LISD Superintendent Dr. Don Heseman recently announced several staff transitions following the retirement of Donna Pugh, Director of Curriculum & Special Programs.
“As we continue working to provide the very best for our students, I want to take a moment to explain several recent staff transitions and the thinking behind them,” said Dr. Heseman. “With Donna Pugh's retirement, we have developed our succession plan for the Curriculum & Instruction Department.
“In the past, this work was shared across multiple roles, including our instructional specialists, Katie Peña (26-27 Middle School Principal at Sundown ISD) and Gracie Ruiz, who will be transitioned to the role of Assistant Principal at South Elementary. Both have done outstanding work and have very bright futures in campus leadership. Moving forward, we are shifting from a broader, “shotgun” approach to a more focused and precise model.”
According to the press release, changes being made include Joanna Runkles to serve as Director of Elementary Curriculum & Instruction; Dr. Matthew Birdwell to serve as Director of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction; and James Daniel will move to the role of Capitol principal. The search for a new Levelland Middle School principal and assistant principal will begin immediately.
“You may be wondering why we would move two strong principals from campuses, especially when one has just begun impactful work at the middle school,” said Dr. Heseman.
“The answer is simple: we must be prepared for what’s coming next. Public education is entering a period of significant change. With updates to accountability systems, College, Career, & Military Readiness (CCMR) expectations, and the redesign of STAAR (Student Success Tool 'SST'), the way districts are evaluated is shifting. As Texas Education Agency (TEA) updates how schools are measured, we must be proactive - not reactive.”
According to Dr. Heseman, Runkles and Dr. Birdwell have been asked to take on an enormous responsibility, including preparing the district for evolving accountability systems, helping align instruction to new expectations, and ensure the school is positioned to succeed under new rules.
“This work is not just about compliance — it’s about opportunity,” said Dr. Huseman. “When the game changes, we want to be ready to win. Changes like this is never easy, especially when it involves leaders who have made a strong impact on their campuses. However, I am confident these moves will strengthen our entire district and better support both our staff and our students.
“The reality is this: decisions made at the state level are reshaping how we are measured and how we must perform. We do not control those decisions — but we do control how we respond. We will respond by preparing, adapting, and leading.”