Change coming to Mann Middle School leadership as principal gets new role in Abilene ISD

Mann Middle School students will have a new principal come January, though it's one with whom they're likely familiar.

Blake Fuller, the school's instruction specialist, will step into the interim principal role at the school after the Christmas break. Current leader Kathy Walker is headed to the central administration building for a new role.

Fuller, who spent the summer as principal of the middle school's summer school program, is in his second year as instruction coordinator at the school.

An Abilene ISD and McMurry University alum, Fuller previously taught biology for eight years at Abilene High and spent a year teaching eighth-grade science at Mann before taking on the administrative role at the school.

Fuller also holds a master's degree from Lamar University in education administration.

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Walker, meanwhile, is in her seventh year leading Mann Middle.

She will become the district's data fellow, a role that will give her leadership in the Resilient Schools Support Program, the district said.

Her primary focus, the district said, will be to work directly with campus principals and instructional specialists to improve middle school student achievement in mathematics.

Before joining Mann Middle, Walker was principal of Woodson Center for Excellence for three years. In her 25-year career with the district, Walker also been principal at College Heights Elementary and served in multiple roles at Abilene High School, including chief academic officer, instructional specialist, English teacher and coach.

Walker holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from Abilene Christian University.

Superintendent David Young said finding Walker's full-time replacement begins in the spring semester with a goal of identifying her successor by April.

Timothy Chipp covers education and is general assignments reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Mann Middle principal set for bigger role with Abilene ISD come January