2026 TASSP Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year

The TASSP Principal Image Committee reviewed the applications and selected three finalists in each category.  Finalist interviews were recently conducted, and the Committee selected the individuals listed below for these prestigious awards.

Kara Lea Deardorff, Byron Nelson HS,  Northwest ISD, Region 11
TASSP HS Principal of the Year

Dr. Janelle Muhammad, Rancier MS, Killeen ISD, Region 12
TASSP MS Principal of the Year

Andrea Garza, United HS, United ISD, Region 1
TASSP HS Asst. Principal of the Year

Tasha Nikl, Venus MS, Venus ISD, Region 11
TASSP MS Asst. Principal of the Year

STATE FINALISTS:
Dr. Sarah Hernandez, TLCA San Angelo HS, TX Leadership Public Schools ISD, Region 15: Finalist HS POY
Dr. Justin James, Forney Freshman Center, Forney ISD, Region 10: Finalist HS POY
Sally Bratton, Spring Branch MS, Comal ISD, Region 20: Finalist MS POY
K'rin Young, Merkel MS, Merkel ISD, Region 14: Finalist MS POY
JoRhon Calhoun, North Shore HS, Galena Park ISD, Region 4: Finalist HS APOY
Robert Quach, McKinney HS, McKinney ISD, Region 10: Finalist HS APOY
Jennifer Blanco, George Washington MS, United ISD, Region 1: Finalist MS APOY
Amber Godby, Crockett MS, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, Region 18: Finalist MS APOY

Congratulations to the following for being selected by their colleagues in their respective regions as the
2025-2026 Region Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year:

Region 1 • Dr. Jaime Serna - Middle School POY at Elias Longoria MS - Edinburg Consolidated ISD
Region 1 • Jennifer Blanco - Middle School APOY at George Washington MS - United ISD
Region 1 • Andrea Garza - High School APOY at United HS - United ISD ISD
Region 1 • Armando Salazar - High School POY at Lyndon B. Johnson HS - United ISD
Region 2 • Sheree Bogany - High School POY at A.C. Jones HS - Beeville ISD
Region 2 • Connie Tierney - Middle School APOY at Tuloso-Midway MS - Tuloso-Midway ISD
Region 2 • Krystal Watson - High School APOY at Harold T Branch for CTE - Corpus Christi ISD
Region 2• Jenifer Guerra - Middle School POY at Tom Browne MS - Corpus Christi ISD
Region 3 • Mason Briscoe - IV - High School POY at Hallettsville HS - Hallettsville ISD
Region 3 • Claire Klinkerman - Middle School APOY at Howell MS - Victoria ISD
Region 3 • Shelby Taylor - Middle School POY at Goliad MS - Goliad ISD
Region 3 • Jeff Orsak - High School APOY at El Campo HS - El Campo ISD
Region 4 • Dr. J.J. Roberts - High School POY at Willow Ridge HS - Fort Bend ISD
Region 4 • JoRhon Calhoun - High School APOY at North Shore HS - Galena Park ISD
Region 4 • Lori Wyatt - Middle School POY at Albright MS - Alief ISD
Region 5 • Kristina Wiedman - Middle School POY at Warren Jr. HS - Warren ISD
Region 5 • Meagan Lee - Middle School APOY at Buna Jr. HS - Buna ISD
Region 5 • Amber Hawk - High School POY at Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS - Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD
Region 5 • Paul Goebel - High School APOY at West Brook HS - Beaumont ISD
Region 6 • Dr. Jarret Hostas - Middle School APOY at Stockton Jr. HS - Conroe ISD
Region 6 • Michael Guillen - High School APOY at Porter HS - New Caney ISD
Region 6 • Gifford Whitehead - Middle School POY at Oak Hills Jr. HS - Montgomery ISD
Region 6 • Tim Williams - High School POY at Lake Creek HS - Montgomery ISD
Region 7 • Annette Johnson - High School APOY at Pine Tree HS - Pine Tree ISD
Region 7 • Shanequa Redd-Dorsey - High School POY at Alto HS - Alto ISD
Region 7 • Clayton Farrell - Middle School POY at Hallsville Jr. HS - Hallsville ISD
Region 7 • Alec Tatum - Middle School APOY at Jacksonville MS - Jacksonville ISD
Region 8 • Shelly Anderson - Middle School POY at Cooper Jr. HS - ISD
Region 8 • Kelli Glenn - High School APOY at Mount Pleasant HS - Mount Pleasant ISD
Region 8• Brian Nation - High School POY at Hughes Springs HS - Hughes Springs ISD
Region 8 • Jeremy Adams - Middle School APOY at Paul Pewitt Jr. HS - Pewitt CISD
Region 9 • Carl Pennington - High School APOY at City View Jr./Sr. HS - City View ISD
Region 9 • Dr. Cynthia Jackson - High School POY at Vernon High School - Vernon ISD
Region 9 • Will Johnson - Middle School APOY at Jacksboro MS - Jacksboro ISD
Region 9 • Amy Murphey - Middle School POY at Nocona MS - Nocona ISD
Region 10 • Dr. Justin James - High School POY at Forney Freshman Center - Forney ISD
Region 10 • Robert Quach - High School APOY at McKinney HS - McKinney ISD
Region 10 • Jeffrey VanMeter - Middle School APOY at Caddo Mills MS - Caddo Mills ISD
Region 11 • Dr. Shana Moore - High School APOY at Juan Seguin HS - Arlington ISD
Region 11 • Kara Lea Deardorff - High School POY at Byron Nelson HS - Northwest ISD
Region 11 • Courtney McClendon - Middle School POY at STEAM MS - Burleson ISD
Region 11 • Tasha Nikl - Middle School APOY at Venus MS - Venus ISD
Region 12 • Dr. Janelle Muhammad - Middle School POY at Rancier MS - Killeen ISD
Region 12 • Claudia Knox - High School POY at Belton HS - Belton ISD
Region 12 • Kelly Thompson - Middle School APOY at Copperas Cove Jr. HS - Copperas Cove ISD
Region 12 • Dr. Nancy Dominguez - High School APOY at Mart HS - Mart ISD
Region 13 • Patrick Hinson - High School POY at Marble Falls HS - Marble Falls ISD
Region 13 • Haley Wheeler - Middle School APOY at Marble Falls MS - Marble Falls ISD
Region 13 • Megan Sauber - High School APOY at Liberty Hill HS - Liberty Hill ISD
Region 13 • Philip Clayton - Middle School POY at Pflugerville MS - Pflugerville ISD
Region 14 • Emme Siburt - High School POY at Abilene HS - Abilene ISD
Region 14 • Julie Parrott - Middle School APOY at Madison MS - Abilene ISD
Region 14 • Michael Sanders - High School APOY at Cooper HS - Abilene ISD
Region 14 • K'rin Young - Middle School POY at Merkel MS - Merkel ISD
Region 15 • Dr. Sarah Hernandez - High School POY at TLCA San Angelo HS
Region 15 • Crystal King - High School APOY at Central High School - San Angelo ISD
Region 16 • Kirk Kear - Middle School POY at Canyon Jr. HS - Canyon ISD
Region 16 • Mika Ostler - Middle School APOY at Canyon Jr. HS - Canyon ISD
Region 16 • Clay Jones - High School POY at Pampa HS - Pampa ISD
Region 16 • Haley Villarreal - High School APOY at Tascosa HS - Amarillo ISD
Region 17 • Dr. Marshal Herron - High School APOY at Idalou HS - Idalou ISD
Region 17 • Jennifer Verett - Middle School APOY at TerraVista MS - Frenship ISD
Region 17 • Greg Hernandez - High School POY at Frenship HS - Frenship ISD
Region 18 • Amber Godby - Middle School APOY at Crockett MS - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
Region 18• Rebecca Medina - High School POY at Viola M. Coleman HS - Midland ISD
Region 18 • Johna Straw - High School APOY at Permian HS - Ector County ISD
Region 18 • David Lowder - Middle School POY at Andrews MS - Andrews ISD
Region 19 • Rachel Peña - Middle School APOY at Fabens MS - Fabens ISD
Region 19 • Christopher Nwihim - High School APOY at Socorro HS - Socorro ISD
Region 19 • Dr. Theresa Hentges - High School POY at Options HS - Socorro ISD
Region 19 • Stephen Fernandez - Middle School POY at Col. John O. Ensor MS - Socorro ISD
Region 20 • Sally Bratton - Middle School POY at Spring Branch MS - Comal ISD
Region 20 • Brandie Guzman - High School POY at Tom Moore HS - Ingram ISD
Region 20 • Jennifer Schulze-Aguirre - High School APOY at Brandeis HS - Northside ISD
Region 20 • Diana Clark - Middle School APOY at Krueger MS - Northeast ISD

Congratulations to all our Award Winners

These Region Winners are able to apply for State Honors