Young Named Rockenbaugh Elementary Principal

Rockenbaugh Elementary's New Principal Lisa Young

The Carroll School Board voted Monday night to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation to name Lisa Young as the next principal of Rockenbaugh Elementary School. She will replace Karen White who is retiring at the end of this school year after 25 years of service in public education.

Young was the unanimous choice of a 10-member committee made up of classroom teachers, CISD administrators and parents. She was recommended to the Superintendent from a group of 202 applicants and seven top candidates who were interviewed by the 10-member committee.

Young is in her 13^th year in public education, including eight years in educational administration. She has most recently been serving Carroll ISD as Coordinator of 21^st Century Learning and Professional Development. Young has experience as an elementary and intermediate school teacher, and served in Coppell ISD as an elementary and middle school assistant principal.

“If you are going to lose somebody like Karen White, it sure makes it easier to know that someone like Lisa Young will be stepping in to lead the campus,” said Superintendent David J. Faltys. “She has a lot of energy and enthusiasm and truly loves serving kids. We couldn’t be more pleased with how this turned out for Carroll ISD and for Rockenbaugh.”

“We had a committee of ten and all ten felt very strongly about Mrs. Young’s ability to lead their campus,” said Dr. JJ Villarreal, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. “Her experience in administration along with staff development will make her a strong candidate. She values relationships and learning.”

Young obtained her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Education with a specialization in English from Baylor University. She completed her M.S. in Educational Administration at the University of North Texas and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Administration from UNT.

“I consider it an honor to be in Carroll ISD where I truly feel the core values are our main focus,” said Young. “I’m excited to continue the tradition of excellence set forth by the Administration and staff at that campus. I’m looking forward to getting to know the parents and students at Rockenbaugh.”

Young started her career teaching fifth grade at Coppell Intermediate School in 1989 and later taught fourth grade at Wilson Elementary before serving as an independent consultant for Region X Educational Service Center.  In 1998 she became owner and vice president of her own company, SALT Productions, Inc. where she composed and developed product lyrics, choreography and teacher guide materials for Pre K-8^th grades.

She is active in the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), as well as the Texas Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development for which she is serving on the Board of Directors.

Most recently, Young was nominated by the University of North Texas as a National Aspiring Administrator and was one of seven chosen for the national award in 2012 by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). She is also a Southwest Securities Scholar Fellow.

Young and her husband Matt have two sons, Brantley, a junior and Braden, a freshman. Her contract as RES Principal will begin August 1.  Because White’s Assistant Principal Diane Fair is also retiring at the end of this school year, Young’s first order of business will be interviewing and recommending an assistant principal for Rockenbaugh.

“I want children to be excited about coming to school,” Young said. “And I want to make sure Rockenbaugh continues to be a place full of joy and fun so that students are excited to learn.”

A committee of administrators, staff and parents have also formed to conduct interviews for the principal vacancy at Carroll Senior High School. The position will be vacated by the retirement of Mike Rhodes at the end of this school year. Superintendent David Faltys said he hopes to take a CSHS candidate to the School Board for consideration on May 21.