Lobos,

As we continue working to provide the very best for our students, I want to take a moment to explain several recent staff transitions & the thinking behind them.

With the retirement of Donna Pugh, we have come up with our succession plan for our Curriculum & Instruction department. In the past, this work was shared across multiple roles, including our instructional specialists, Mrs. Peña (26-27 Middle School Principal at Sundown ISD) & Mrs. Ruiz, who will be transitioned to the role of Assistant Principal at South Elementary. Both have done outstanding work & have very bright futures in campus leadership.

Moving forward, we are shifting from a broader, “shotgun” approach to a more focused & precise model.

*Joanna Runkles will serve as Director of Elementary Curriculum & Instruction.

*Dr. Matthew Birdwell will serve as Director of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction.

*James Daniel will move to the role of Capitol Principal.

The search for a new Levelland MS Principal & AP will begin immediately.

You may be wondering why we would move two strong principals from campuses, especially when one has just begun impactful work at the middle school. The answer is simple: we must be prepared for what’s coming next. Public education is entering a period of significant change. With updates to accountability systems, College, Career, & Military Readiness (CCMR) expectations, & the redesign of STAAR (known as the Student Success Tool "SST"), the way districts are evaluated is shifting. As Texas Education Agency (TEA) updates how schools are measured, we must be proactive-not reactive.

Mrs. Runkles & Dr. Birdwell have been asked to take on an enormous responsibility:

*Prepare our district for evolving accountability systems.

*Help align instruction to new expectations.

*Ensure we are positioned to succeed under new rules.

This work is not just about compliance—it’s about opportunity. When the game changes, we want to be ready to win. Change like this is never easy, especially when it involves leaders who have made a strong impact on their campuses. However, I am confident these moves will strengthen our entire district & better support both our staff and our students. The reality is this: decisions made at the state level are reshaping how we are measured & how we must perform. We do not control those decisions—but we do control how we respond. We will respond by preparing, adapting, & leading.

Lobos Lead the Way

Dr. Heseman, Superintendent