Montgomery Independent School District

The MISD Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 23. You can watch the video and read the recap below. 

At the April school board meeting, trustees approved the selection of new principals at two Montgomery ISD campuses, and two new members of the district’s senior leadership team.    

Jewel Tucker will be the new principal at Madeley Ranch Elementary and Julie Roth has been named principal at Montgomery Junior High School. Albert Rosales-Korrea will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations, and Brad Mansfield was named Chief Facilities and Operations Officer.  

“Having served the past two years as the assistant principal at Madeley Ranch, we believe Mrs. Tucker’s experience and established relationships with staff and families will make for a smooth leadership transition,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “We are confident she will continue building the strong culture that is such a big part of the Madeley Ranch school community.”  

Tucker brings to this position 15 years of experience as an educator. She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Her work at Madeley Ranch has been recognized as outstanding, particularly in her ability to foster a collaborative school culture that sets high expectations for students and staff.  

“I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead at Madeley Ranch Elementary and look forward to continuing to build on the foundation of excellence that is already in place at the school,” Tucker said. “I have loved serving Madeley Ranch and I’m so proud of what our students and staff have been able to accomplish.  Having this opportunity to lead this amazing campus is truly an honor.” 

Tucker succeeds Shelby Smith as Madeley Ranch principal. Smith, who has served in the role since 2018, was named principal at MISD’s new Creekside Elementary School in December 2023. Creekside Elementary, constructed as part of the district’s 2022 bond package, will open in August 2024.

“Mrs. Tucker’s leadership style and the culture she has helped to develop at Madeley Ranch made her an excellent candidate for this role,” MISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, Carrie Fitzpatrick said.  “She is a leader with a servant’s heart and we are confident that under her guidance, Madeley Ranch teachers and students will continue to achieve excellence for years to come.”  

New Montgomery Junior High principal, Julie Roth, currently serves as the associate principal at Montgomery High School.   

“We are thrilled for Mrs. Roth to become the new leader at Montgomery Junior High and believe that her knowledge of what lies ahead for students at the high school level will greatly benefit staff and students at the junior high,” Ruffin said.  “She is a skilled communicator and valued for her ability to partner with families to create excellent learning opportunities for every student.“ 

Roth brings to this position two decades of experience as an educator.  She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, student success coordinator and administrator. She has served at Montgomery High School since 2022.  

“I am so excited for this opportunity to lead at Montgomery Junior High,” Roth said.  “I love being part of this community and I am especially proud to be a Bear! Working at the high school has given me a real appreciation for the ways educators can help prepare kids for their next chapter, focusing on their development both as students and as young adults.” 

Roth succeeds Angie Chapman as Montgomery Junior High principal.  Chapman, a 26-year public education veteran, is retiring at the end of this school year.   

“Mrs. Roth is a proven, well-respected leader in our district who consistently demonstrates a passion for seeing that all students learn,” Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Dr. Chris Summers said.  “She will be able to make strong connections and develop meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families. I am excited about the future of Montgomery Junior High under her capable leadership.”  

Albert Rosales-Korrea will be the district’s new Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations.  

“With two decades experience in public relations and communication, Albert has built a reputation as an experienced and trusted spokesperson, an expert in communication and in building community partnerships,” Ruffin said.  “He is skilled in planning and executing a district communications plan, managing and monitoring social media campaigns, and serving as the liaison for district communication. I am confident his experience will bring immediate value to the district’s communication efforts and our leadership team.” 

Rosales-Korrea’s career spans a variety of fields, including education, medical, city government and business. His experience in public education includes service as the Chief Communications Officer for Centennial School District in Portland, Oregon and Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio. He also worked as the Multimedia and Bilingual Communication Coordinator for Spring ISD, Communications Officer for Hidalgo ISD, and the Multicultural Outreach Coordinator and Radio Producer for Austin ISD. Rosales-Korrea has also worked as an international communications consultant.   

“As I step into the role of Assistant Superintendent of Communications, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate closely with district leaders, students, families, and community,” Rosales-Korrea said. “Together with the talented communications team, we’ll embark on a journey of innovation, engagement, and inclusive storytelling, ensuring that every voice is heard and celebrated.” 

Brad Mansfield will be the new Chief Facilities and Operations Officer.   

“Brad brings to the role extensive experience as a leader in public education,” Ruffin said.  “In addition to his background supporting and supervising transportation, maintenance, and child nutrition departments, he is skilled in collaborating with construction contractors on behalf of a school district. He also has considerable experience in school safety and security and served campuses as a principal and assistant principal. We believe the breadth of his experience in public education will serve MISD well as he takes on the role of Chief Facilities and Operations Officer, as a member of our district leadership team.”  

Mansfield is a 26-year educator, with over two decades experience in a leadership capacity, primarily in Leander ISD and Liberty Hill ISD. Since 2021, he has served as the Executive Director of Student Services in Willis ISD.

“I am grateful and excited to join the Montgomery ISD team,” Mansfield said. “I look forward to working on building strong relationships with all stakeholders in this wonderful district. There is so much to be proud of in Montgomery ISD and so much to look forward to as we grow together.” 

As part of the meeting, the MISD board took time to recognize the MISD Class of 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians. Principals from each high school shared accolades about each student and the wonderful ways their success has contributed to the culture on their campus.

From Montgomery High School, Brooklyn Lowe is the Valedictorian and Lucas Hyman is the Salutatorian.  Lake Creek High School’s Valedictorian is Brayden Adams and the Salutatorian is Grace Nichols.   

The board also recognized members of MISD’s Project Impact, a mentoring program that matches community members with MISD students to increase positive relationship building and support for students.  

“We are so grateful for the support of our Project Impact mentors,” Trustee Linda Porten said.  “They consistently invest their time to support the academic and emotional growth of the students participating in the program. MISD is fortunate to have these wonderful volunteers who help set our students up for success.” 

The board also approved purchases for items included in the district’s 2022 bond referendum, including new playground equipment at Steward Creek Elementary, new lighting and technology upgrades at Stewart Creek, Madeley Ranch and Lone Star Elementaries, and a chiller upgrade at Oak Hills Junior High School.    

Finally, Dr. Mark Ruffin shared a reflection of his first 100 days as MISD Superintendent.  Since January, Dr. Ruffin has attended more than 100 meetings and events to learn about the people and culture of the school district.  He also surveyed parents, students and staff members to get their input about MISD.  

“The surveys were designed to dig a little deeper into the themes that emerged during my initial meetings,” Ruffin said. “The survey data supported the collective belief that MISD’s people are its most valuable asset, and that in the face of growth, our people want to maintain our small-town feel. Our larger community is incredibly supportive of the school district and wants to see our students succeed.” 

Ruffin identified five key conclusions about MISD and specific growth opportunities in each of these areas: investing in MISD’s people, addressing funding challenges and opportunities, celebrating and growing MISD’s climate and culture, aligning academic opportunities for students districtwide, and focusing advocacy efforts with the support of MISD stakeholders.  

“These will be the areas we will focus on moving forward,” Ruffin said. “While there are challenges, I am incredibly optimistic about the future of the district, and the opportunities we have to make a difference in the lives of our kids. I look forward to continuing to build relationships and working together to give our students a premier learning experience.”