New Leaders for Mathis ISD Schools

8/17/2009

Shemon Bailey, new Associate Principal at the Mathis High School for International Studies, and Leo Cano, Principal at McCraw Junior High School, take time for a photograph at the Mathis ISD Professional Development convocation at the Event Center of August 17.

The Mathis High School for International Studies has a new Associate Principal. Ms. Shemón Bailey will lead the school into its third year, with its first senior class. Elizabeth Ozuna will remain at a half-time consultant to the school.

Ms. Bailey comes to MHSIS from Galveston ISD where she was principal at Henry Rosenberg Elementary School. Ms. Bailey has worked in Spring ISD and in Galveston ISD. Ms. Bailey has a Masters in Education, and is certified as a superintendent. She is in a doctoral degree programs at Prairie View A&M.

Ms. Bailey said, “I consider the Mathis High School for International Studies the model program for rural districts in the U.S. ready to implement an international studies program that emphasizes college-readiness for all students. I am beginning my twelfth year in education and my eighth year in administration. In Mathis I look forward to nurturing and developing student learning within a local, as well as global, context.”

Ms. Bailey said she knew she wanted to teach from the time she was three years old. Her mother was a teacher and a guidance counselor; Ms. Bailey will continue the family tradition of expanding student horizons and ambitions.

Mr. Leo Cano the current Associate Principal at Mathis High School will be McCraw Junior High School’s new principal. Mr. Cano returns to McCraw Junior High School where he was assistant principal two years ago. He is beginning his eighth year in education; his fourth year in Mathis ISD.

Mr. Cano is a Robstown graduate who attended Baylor University where he majored in biology Scand chemistry. He has a master degree in education from TAMU-Corpus Christi, and still receives telephone calls from his professors asking him to join their doctoral program. Both his parents are educators and were a major influence when he chose to follow a career in education.

Mr. Cano said, “I look forward to returning to McCraw Junior High School; I enjoy working with the junior high school age group. Those students are knowledge seekers. We must provide a solid foundation for students so that they can be successful in high school at the academic and at the social levels. I look forward to promoting college-readiness skills using the AVID and Gear UP programs.”

Mr. Cano said that he liked working with the Mathis High School students. That work gave him insight into the challenges the McCraw students will face. He said “the students, faculty and the support staff are a formidable team who will move McCraw to “recognized” status this school year.”