COPE recognizes principals and assistant principals

As National Principals Month comes to a close this weekend, TWU's College of Professional Education recognizes alumni currently working as principals or assistant principals. 

This year has been like no other as principals and others throughout school districts have had to adapt to a new normal. See how some of the COPE alumni are doing it on their campus.

Amy Brandt-Bersosa
Assistant Principal
Navo Middle School
Denton ISD

Brandt-Bersosa said that, while there are differences, this school year is still going great at Navo Middle. They currently balance face-to-face learners on campus with students learning online, called connected learners. She lauds the work her teachers are doing.

“Our teachers are doing an incredible job at serving all of their students in both instructional settings.”

Bridget Ladipo
Assistant Principal
Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School
Dallas ISD

In her fifth year as the assistant principal, Ladipo welcomed back 437 students for face-to-face instruction in the fifth week of instruction while the remainder of students continued with virtual at-home instruction. Lapido said the hardest part of this year has been stressing the importance of social distancing and masks to students.

This year, one of Ladipo’s major adjustments has been transitioning from building relationships with all of her students and teachers through physical interaction.

As TWU expresses our appreciation for principals this month, Ladipo had a big thank you for her educational law course taught by Laura Trujillo-Jenks for helping her become the administrator she is today.

Dona Lumsden
Principal
Hilltop Elementary
Argyle ISD

Lumsden is in her first year as principal but has hit the ground running. She has made adjustments throughout the school year taking into account the pandemic. To start the year, she spent a Saturday painting social distancing dots on the school’s sidewalks. The school had a photo shoot of the virtual teachers. To change up the traditional Grandparent’s Day, Hilltop Elementary did a drive-through parade.

Despite pronounced differences in this school year, Lumsden says she’s doing her part to make the school year still memorable, fun, and productive for her students.

Hillary White
Assistant Principal
Vista Ridge Middle School
Keller ISD

In addition to testing, departments, etc., White also oversees COVID protocols and contact tracing in her role as Assistant Principal. While she acknowledges the challenges this school year has presented, she says, “It would not be a fun job if it wasn’t challenging.”

One of the newer challenges she faces is an increased concern that her staff is doing all they can to spend time with family and take care of their emotional health despite the larger workload.

The school’s AVID program has stood out to White this year. AVID is a program to better guide and prepare students for college. At Vista Ridge Middle this year, it merged with Advisory to become a school-wide AVID program. White is proud of the work the AVID teachers and classroom teachers have done to support the project.

Page last updated 3:45 PM, October 30, 2020