SMCISD board approves new high school principal

The San Marcos CISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new principal for San Marcos High School during its meeting on Monday. 

Denisha Presely was named the new principal for the high school for the 2019-2020 school year. 

“I’m trying to hold all of the excitement in,” Presley said during Monday’s meeting. “Thank you to the board. Thank you to superintendent (Michael) Cardona, assistant superintendent Monica Ruiz-Mills, they have been so gracious during the entire process, and the thorough investigation so to speak. The interview process was amazing. So to have student representation, parent representation on the interview committee speaks a lot about what this school values. So I’m super excited … Im excited to jump on board and come back home.” 

Presley worked as a teacher and assistant principal at San Marcos High School from 2005 to 2013. She has spent the last three years as the principal at Lehman High School in Hays CISD. She oversaw 2,600 students and 200 employees at Lehman. 

“In three years, she was able to develop systems for behavior, infrastructure for Professional Learning Communities, and served on the district’s instructional leadership team,” SMCISD said in a statement. “Under her leadership, Lehman HS improved their college acceptance rate by 30 percent and saw an increase in academic success each year.” 

Presley attended Texas State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in English and a master of education degree. 

Current San Marcos High School principal Bobbie Turnbo is retiring at the end of this school year. 

The board also unanimously approved Nicole Recio as the vice principal for the new Rodriguez Elementary School. 

“I’m beyond excited for this opportunity,” Recio said. “I know that this is going to be an amazing task, an amazing school. I’m very, very honored and privileged to be the assistant principal at Rodriguez Elementary.” 

The trustees also took action on several items during Monday’s meeting. The board approved budget amendments to transfer funds from data processing contracted services to facility maintenance and operations utility account to cover extra costs for terminating Spectrum services early at 511 Burleson. They also approved an easement at the high school with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

The board approved Proclamation 2019, an adoption of curriculum programs for  kindergarten through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth grade. 

The trustees approved to terminate financial services with Estrada, Hinojosa & Company, Inc., while approving to engage with Tijerina, Galvan, Lawrence LCC for financial advising. 

The board approved a bank depository renewal with Frost Bank, and approved Student Health Advisory Council members. The trustees tabled discussions for a land donation agreement with La Cima, and updated board operating procedures for a later date. 

The SMCISD board holds its next regular board meeting on Monday, June 17 at 6 p.m.