Duncanville ISD Welcomes New DHS Principal
Known for his strong instructional leadership, Andre L. Smith has been named Principal of Duncanville High School. The extensive search for a new principal included a committee made up of DHS staff, parents, and community members who unanimously selected and recommended Smith to the Board of Trustees as the ideal candidate to lead DHS.
Smith is no stranger to Duncanville – he began his educational career with the district as a special education aide at Hardin Intermediate School in 1996. He taught at Duncanville HS and moved into leadership positions there as a Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Associate Principal before moving to Reed MS as Principal in 2004. Smith left Duncanville four years ago to serve as principal at North Crowley High School.
A committed instructional leader who is results-driven, Smith is dedicated to the development of an open environment that encourages communication among leadership teams, colleagues, students, parents, and community members. “We brought to the selection committee four candidates known throughout the state of Texas for their educational leadership,” said Superintendent Dr. Alfred Ray. “Mr. Smith’s current leadership philosophy as the principal of a large 5A high school, coupled with his previous experience in Duncanville ISD, make him an ideal match as the next principal of DHS. I believe he has all the right talents to lead Duncanville High School through the challenges of 21st century learning.”
Smith is excited to return to Duncanville HS. “I look forward to becoming a part of the DHS family once again,” said Smith. “There are some really good things happening at DHS, and I will seek to strengthen those things with the help of the faculty, staff, and community in ways that best support student learning.” He won’t have to wait long to get started in his new role – he’ll join the district in early July to help get things ready for the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with graduate studies in Special Education at East Texas State University and a Master of Education in Administration from Texas Women’s University. He received his Superintendent certification from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005, and is currently working on his EdD degree with Texas Christian University. He is a member of the Texas and National Associations of Secondary School Principals, ASCD, National PTA, the National Alliance of Black Educators, and many other educational and service organizations.
