2023 Principal of the Year

Shadaria Foster, principal of Kennedy-Curry Middle School, started her education career at O.W. Holmes Middle School and later worked at Billy Earl Dade Middle School, where she was a multiyear Teacher of the Year recipient. Foster later served as assistant principal at Balch Springs Middle School, leading the English Language Arts and Reading department to distinction. She led the opening of the Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Springs before moving to Skyline High School, continuing her record of distinctions and double-digit gains on the Assessment of Course Performance and STAAR. Later, she joined the Achieving in the Middle team to improve academic achievement and culture across 24 middle schools in Dallas ISD. Foster is Dallas ISD Proud, having attended H.I. Holland at Lisbon Elementary School, O.W. Holmes Middle School, and South Oak Cliff High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Psychology and a Master of Education in Special Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Foster pursued a second Master of Education in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Gayle Ferguson Rodgers is the founding principal of Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, an early college high school within the Choice/Magnet division. She has been an urban educator with Dallas ISD for 31 years. Her most rewarding years have been spent as a principal within early college high schools (ECHS). The ECHS program is uniquely designed to target first-generation college students, low-income youth, students of color, and other young people underrepresented in higher education. Rodgers is a firm believer in generational change through college access. Under her leadership, Gilliam Collegiate Academy is an “A”-rated campus and a 2014 and 2021 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School. Rodgers is a Dallasite and a proud graduate of Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology as well as the University of North Texas with a master’s in Education Leadership.

Julie Singleton, a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and Lubbock Christian University with a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, is completing her seventh year as principal at Central Elementary School. Singleton began her career in education 29 years ago and has served in a leadership role in Dallas ISD for 22 years. She has increased student academic achievement and improved the culture and climate at elementary schools at risk of being labeled low performing by the state. Singleton has earned the distinction of Master Principal, which is awarded to top-performing principals who have demonstrated a high level of success in several areas, every year the district has awarded this distinction. Under her leadership, Central Elementary has earned one of the highest ratings in the district and state (“94-A,” pre-Covid, and “90-A,” post-Covid.) She attributes the school’s success to an intentional focus on the campus culture and climate, strong structures and systems, a dedicated instructional leadership team, an open-door policy, and on always making decisions that are best for students.

Hailing from Pleasant Grove, Vivian Chandler Fairley is a first-generation college graduate. She received a bachelor’s in History and Political Science as well as a master's in Curriculum and Instruction and a master’s in Education Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She is a transformational leader skilled in serving students in underserved communities. As a champion for scholars, Fairley believes that all children should receive a high-quality and equitable learning experience. She served as a master teacher at Samuell High School and as an instructional coach at Dr. Billy Earl Dade Middle School, which became a Top 5 middle school in Dallas ISD during her time there.  Following Dade, she joined Emmett J. Conrad High School as assistant principal and administrator over the school’s P-TECH, establishing the program as a “Distinguished P-TECH” program by the Texas Education Agency. Currently, Fairley is the proud principal at Conrad and has been recognized as a master principal in Dallas ISD and principal of the year for the Conrad Vertical Team.

Sandra Fernandez is in her third year as principal at Nancy Cochran Elementary, her 16th year as a principal, and her 27th year with Dallas ISD. She began her career as a bilingual teacher at Peeler Elementary, followed by an assistant principalship at Cesar Chavez Learning Center, and a principalship at Bonham Elementary. At Bonham, she led her team to an award from the National Center for Urban School Transformation as well as the National Blue Ribbon from the U.S. Department of Education. Fernandez holds a bachelor’s in Economics  from Southern Methodist University, a master’s in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a doctorate in Public and Urban affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a product of Dallas ISD, having attended Lipscomb Elementary, Lisbon Elementary, Oliver Wendell Holmes Academy, Adamson High School, and Skyline High School. Fernandez believes that all students should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and that putting the right people in our students’ paths can ensure their success not just in school, but in life.

Marquetta Masters has served as the founding principal for Trinity Heights Talented and Gifted for four years. She received her undergraduate degree from Langston University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Texas Woman’s University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Southern Methodist University. Masters began her Dallas ISD career as a Reading Language Arts teacher. She has served as a campus instructional coach (reading, math, and science), assistant principal, and principal (elementary and secondary). Her passion for innovation led to her earning a Public-School Choice designation. Masters is an innovative leader who led the first elementary computer science school in Dallas ISD and assisted the district with scaling the program. She has presented at the Council of Great City Schools, Texas STEM Coalition, and Texas A&M. She believes in academic excellence, improving her campus from an “F” to an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency. Her school received a National Merit School of Distinction. She is a committed educator and a published author.