District Names 2022 Principals of the Year

Disponible en:

Principals LaDon Ward and Christi Van Wassenhove were surprised after learning they were named District Principals of the Year. District leaders celebrated the winners at their campuses on February 15.

The Aldine ISD 2022 Principals of the Year are LaDon Ward from Goodman Elementary School and Christi Van Wassenhove from Aldine Middle School. The school leaders were selected for numerous reasons including innovative leadership and collaboration to drive improvement. They will represent Aldine ISD at the Region 4 Education Service Center (ESC) Principal Recognition Ceremony in April. 

Each year, Region 4 has the honor of recognizing the leadership, service, and dedication of two campus administrators — one elementary and one secondary — from each of the districts.

Elementary Principal of the Year

LaDon Ward, has more than 30 years of experience in education, including 8 years as a principal. Ward currently leads Goodman Elementary School, one of the districts Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) schools. Before serving as a principal at Goodman Elementary, she served as a school counselor at Calvert Elementary School (2002-2007),an assistant principal at Dunn Elementary School (2007-2013) and an assistant principal and principal at Conley Elementary School (2014-2019). Ward was recognized for her impactful leadership both on her campus and at the district level. She serves as a role model and exemplifies the Aldine ISD Leadership Definition, which is to inspire, connect and impact. 

Secondary Principal of the Year

Christi Van Wassenhove has more than 24 years of experience in education. Wassenhove joined Aldine ISD in 1996 as an English/Language Arts teacher at Hambrick Middle School (1996-2006). She has served as a dyslexia and irlen specialist and coordinator and an instructional reading skills specialist at Hambrick Middle School, (2006-2010). She was also an assistant principal (AP) at Escamilla Intermediate School (2010-2012), an AP at Stehlik Intermediate School (2012-213) before she was named principal of Stehlik Intermediate School (2013-2018) and principal of Aldine Middle School in 2018.

Ward and Wassenhove learned of their wins during surprise visits from District leaders. The group was led by Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Chief of Schools Dr. Katy Roede, Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Javier Villarreal,  Executive Director of Employee Quality Robin Williams, and their School Assistant Superintendents Patricia Rodriguez and LaTonia Amerson. 

Rookie Principal of the Year

District leaders teamed up with Holdsworth in Austin, TX to pull-off a special surprise for Rookie Principal of the Year Charles Land. Rookie Principal of the Year was selected based on how the rookie principal has made an impact on their campus, overcome challenges, and showed significant growth. Land was in Austin for leadership training at the Holdsworth Center. Once Holdsworth leaders were informed about the celebration they jumped in to ensure Land’s celebration was just as exciting as the others. District leaders logged on to the hybrid Holdsworth Zoom meeting and were introduced as special guests. Participants were told there was a special announcement before breaking for lunch. Superintendent Dr. Goffney appeared on the screen, along with Nimitz Ninth Grade School cheerleaders and drumline to congratulate Land on being selected as the 2022 Rookie Principal of the Year. 

Aldine ISD will recognize Land, Ward, and Wassenhove during the Educators of the Year Breakfast on March 11 at the Hyatt Regency Intercontinental Airport Hotel.