Forney ISD Announces New Principals for 2017-2018 School Year

Forney ISD recently announced new principals for three schools for the 2017-2018 school year.

The District announced that Dr. Pam Luttrul, currently the Principal at Lewis Elementary School, will be the new Principal at Brown Middle School. Dr. Luttrul replaces Dr. Stephen Chapman who was recently named the Coordinator of Student and Community Engagement for the District, a new position focused on building strong partnerships and working relationships with students, parents, local businesses and the community to increase opportunities for students and to enhance education programs as part of the Forney Focus 2.0.

Dr. Luttrull has 30 years of experience in education. She began her career as a Special Education Teacher in the Caddo Mills Independent School District in Caddo Mills, Texas in 1987. Over the course of her career she has been an Educational Diagnostician, a Director of Special Programs, a Director of Special Education, an Assistant Principal and a Principal at both the elementary and secondary grade levels.

Dr. Luttrull received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She earned her first Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia and her second Master’s Degree in Special Education, also from Virginia Tech University. Dr. Luttrull received her Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

Jenny Harstrom has been hired by the District to replace Dr. Luttrull at Lewis Elementary School. Harstrom, currently an Associate Principal/Academic Officer at Mabank Intermediate School in Mabank ISD, has more than 13 years of experience in education and school administration.

Harstrom began her career as a math teacher at Lyles Middle School in Garland ISD in 2004. In 2006 she moved to Maybank to be a math teacher at Mabank Junior High School. In 2009 she was named the Math Intervention Specialist at Mabank Intermediate School. She became the Associate Principal/Academic Officer for Mabank Intermediate School in 2013.

Harstrom received her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She received her teaching certifications from Texas A&M Commerce in Commerce, Texas.

The District also announced that Leslie Rader, currently the District’s English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) Learning Specialist, will be the new Principal at Crosby Elementary School. Rader replaces Jana Garner who will retire at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.

Rader has 12 years of experience in education beginning her career as a Kindergarten Teacher in Crandall ISD in Crandall, Texas in 2005. She joined Forney ISD at Rhea Elementary School in 2008 as a 1st Grade Teacher and was named the Rhea Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2010. In 2013, she began teaching 4th grade at Rhea Elementary.

In 2014 Mrs. Rader was named the Assistant Principal at Criswell Elementary and then moved to Central Administration in 2015 as the District's Elementary ELAR Specialist.

Rader received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She holds a principal certification as well as certifications in Early Childhood Education and in English as a Second Language (ESL).

All three new principals will begin at their schools at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.