In support of all BISD staff and the continued exemplary work done during this school year, BISD’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Thursday, April 28, to award an average pay raise of three percent at the midpoint for all staff along with select market pay adjustments. The raise and adjustments represents more than $6.44 million. 

For teachers working 187 days, this is an annual increase of $1,875, with the starting salary for a first-year teacher with no experience of $58,600. The teacher hiring scale also includes market adjustments for various steps. In addition, the Board requested that the hiring scale be extended from 30 years of experience to 35 years of experience. 

The Board approved a general compensation increase of three percent of the midpoint for each respective pay grade for all other employees. Also, due to hiring challenges, the Board approved selected  adjustments to the Auxiliary pay scales. The total cost for these adjustments is estimated at $643,000. 

“The Board recognizes the tremendous sacrifices and pressures our staff continue to be under since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Board President Joe Tolbert said. “By approving these raises, trustees are not only impacting next year’s income but also retirement income in the future years. The whole Board wants to say ‘Thank you’ for your service to the families of BISD.” 

Birdville ISD Superintendent Dr. Gayle Stinson announced the appointments of Mark McCanlies as principal of the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning (BCTAL), Kyle Pekurney as principal of Richland High School, and Jason Turner as principal at Smithfield Middle School. McCanlies is replacing Carol Adcock, who is retiring at the end of the 2021–22 school year; Pekurney is replacing Mark McCanlies, who was recently named principal at the BCTAL; and Turner is replacing Kyle Pekurney, who was recently named principal at Richland High School. 

McCanlies has been principal at Richland High School since 2019. Prior to Richland High School, he was principal at Richland Middle School from 2017–19, an associate principal at Richland High School from 2010–17, assistant principal at North Ridge Middle School from 2006–10, a teacher/coach at Richland High School from 1989–2006, a teacher/coach at North Richland Junior High from 1988–89, and a teacher/coach at Crockett Junior High in Odessa from 1987–1988. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. 

Kyle Pekurney has been principal at Smithfield Middle School since 2011. Prior to Smithfield Middle, he served as assistant principal at Richland High School from 2008–11 and freshman academy director at Birdville High School from 2007–08. Pekurney served as a social studies teacher and coach at North Richland, Smithfield, and Watauga middle schools between 1996–2007. 

 He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University. 

Jason Turner has been assistant principal at Smithfield Middle School since 2011. Prior to serving as assistant principal, he was a special education teacher and coach at Smithfield Middle from 2004–11. 

Turner earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and master’s degree from Lamar University. 

“It gives me great comfort knowing that I can trust three of BISD’s tenured and respected administrators to take on new leadership roles within the District,” Dr. Stinson shared. “I feel confident that Mr. McCanlies, Mr. Pekurney, and Mr. Turner will continue the tradition of excellence at these campuses for many years to come.” 

They will begin their new leadership roles in the District on July 1, 2022. 

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed Oct. 13, 2021 as Texas Education Human Resources Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the important contributions made by school staff who work in human resources. 

Human resources staff work hard each day to make sure our schools are staffed with highly qualified employees and that those employees have a good work environment. A copy of the Governor’s Proclamation is accessible on our website. 

BISD’s Human Resources staff are:  

Paige Curry—Director 

Rick Tice—Assistant Director 

Gretta Bacon—Professional Processing 

Kyndal Banks—Payroll-Absence Management System 

Billie Boles—Admin. Assistant to Director 

John Campbell—Coordinator for Secondary 

Mark Chapa—Coordinator for Auxiliary and Part-Time 

Jennifer Delgado—Admin. Assistant to Asst. Director, Elementary 

Barbara Eubank—Contracts and Service Records 

Marie Jimenez—Admin. Assistant to Coordinator, Secondary 

Karen Kearby—Admin. Assistant to Substitute office 

Belinda Martinez—Admin. Assistant to Coordinator, Auxiliary 

Anna Rosales—HR Receptionist 

Melissa Sim—Admin. Assistant to Employee Leave 

David Smith—Coordinator, Substitutes 

#WeAreBirdvilleISD #BISDShines #CelebrateTXHR 

On Thursday, June 24, Birdville ISD’s Board of Trustees announced three administrative appointments effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Julia Hyman was appointed executive director of teaching and learning, Dr. Melissa Glenn was appointed director of federal programs, and Dr. Jennifer Perry was named director of teaching and learning. 

Julia “Julie” Hyman, Ed.D., has been director of teaching and learning and advanced academics for Birdville ISD since 2019. She oversees K–12 gifted and talented programs, Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, AVID, and the Collegiate Academy of Birdville. With over 30 years of experience as a public school classroom teacher, educational consultant, and content and program coordinator, Dr. Hyman has had the honor of helping both students and teachers grow. She believes in the value of rigorous and relevant instruction with a strong foundation of literacy skills.  

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University, master’s degree from the University of North Texas, and doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. She serves as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University. 

Melissa “Missy” Glenn, Ed.D., has been coordinator of federal and state programs in Birdville ISD since 2020. Before BISD, she was superintendent of Palacios ISD from 2019–20, deputy superintendent of Kennedale ISD from 2016–19, and director of finance at Birdville ISD from 2015–16. Glenn has also been an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Arlington since 2013. 

She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Texas Christian University. 

Jennifer Perry, Ed.D., has been the executive director of instructional services of Lake Dallas ISD since 2020. She also was a principal at Lake Dallas Elementary from 2012–20, assistant principal at Lake Dallas Elementary from 2009–12, and assistant principal at Lake Dallas Intermediate from 2006–09. 

Outside of school, Perry currently serves on the board of Love For Kids, Inc. as their volunteer chair. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of North Texas, master’s degree from Tarleton State University, and doctorate from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 

At a special meeting on Tuesday, June 15, Birdville ISD’s Board of Trustees announced the appointments of Charlie Ann Lokey as principal of O.H. Stowe Elementary, and Kristi T. Strickland, Ph.D., as principal of Haltom High School. Lokey is replacing Dr. Nathan Frymark, who was named principal of Green Valley Elementary. Strickland is replacing Dr. Dion Varnado, who has accepted another position in the District. 

Charlie Ann Lokey has been curriculum coordinator at Lake Dallas ISD since 2020. She also was an assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Lake Dallas Middle School from 2017–20, and an instructional coach and campus testing coordinator at Shady Shores Elementary from 2015–17. Her teaching experience from 2007–15 includes math and teen leadership, math intervention specialist, and English/Language Arts. 

Outside of school, Lokey currently serves as a youth sports coach with the Lake Cities Youth Sports Organization.  

She earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and master’s degree from Lamar University. 

Kristi T. Strickland, Ph.D., has been the principal at Lake Dallas High School in Lake Dallas ISD since 2010. During her tenure at Lake Dallas High, she was named the Texas High School Principal of the Year in 2016 by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. 

In addition to her leadership of Lake Dallas High School, Strickland also served as an instructor at the University of North Texas (UNT) and as adjunct instructor at North Central Texas College in Denton. She serves on the advisory board of the Texas Association of Math & Science at UNT.   

Prior to Lake Dallas, she was an associate principal at Ryan High School in Denton ISD from 2001–10, and a classroom teacher at Ryan High School in Denton ISD from 1996–2001. 

A native of Haltom City, Strickland attended South Birdville Elementary (currently, Major Cheney Elementary at South Birdville) and Haltom Junior High School (currently, Haltom Middle School). 

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tarleton State University and doctorate degree from the University of North Texas. 

Birdville ISD Superintendent Dr. Darrell Brown announced the appointment of Amanda Holman as principal of David E. Smith Elementary. She is replacing Jennifer Martin who was named BISD principal at Watauga Elementary on Thursday, April 8.  

Holman has been assistant principal of David E. Smith Elementary since August 2018. Prior to joining Smith Elementary, she was an elementary math academic coach for BISD from 2017–18, and a math interventionist at Walker Creek and North Ridge elementary schools from 2014–17. Holman was a fifth- and third-grade teacher at Walker Creek and Hardeman elementary schools respectively from 2010–14.  

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Woman’s University.