Looking forward: WFISD hiring staff for new high schools opening in 2024

Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·2 min read

Bricks, mortar and construction crews aren't the only key elements to building Wichita Falls ISD's new high schools.

Students, educators and staff are crucial building blocks to make Wichita Falls Memorial High School and Wichita Falls Legacy High School more than new structures.

Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short, City Council members, other city leaders had the opportunity to get a first look at Wichita Falls Memorial High School. Wichita Falls ISD School Board President Katherine McGregor and Dr. Donny Lee, WFISD superintendent, accompanied them.
Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short, City Council members, other city leaders had the opportunity to get a first look at Wichita Falls Memorial High School. Wichita Falls ISD School Board President Katherine McGregor and Dr. Donny Lee, WFISD superintendent, accompanied them.

People, in short, will make the schools centers of learning, school spirit, athletics, the arts and more.

WFISD officials have been making preparations for some time for Memorial High and Legacy High to open their doors to their first students Aug. 15, beginning the 2024-2025 academic school.

Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short, City Council members, other city leaders had the opportunity to get a first look at Wichita Falls Memorial High School. Wichita Falls ISD School Board President Katherine McGregor and Dr. Donny Lee, WFISD superintendent, accompanied them.
Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short, City Council members, other city leaders had the opportunity to get a first look at Wichita Falls Memorial High School. Wichita Falls ISD School Board President Katherine McGregor and Dr. Donny Lee, WFISD superintendent, accompanied them.

Hiring has been at the forefront of those preparations. Here is an overview of who has been tapped to work at the new high schools.

Memorial High School

  • Laurie Kinne, principal

  • Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Salvador Montez, JROTC instructor

  • Retired Army Maj. Robert Smith, JROTC instructor

  • Marc Bindel, campus athletic coordinator, head football coach

  • Zac Jackson, theater director

  • Kevin Nguyen, orchestra director

  • Melanie Coons, choir director

  • Michael Walta, band director

  • Kathy Mickus, diagnostician

  • Julee Deeb, diagnostician

  • Amy Wardell, registrar

  • Kaitie Nolan, college and career advisor

  • Katy Young, counselor

  • Blaire Robinson, counselor

  • Sarah Lucas, counselor

  • Tabitha Eastman, counselor

  • Polly Birkhead, counselor

  • Michael Forney, assistant principal

  • Misty Speer, assistant principal

  • Kimberly Jans-Stutz, assistant principal

  • Patrick Moore, assistant principal

  • Emily Espinoza, secretary

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Legacy High School

Dr. Cody Blair, principal of Wichita Falls Legacy High School, stands in his new workplace as it's being built.
Dr. Cody Blair, principal of Wichita Falls Legacy High School, stands in his new workplace as it's being built.

  • Dr. Cody Blair, principal

  • Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Williams, JROTC instructor

  • Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Hodge, JROTC instructor

  • Retired Army Maj. David Jenson, JROTC instructor

  • Lawrence Johnson, athletics campus coordinator and head football coach

  • Jack Pittman, theatre director

  • Sarah Cook, choir director

  • Loy Studer, band and orchestra director

  • Traci Gutierrez, diagnostician

  • Rana Ward, diagnostician

  • D'Ann Delcoure, registrar

  • Jessica Dixon, college and career advisor

  • Jami Tuttle, counselor

  • Kenda Finn, counselor

  • Stephanie Schelter, counselor

  • Kristin Howard, counselor

  • Alisha Crouch, counselor

  • Leslie Baily, counselor

  • Brittany Bailey, assistant principal

  • Nicholas Mims, assistant principal

  • Tami Davis, assistant principal

  • Shannon Cunningham, assistant principal

  • Troy Farris, assistant principal

  • Jessica Garcia, secretary

Wichita Falls Legacy High School's counseling team got a first look at their new campus about a month ago.
Wichita Falls Legacy High School's counseling team got a first look at their new campus about a month ago.

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Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFISD prepares to open new high schools by filling positions