The Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees approved four new principals at the May 12 board meeting.

The overview

The appointees include:The principals will start prior to the 2025-26 school year.

Some context

Kenely, Barentine and Mitchell are being moved from schools that will close down at the end of the 2024-25 school year.


Due to ongoing financial troubles related to inflation, increasing utility costs and a lack of state funding, trustees approved the closures of the Highland Village Elementary School, B.B. Owen Elementary School, Garden Ridge Elementary School, Creekside Elementary School and Polser Elementary STEM Academy Dec. 9, Community Impact previously reported.

The closures will save the district $2.3 million, or about $460,000 per campus, and the students will be rezoned to a different LISD school. Staff transfers are also planned as part of the campus closures.

More details

Kenely recently served as principal at Garden Ridge Elementary School for three years. She started her education career in 1996 as an elementary school teacher. She has experience with instructional roles in several Texas school districts, including Richardson ISD, Allen ISD and Frisco ISD, according to a district news release.


“I am honored to join the Donald Elementary community and excited to continue the school’s legacy of innovation and excellence in STEM education,” Kenely said in a news release. “I look forward to building strong relationships with students, staff, and families as we work together to empower every learner.”

Mitchell served as the Highland Village Elementary School principal for 11 years. She started in public education in 1987 and joined LISD in 1998 as an elementary counselor at Morningside Elementary School. In 2008, she became an assistant principal at Morningside before being named principal of Highland Village in 2014, per a district news release.

“[Mitchell] is a seasoned leader who brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment,” Superintendent Lori Rapp said in a news release. “Her dedication to student success and her collaborative spirit make her an excellent fit for the Forest Vista community.”

Barentine has worked in LISD for 31 years with her most recent role as the principal of B.B. Owen Elementary School, which she began in 2022. She started as an elementary school teacher in 1995 before being named the assistant principal of Ethridge Elementary School in 2015, according to a district news release.


Tufnell began her education career with LISD in 2008 and served many different roles including a special education paraprofessional at Degan Elementary School, assistant principal at Forestwood Middle School and associate principal at both the Flower Mound 9th Grade Campus and Flower Mound High School, per a district news release.