The Mansfield ISD community will be welcoming new principals for the 2020-21 school year. Travis Moore, Sharlonda Kennedy, Ashley Alloway, Adam Bender and Jocelyn Hobdy are current employees who have been appointed to the new roles.

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Travis Moore is now the principal of James Coble Middle School. He was the principal of Danny Jones Middle School for the past 12 years before taking on this new position. 

The 25-year educator started his career in the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana and later moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. His area of focus has been mathematics, science and working with high-risk populations of students.

“My hope is to work collaboratively with parents, staff and students for the betterment of our children at Coble,” said Moore. “I have a passion for helping students to learn, and servant leadership is one of my personal core values.”

Moore is taking over for Winston Gipson who is now the district’s director of campus support.

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Sharlonda Kennedy will be taking over as the leader of Danny Jones Middle School. She most recently was the academic associate principal at Lake Ridge High School.

Kennedy taught sixth-grade math for a couple of years at a neighboring district before serving as a math instructional coach for two years. She was also the dean of instruction at an all-boys school and is excited to bring her love of academics and people to her new campus.

“My goal as the new principal is to provide a great educational experience where students can excel academically and socially,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy added that she is a collaborative leader and looks forward to meeting the Danny Jones community.

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Ashley Alloway is the new principal of Lake Ridge High School. She started working as a social studies teacher and coach at the campus in 2012 when it first opened.

After working at a neighboring district as an assistant principal, Alloway returned to Mansfield ISD as the academic associate principal at Mansfield High School. She served in that capacity for the last two years before being named principal of Lake Ridge High School.

“It feels great to be coming home to where it all started for me in Mansfield ISD,” said the 19-year educator. “Lake Ridge is a great campus already, but I want to continue the tradition of excellence that has been established and take the campus to the next level. We can do that by ensuring that it is a positive environment, where students and faculty feel safe to learn and grow.”

The principal position became available after former principal Brandon Johnson accepted the district role of area superintendent.  

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Adam Bender has been named the principal of Kenneth Davis Elementary School. He has been the assistant principal of Carol Holt Elementary School for the last three years.

Bender came to Mansfield ISD as a sixth-grade math teacher at Mary Orr Intermediate School. He later moved into campus administration. He is passionate about education because it allows him to give back to the community and positively impact the lives of students.

“My goal as the principal of Kenneth Davis Elementary will be to build positive relationships with students, staff and families in order to create a safe school environment with a shared vision of educational excellence,” said Bender. 

He is in his 13th year of education.

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Jocelyn Hobdy will serve as the new principal of Cora Spencer Elementary School. She was most recently the assistant principal at the campus.

The Texas native taught in the Houston area in 2003 and later moved to Mansfield ISD to help open Anna Daulton Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher. She has served 12 years in administration and is happy to serve in her new position at Spencer Elementary School.

“I am committed to seeing students become their best selves,” said Hobdy. “By helping teachers and staff be their best, they will give their best. My goal is to develop our staff so they can help develop our students; and in this way, we all help to transform and grow our community.”

Hobdy added that she is committed to carrying on the district's mission of inspiring and educating students to be productive citizens.

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The five new campus administrators have been approved by the MISD Board of Trustees. They will be formally introduced to the board members at a future in-person meeting.