Dr. Dana T. Bedden, IISD superintendent of schools, has announced the following two central administrative staff appointments and four principal appointments for the 2011-2012 school year:
Cheryl Jennings, Ed.D., division director of elementary teaching and learning, has been appointed assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. Jennings joined Irving ISD in 1979 as physical education and fifth grade teacher at Barton Elementary School. She then taught second grade at Johnston Elementary School before moving to Good Elementary School to serve first as assistant principal and then as principal. She became the district’s division director of elementary teaching and learning in 2002. During that time, Jennings had the additional duties of serving one semester as interim director of secondary mathematics and one year as interim director of middle school teaching and learning. Jennings did undergraduate work at Mountain View College in Dallas before completing her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and English at Texas Woman’s University. She then earned a Master of Education degree and later a doctorate in educational administration from the University of North Texas, where she also has been an adjunct professor of personnel administration and K-12 curriculum and instruction.
Steven Wurtz, Ed.D., principal at Schulze Elementary School, has been appointed director of elementary teaching and learning, filling the vacancy left by Jennings. Wurtz began his career as a teacher with the IISD Language Development Center in 2000. In 2001, he became fourth and fifth grade bilingual and gifted and talented students at Good Elementary School. Wurtz was promoted to assistant principal at Keyes Elementary School in 2003. He joined Grand Prairie ISD as principal at Austin Elementary School in 2007, but returned to IISD as principal at Schulze in 2009. Wurtz has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with German minor from Brigham Young University; a Master of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from University of Texas at Arlington, and Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Dallas Baptist University.
Yanira Oliveras-Ortiz, former principal at Good Elementary School, has been appointed principal at Brandenburg Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Pam Meredith. Oliveras began her career as kindergarten teacher in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, in 1994. She moved to Irving in 1997 to join the staff at Good as bilingual second grade teacher, then taught bilingual third grade beginning in 2000. In 2001, Oliveras became elementary math coordinator, and returned to Good as assistant principal in 2002. She served as principal at Good from 2007-2010. Oliveras earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Penn State University and Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from Penn State. She has also completed 78 doctoral hours through Penn State.
Stephanie Lee, principal at Clifton Early Childhood School, has been appointed principal at Lively Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Patty Notgrass. Lee began her career as special education teacher at Britain Elementary School in 2000, then became third grade teacher at Britain in 2001. She became fourth grade teacher at Britain in 2003, then was promoted to assistant principal at Townsell Elementary School in 2006. Lee was appointed as principal at Clifton in 2009. She earned a Bachelor of Science in communications from East Texas State University and Master of Education in educational leadership from Texas Woman’s University.
Toscha Reeves, vice principal at de Zavala Middle School, has been appointed principal at John Haley Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Robyn Bowling. Reeves began her career in 1996 as reading teacher at Crockett Middle School. She served as librarian at Crockett from 2002-2007, then as librarian at de Zavala in 2007-2008. Reeves became vice principal at de Zavala in 2008. She earned an Associate of Science degree from Mountain View College and Bachelor of Science in Education from Dallas Baptist University. Reeves earned a Master of Informational Studies degree from Texas Woman’s University.
Lariza Liner, vice principal at Houston Middle School, has been appointed as principal at Schulze Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by Wurtz. Liner began her career in 2003 as summer school ESL kindergarten teacher in Plano ISD. From 2003-2005, she served as academic specialist at Stinson Elementary School in Plano ISD, also leading the PASAR Program and conducting after-school tutoring at Stinson. She taught third grade in Plano during the 2005-2006 school year, and joined Irving ISD as vice principal at Austin Middle School in 2006. Liner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies from University of Houston and Master of Education degree in educational administration from University of North Texas.
