The Forney Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three administrators during its regular board meeting on Monday, May 4. The board approved a new principal for Forney High School, a new Director of Student Services and a new Assistant Principal at Johnson Elementary School.

Steve Whiffen was approved by the board to be the new principal at Forney High School. Whiffen has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education including seven years of experience as a high school principal.

Whiffen began his career in education in 1987 as a social studies teacher and coach at Lyles Middle School in Garland ISD. He began teaching high school students in 1988 at South Garland High School before moving to Allen High School in Allen ISD as U.S. History, American Government teacher.

Mr. Whiffen served as the Assistant Principal at Naaman Forest High School in Garland ISD in 1993 before being named the Principal at Pilot Point High School in Pilot Point, Texas in 1999. He moved on to be the principal at Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas in 2005 and currently serves as the Principal for the Arts, Law and Sciences Magnet School and as an Assistant Principal at Richardson High School in Richardson ISD.

Whiffen earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Texas at Dallas and his Master’s in Education from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. He is currently working on his Doctorial Degree at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

In addition to the approval of Whiffen, the Forney ISD Board of Trustees also approved Ms. Debbie Kneggs as the new Director of Student Services for the district. Ms. Kneggs replaces Mike Lamb who was recently named the Director of Accountability, Research and Assessment for Forney ISD.

Ms. Kneggs has more than 25 years of experience in education including two years as principal at Claybon Elementary School in Forney ISD. She began her career in education at Toler Elementary School in the Garland Independent School District as a 5th grade teacher. Ms. Kneggs moved into school administration in 1997 as the Assistant Principal at Weaver Elementary School in the Garland ISD before becoming the Principal at Caldwell Elementary School in Garland ISD in 2000. She joined Forney ISD in 2007 as the Principal at Claybon Elementary School.

Ms. Kneggs received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from East Central State University in Oklahoma and her Master’s of Science Degree in Education Administration from Texas A&M Commerce in Commerce, Texas.

The Forney ISD Board of Trustees also approved Nancy McElroy as the new Assistant Principal for Johnson Elementary School during their regular board meeting on Monday, May 4. Ms. McElroy replaces Shannon Orsborn who was recently named the Principal at Hallie Randall Elementary School in Fruitvale ISD.

Ms. McElroy has more than 23 years of experience in the field of education. She began her career as a 3rd grade teacher at Maggie B. Selman Elementary in Sealy ISD before becoming a 3rd grade teacher at Paul Keyes Elementary in Irving ISD.

Ms. McElroy joined Forney ISD in 2000 as a 3rd grade teacher at Criswell Elementary School, taught 3rd grade at Johnson Elementary School and was the 3rd grade Lead Teacher at Johnson Elementary from 2001-2002. She has served Forney ISD as a district Instructional Facilitator since 2002.

Ms. McElroy received her Associates Degree in Elementary Education from Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She earned her Master’s of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and is in the process of earning her Masters in Education Administration Degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

For more information about the Forney Independent School District, contact Larry Coker, Director of Communications at larry.coker@forneyisd.net or by phone at 972-564-4055.

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