2024 Principal of the Year

Alicia Iwasko was born and raised in Mexico, the daughter of two educators.  Prior to relocating to Dallas in 2008, Iwasko served as an English as a Second Language teacher for various school levels. Im the Dallas Independent School District, Iwasko served as a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Silberstein Elementary School before becoming an instructional coach.  After serving the first cohort of ACE campuses at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, Iwasko was promoted to the role of Assistant Principal at Edward Titche Elementary.  During her tenure, Titche went from an F school to a B school in only one year, as measured by the District and the State.  In 2018, as a fresh graduate from SMU with her second master’s degree in education, Iwasko returned to Blanton Elementary as Principal. Iwasko is a dedicated educator very committed to equity and excellence. She believes in education because she knows it is the best way to empower students with the determination to work hard for their goals and maximize their potential regardless of their cultural background, socioeconomic status, or zip code. She is committed to enhancing the trajectory that statistics may have set as expectations for the students and educators in her charge. Daily, she strives to live up to the school’s motto: Labor Omnia Vincit which translates to “Hard Work Conquers All.”

David Lee has been part of the Dallas Independent School District for 17 years and is in his fifth year serving as principal of Hector P. Garcia Middle School. A graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and minor in Asian Studies, he started his career as a Dallas ISD alternative certification intern in 2007. At Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Lee was a science teacher, department chair, and master teacher before taking on roles as TTIPS grant coordinator at A. Maceo Smith High School and assistant principal at Kimball High School. He was able to transform Kimball’s STEM Magnet program in partnership with the Mountain View College engineering department, allowing students to take 30 hours of dual credit courses and obtaining their level 2 certification in mechatronics. This Kimball program later developed into the Kimball E-Tech collegiate pathway in mechatronics. As principal at Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Lee has had the privilege of being part of the transformation of Garcia leading the school from a C to a B state-rated campus with three TEA distinctions. Lee has turned-around school culture, increased parental involvement, and transformed Garcia M.S. to be an International Baccalaureate choice school and the first comprehensive IB Middle Years Programme in Oak Cliff. Garcia Middle School now ranks among the top middle school in MAP growth in both reading and math, and the school climate ranks in the top 10 of secondary schools in the district. Lee was honored with master principal designation for his accomplishments. Lee reminds his students everyday of Garcia’s core beliefs: high expectation, respect, and his favorite, kindness.

Derek Thomas is a Dallas Independent School District product who grew up in Pleasant Grove and graduated from Skyline High School.  He went on to receive his Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of North Texas and worked as a supervisor in the financial industry and as a business owner before pursuing his passion for being an educator.  As a teacher, Thomas first served as a 6^th and 8^th grade math educator at Fred F. Florence Middle School.  While there, he was part of a team of educators that accelerated math passing percentage scores by 28% in one year.  After four years of teaching at Florence, he became a Math Instructional Coach at Lenore Kirk Hall Elementary before returning to the Young Men's Leadership Academy at Fred Florence in a coaching role.   After completing his Master’s degree in Education Leadership at Southern Methodist University, Thomas served as an Assistant Principal at Annie Webb Blanton and SOLAR Preparatory for Boys before being named principal at Adelle Turner Elementary.   While at Adelle Turner Elementary he was able to secure a $50,000 grant toward STEM development on the campus as well as receive the honor of being the adopted campus of the Dallas Mavericks.  One year later, he would then return to serve as the principal of Solar Preparatory School for Boys. Mr. Thomas believes in building scholars academically but has a major focus on character, culture, and community.  He understands that one person may start a movement, but a community maintains it.  He is looking forward to building a community of scholars, educators, parents, and business partners that are about developing the whole child and assuring that ALL scholars can be successful, no matter their backgrounds.

Chandra Hooper-Barnett is currently in her second year as principal of Woodrow Wilson High School. She started her education career in the Dallas Independent School District at Pearl C. Anderson Middle School 22 years ago, where she was a multiyear Teacher of the Year recipient teaching Reading to Special Education students. Always an advocate for potentially marginalized student groups, Barnett transitioned to Lincoln as Assistant Principal over Special Education and Athletics. After two years, she moved to J.L. Long Middle School as Assistant Principal and later became the principal for seven years. At Long Barnett continued to develop the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, which empowered students to learn through inquiry, as they were exposed to a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally, and globally.  Personally, Barnett is Dallas ISD Proud, having attended R. C. Buckner Elementary School, E. B. Comstock Middle School, and Skyline High School before graduating from J. M. Hanks High School in El Paso, Texas. Barnett has raised three amazing children with her husband: William 19, VonKeith 23 and Whitney 23, two of which are Dallas ISD graduates.  Barnett holds a Bachelor of Social Work from East Texas State University and a Master of Education in Special Education. A true lifelong-learner, Barnett earned a second Master’s in Educational Administration, while concurrently attaining her Texas Superintendent certification. Barnett believes teachers are the cornerstone of our society, providing unique opportunities for students to learn invaluable skills. She dedicates every day to ensure every student is encouraged to realize their full potential through education, allowing them to reach new heights and achieve greater success.

Principal Lakisha Merritt serves as a beacon of educational excellence, leading with distinction at the Martin Weiss School of Leadership within the Dallas Independent School District. Recognized for her trailblazing leadership, Merritt's commitment to student success and empowerment is evident. With an impressive 26-year tenure in the Dallas Independent School District, she epitomizes Dallas ISD pride. Merritt's unwavering dedication to lifelong learning is showcased by her academic achievements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Texas Arlington and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from North Texas University. A fervent learner, she actively participated in the Harvard National Institute for Urban Leaders and is currently engaged in action-research through the Holdsworth Leadership Academy. Merritt consistently seeks ways to enhance her leadership skills and contribute to educational advancements Her list of leadership accolades is extensive, including recognition as a Dallas ISD 2003-2005 Master Teacher, a distinguished elementary principal leading with the highest combined Domain 1 scores on STAAR, Dallas ISD 2023-2024 Master Principal, Carter Vertical Team VIP Principal, and Dallas ISD 2023-2024 Region IV Principal of the Year. Additionally, her campus is recognized as a 2023-2024 Texas Gold Ribbon School. Under Principal Merritt's transformative leadership, the Martin Weiss Elementary School has achieved the prestigious status of a Leader in Me "Lighthouse School," a distinction granted to only 10% of the 6000 Leader in Me schools globally. Her legacy is firmly established as an exceptional educational leader dedicated to both student success and institutional excellence.

With 18 successful years as a leader in the Dallas Independent School District, Umoja Turner has served for the past four years as the founding principal at Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy.   Turner is a distinguished educator and visionary leader who holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Tougaloo College and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Turner's 28-year education career spans a rich tapestry of roles, including teacher, math curriculum specialist, math curriculum and assessment supervisor, assistant principal, principal, and principal mentor. Under his guidance, W. A. Blair achieved a commendable TEA rating of "B" with full marks in all six distinctions. His leadership continued to shine when he assumed the role of founding principal at Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy, achieving a solid "B" rating with 4 out of 6 distinctions and securing a $400k grant to elevate the school to national STEM certification and innovation status. Turner's success is rooted in his commitment to effective communication, robust systems, and fostering trusting relationships. He champions a culture of shared accountability and prioritizes equity and excellence for every student, ensuring that all learners thrive under his guidance. Turner is the father of 5 children, Jasmine, Jamel, Johari, Cairo, and Jasir, and a grandson, Lennox.

Tameka Whitney, proud principal of the Dallas Environmental Science Academy (DESA), began her career in the Dallas Independent School District in 2005 as a science teacher and campus instructional coach at W.W. Samuell High School where she served in a number of leadership roles, including science CILT member and New Teacher Support Chair.  Whitney was selected as Assistant Principal at Quintanilla Middle School in 2016, overseeing double-digit mathematics achievement gains that led to a state distinction in the 2018-19.  Name Principal of DESA in 2020, Whitney has continued a tradition of campus excellence, including an A-Rating with six distinctions in the 2021-22 school year and introduction of new programs to support the social and emotional wellness of her middle school students.  With degrees from Tougaloo College and the University of North Texas, Whitney is a dynamic visionary leader and solid team player with a proven track record in collaborating with the school community, increasing student academics, and maintaining excellence in education.