District recognizes PISD employees for service; honors Pride Corps
Princeton Independent School District celebrated the end of the 2025-2026 school year by recognizing teachers and their service to PISD during a special ceremony.
Superintendent Donald McIntyre thanked the staff for an outstanding year before he and his administrators presented service pins to employees completing 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years with the district. In addition, administration recognized the Pride Corps and announced the recipients of the annual teacher grants.
District administrators Donald McIntyre (superintendent) and Dr. Jackie Hendricks (deputy superintendent) and Clark math teacher Perry Montgomery were recognized for 25 years of service.
Those honored for 20 years of service include Canup Pre-K teacher Jennifer Nantz; Lowe kindergarten teachers Angela Bazan and Alisha Cofield; Godwin testing coordinator Meagan Turner, Godwin nurse Linda Hill and Godwin 1st-grade teacher Dawn Myers; Lovelady Spanish teacher Cyril Papa; CATE director Brett Hackman; and Nichole Powell, assistant superintendent for finance.
Receiving 15-year service pins were: Kristen Blaede, Lowe; Jennifer McClain, Smith; Jennifer McFarland, Southard; Katherine Colon, Special Programs; and Michael Brinkerhoff, CATE.
Retiring from Princeton ISD this year are: Leah Meuir (29 years), Lana Howell (26 years), Perry Montgomery (25 years), Bonita Beckham and Amber Bolan (22 years), Stacey Dillard (18 years), Cindy Gee (16 years), David Vincent (10 years), Larry Martin (nine years), Callie Dunn and Amy Elsbury (six years), Monique Cardwell and Kelly Spohn (five years), Sonja Fuller and Gretchen Young (four years), Virgie Johnson, Cheryl Sims, Joel Stanford and Teresa Walls (three years), Alesha Love (two years), Marcella Hornsby and Kathy Lantrip (one year).
This year's Pride Corps inductees were also recognized, including secondary teachers Fernando Puentes (PSHS), Tina Mauldin (Lovelady), Miyuki Lawrence (Clark), Melissa Payan (Mattei) and Jim Lu (Southard); and elementary teachers Johnathon Foster (Smith), Natalie McElroy (Lowe), Carrie Lindsey (Lacy), Cassie Cullum (James), Elaine Silva (Godwin), Kameron McClure (Green), Virginia Foote (Harper), Jill LeGrange (Mayfield), Kristi Foster (Perkins) and Christa Martinez (Canup).
From this group of honorees, Jim Lu was chosen as the secondary Teacher of the Year and Natalie McElroy was selected as elementary Teacher of the Year. They were honored during the PISD Teacher of the Year banquet.