EDUCATION

Meet LHISD’s Principals

Liberty Hill ISD is looking forward to an outstanding 2021-2022 school year.

Superintendent Steven Snell and School Trustees are pleased to welcome these new leaders, and eager to advocate and empower students at every grade level.

We asked...

How long have you been in education?

What do you love most about your job?

What drew you to Liberty Hill ISD?

What are your priorities and focus for the new school year?

DAWN HUDSON LOUINE NOBLE ELEMENTARY

 I have been in education for 19 years. During that time, I’ve taught students in the elementary, middle and high school levels, with most of my experience with fourth and fifth graders. I’ve also been a Math Interventionist, Instructional Coach, Assistant

Principal and now, Principal. My career started in Kilgore and afforded me the opportunity to work in different areas and diverse cultures across the state, such as New Braunfels, Tyler, Lubbock and now Liberty Hill. What I love the most about working in education is that we get to choose how our day will be every single day. We have the ability to make our schools the best environment and culture for students. Working with students is so rewarding and fun! Each day is a new beginning with kids, and they show up eager to learn. When my husband got transferred to the Austin area five years ago, we were looking for an exemplary district with a small-town feel for our own children, as well as one that matched my own philosophies in education. We did a lot of research and were excited to call

Liberty Hill home. Since then, LHISD has exceeded our expectations in the way we approach academics, culture, community and character. I feel so blessed to be a part of this school district as an educator and a parent. My first priority is to make Noble

Elementary feel like home to our many families coming from the other schools.

It’s never easy to change campuses, as my family well knows, so I want every student and parent at Noble to feel like this is where they belong. Our campus vision is to make Noble Elementary a place where we all feel safe, loved, valued and challenged to reach our full Panther potential. Every day we strive to #BeNoble!

I am so proud of how our faculty has already come together as a team. Each staff member has such a positive attitude and a love for children, and I am so thankful for that. To our families, thank you for trusting us with your most precious treasures. We are truly looking forward to partnering with you throughout the elementary years, and we are excited to get to know you all better.

JOSH CURTIS SANTA RITA MIDDLE SCHOOL

 I have been in education for 16 years and I am starting my 7th year as a campus principal.  I love seeing students grow and develop into great students and citizens in the community.

When you see a student succeed and the joy and excitement on their face, there is no better reward in education. This year I am looking forward to developing a culture of champions and excellence at SRMS that will last for years to come. I think everyone who comes to Liberty

Hill comes for the same reasons. The success, the family atmosphere and the opportunity to be part of the best school district in the state of Texas.

My priorities for the immediate future are to develop a championship culture at SRMS, and to Empower Students to

Become Champions. I also want to ensure we make SRMS one of the premier middle schools in the state, and make it a model for other campuses to try and strive to achieve our success.

I would like the SRMS community to know that we are here for you and your students and we look forward to an amazing year, and that the entire staff is excited about the opportunity to open and lead this amazing campus.

TANYA LAMBERT BILL BURDEN ELEMENTARY

 This year starts my 20th year in education and third year as a campus principal. I started teaching 1st grade, then moved to 5th grade then, the following year, started as a Reading Specialist in Weatherford ISD. After that, I moved back to my hometown of Royse City, TX and, for the next 13 years, served as a Math and Reading Specialist, School Counselor, and Assistant Principal. God opened some awesome doors and moved me to Liberty Hill in the Spring of 2017. I was Assistant Principal at Bill Burden Elementary, then later Rancho Sienna Elementary. In the fall of 2019, I came back to BBE, and I couldn’t be happier here! My two big loves are getting to work with the best teachers and kids on the planet. The teachers here care for kids to their absolute core. They work crazy hours and give so much of themselves to make every decision and action about what is best for kids. I am in awe of them and all they accomplish in a day. Our kids are strong, loving, motivated, and work every day to be the best they can be. I’m reminded each day—by their grace, humor, and effort—why we do the work we do.

I love the school pride and family feel of Liberty Hill.

The way all of our students pour into each other is so touching. I love it when our kids run the field before the football games, how the seniors walk our hallways and look for their tiles, and how excited our kids are to cheer on our older athletes as they make their way to state championships. There is a bond here that’s

difficult to explain in words, but it’s easy to feel. Our biggest priority is that every student understands how much they matter and are loved. They all come to us with different histories, struggles, and strengths.

It’s our job to take all that and make the best education for them we can. We are absolutely committed to high academic standards while never losing sight of their hearts.

I just want to say how excited we are about this school year! It is a privilege to work with each of your students and we are here for whatever you need. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have a question or need clarification on anything. We are here to work together to make this the best year yet for your kiddo! #proudtobeBBE

MONICA MILLER LIBERTY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

 I have been in education for 24 years, and a principal for two months. I taught and coached for 19 years and have been an administrator for five years. Most recently, I was the Associate Principal at Liberty Hill High School and loved every minute of that experience. I feel blessed to be able to take what I have learned to Liberty Hill Middle School and continue to learn from the staff that I now get to work with.

I love our LH community and OUR KIDS! We truly have the best “little” town to work in, raise a family in, and do life in, around. Being able to influence young people to pursue their dreams and help them find their passions and gifts is why I am here! Helping grow other educators to be the leaders they are called to be is just more icing on the cake. We ended up in Liberty Hill courtesy of my husband’s job. When we moved here, he did the research and I will forever be grateful that he chose this community for my family to embrace.

Meet LHISD’s Education Leadership (cont’d)

At LHMS, our focus is to “Be the Exception” in everything we do. We have weekly challenges for students to attempt to show what it means to “be the exception”. For instance, this week has been to introduce yourself to someone you do not know. Our staff is watching to see students accepting the “Be the Exception Challenge” and rewarding them with a Champion Student-Be the Exception coupon for our snack shack. Be on the lookout for home challenges too and report them to me so I can reward our students for always striving to be the exception everywhere they go in Liberty Hill. We are also focusing on continuing the strong

Liberty Hill culture of being a Proud Panther. Plus we are growing as a learner and having fun along the way!

I have been grateful for the welcome and embrace that all the LHMS staff and community has shown me. LHMS is a wonderful place to be the Interim Principal... we will Be the Exception together!

JONATHAN BEVER LIBERTY HILL HIGH SCHOOL

connected.  I have been in education for 27 years...I am beginning my 4th year as principal at the high school and I am looking forward to another GREAT year!  I love the students, I am their #1 FAN...I am looking forward to a year that we can call normal and the students can stay

I came to Liberty Hill because of the principles and values that Liberty Hill ISD stands for, and the amazing community that involves the students and families. My priority this year is making sure that ALL students make a connection that will strengthen their relationship with our Panther Family here at the high school.

MELANIE BOWMAN RANCHO SIENNA ELEMENTARY

 I have been in education for 23 years. I have been a campus administrator for 11 years.  Getting to work alongside others that love children and work collaboratively to not only meet their needs but also just to appreciate the joy of childhood is such a blessing. Watching students set and accomplish their goals makes me feel that I am a small part of their lifelong success story. I grew up in a small town and really enjoyed the family and community aspect. Upon coming to Liberty Hill over six years ago, I immediately felt the togetherness and bond of this wonderful community. Once a Panther, always a Panther! My daily focus is to provide each student with a positive and enriching school experience where they have opportunities to thrive as leaders in our Rancho school family and beyond. When you see yourself as a leader, the possibilities are endless!

It is exciting to see the growth happening in the Rancho Sienna school community. I invite all of our returning and new families to get involved and become involved in the LHISD family by joining our PTO, volunteering on campus, attending LHHS Friday Night Lights, introducing yourself to other parents, or reaching out to your teachers to see how you can support the important work they do. It’s a great time to be a Rancho Panther!

My door is always open and if you have any questions or concerns I am here for you.

KENDELL LUEDTKE SANTA RITA ELEMENTARY

 Over the past 13 years in education, I have served students in four districts across Texas as a classroom teacher, Interventionist, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal and now Principal.  What I love most about my career is the opportunity to build relationships with students, teachers, families, and the communities. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. As the new Principal at SRE, I’m looking forward to fostering relationships with my staff, families and being a part of childrens’ success. What initially drew me to Liberty Hill was the reputation of excellence and the family feel. My husband and I moved here seven years ago and fell in love with the community. We knew very quickly this is where we wanted our forever home to be and where we wanted our child to complete her education. Getting to work for and serve LHISD is an added blessing. The families and students make my job so enjoyable and are a daily reminder that I am where I am supposed to be.

It’s always a great day to be a Panther!  One of my priorities I’d like to focus on right away is establishing that same Liberty Hill culture of excellence and family within my campus. With many new staff members I’m excited to share with them the vision of LHISD, our community traditions, and support them along the way to deliver academic excellence to our students.

I look forward to getting to know our students and families and serving within our community. I am so honored to be a LHISD Panther and blessed to be a part of the Santa Rita Elementary family!

HEATHER COLLISON LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY

 I have been in education for almost 19 years now. I began my career as a principal at LHE four years ago.  What I love most about my job is what I learn from kids. They speak freely and remind me of all the small, good things that bring joy to our lives. I believe these children are part of a bright future. I am proud to be an influence and pray I can make a lasting impact. This year upon us is filled with new challenges. I look forward to the resilience, creativity, and flexibility our staff will show to overcome all obstacles.

I came to Liberty Hill by chance. My husband and I were moving to the area and I was interviewing all throughout the Austin area. Terrie Chambers (retired principal at BBE), offered me the opportunity to become part of LHISD and I quickly fell in love with the

Panther Pride of this community. I could not be more grateful for Liberty Hill to be part of my path. I hope the students and teachers have learned as much from me as I have learned from them.

LHE will focus on growth for all students. Due to the obstacles we are facing, students in the same classrooms are at various levels. Our teachers are focused on delivering impactful, high instruction and meeting individual needs to build each student’s mastery. I have been in several classrooms throughout these first days. It amazes me to see the valuable instruction already taking place. At LHE, obstacles are not an excuse, they are a challenge to overcome.

To the parents, students, and faculty at LHE, I appreciate the patience, support, and perseverance you have shown so far. The 2021-22 school year will be challenging once again. Together we will accomplish great things. Thank you in advance!