Staff report
A Texas State graduate and Kyle resident has been selected to be the fourth principal to guide Lehman High.
Hays CISD Superintendent Michael McKie announced Tuesday the selection of Denisha Jackson-Presley as Lehman High’s next principal, according to a district press release.
Jackson-Presley, who is currently serving as principal of the Lockhart High Freshman M.L Cisneros Campus, will take over for Michelle Chae, who accepted a position within Schertz-Cibolo-University City ISD last month.
Jackson-Presley began her career as an English teacher at Nolan Middle School in Killeen ISD in 1999, according to the release.
The following year, she began teaching high school English in Lockhart.
During her career, Jackson-Presley has spent eight years teaching high school students in the classroom and an additional eight years as a high school campus administrator.
“As principal, I work for you,” said Jackson-Presley in her first email to Lehman parents and staff members. “I am committed to building on strengths and developing strong partnerships with you as we continue to grow a learning community that is completely centered around kids. We will honor the work of the past and move forward to the work of the future.”
According to the district’s release, Jackson-Presley was selected, in part, based upon a customized principal profile developed after meetings with campus teachers and parents.
Jackson-Presley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Education, both from Texas State University – San Marcos.
Jackson-Presley has lived in Kyle for eight years and says she is “ecstatic” about the opportunity to serve in the community that she calls home, according to the release.
One of her first duties at the campus will be to work closely with all stakeholders to develop a shared vision of high expectations and 360-degree comprehensive action plan to protect and grow the LOBO brand, according to the release.
Jackson-Presley’s inaugural letter to Lehman Parents
Dear Parents of Lehman High School:
I am honored to be the principal of Lehman High School. Surrounded by education my entire life, I was in the 6th grade when I named my mission to serve as an educator. Acquiring both a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters of Education from Texas State University – San Marcos, I will bring with me seventeen years of experience in the educational field. I began my career at Nolan Middle School in Killeen ISD and spent the next sixteen years working in high schools at Lockhart ISD and San Marcos CISD. It was between these two districts that I shared eight years in the classroom teaching 9th – 12th grade English and eight years as an administrator. My family and I moved to Kyle in 2007 – a community we continue to hold in high regard.
Lehman High School has experienced tremendous growth during the last few years, and it is paramount that providing academic excellence and enriched opportunities for students is a priority. As principal, I work for you. I am committed to building on strengths and developing strong partnerships with you as we continue to grow a learning community that is completely centered around kids. We will honor the work of the past and move forward to the work of the future.
I want to hear from you. In the coming months you can expect an invitation to engage in conversations as you and I partner to devise a shared vision and action plan with the purpose of protecting and growing the Lobo brand!
Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to continuing the work of excellence in academic performance and enrichment opportunities for all students at Lehman High School and serving in the community that I call home.
