school reform and development. 
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RENA RAMIREZ , Faculty Coach
Rena Ramirez has spent the past 15 years working as an educator with diverse populations in inner-city schools. She began her career as a bilingual elementary and secondary teacher and department chair in Pasadena ISD, and later was promoted to serve as a Bilingual Dyslexia and Intervention Specialist and an Assistant Principal for schools in the district. She also served in Clear Creek ISD as bilingual Assistant Principal, providing leadership and campus support to the unique Professional Development Laboratory Campus, which paralleled the various traditional, bilingual, dual language, response to intervention programs. She has been honored in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” and holds bachelors and masters degrees from the University of St. Thomas School of Education, where she currently sits on the Dual Lanugage Advisory Board.
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BONNIE ROBERTS, Consulting Coach
Bonnie Roberts has 35 years of experience with the New York City Department of Education. After earning her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College’s Principals’ Institute, Bonnie served for 10 years in NYC’s Community District Ten/Region One as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Superintendent, and Local Instructional Superintendent (the position from which she retired in June 2004). In these roles, she assisted in the reform and reorganization of several schools in need of improvement; designed and instituted professional learning experiences for teachers, administrators, parents, and school board members; and supervised and administered a department of more than 60 staff members with over a $2 million budget.
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ANGELA PRINCE, Curriculum Specialist
Angela Prince brings 17 years of educational experience and a deep knowledge of school reform to the Regional Principal Leadership Academy.  The Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native joined Houston A+ Challenge as a program coordinator in 200X after 14 years of service in South Florida’s Broward County Public Schools, where she held positions including high school Interim Principal/Assistant Principal to district Curriculum Supervisor for students with learning disabilities.   Angela brings a well-established reputation nationally as a member of the National School Reform Faculty and as a trainer for the Abydos Learning (New Jersey Writing Project) in Texas. Additionally, Angela has been a facilitator, workshop designer, and consultant for organizations including the Schlechty Center for Leadership in School Reform, the Teaching and Leadership Center at Florida Atlantic University, and High Schools That Work.
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P. TIM MARTINDELL, Assistant Director of Leadership in Teaching
P. Tim Martindell is a national facilitator and Critical Friends Group coach trainer for the National School Reform Faculty. A fourth generation educator, he came to Houston A+ Challenge from the Charles R. Drew Academy in Aldine Independent School District, where he taught language arts and reading for seven years. While at Drew Academy, Tim served as a teacher leader, department chair, and Critical Friends Group coach.  Prior to teaching at Drew, Tim taught English and speech Nimitz High School in Aldine and Wheatley High School in the Houston Independent School District and wrote curriculum for the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post.  In addition, Tim holds current certification as both a writing and a reading trainer for Abydos Learning International, formerly the New Jersey Writing Project in Texas.  Tim has also presented sessions on peer coaching and literacy issues at numerous state, national, and international conferences.  Before becoming a teacher, he spent several years in retail and restaurant management.
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