As several campus principals transition into new roles in the district, RISD has made several new campus principal assignments beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Join us in congratulating the following principals:
Kylee Wall – O. Henry Elementary Principal – Current Assistant Principal at Lake Highlands ES, has been selected as the new Principal of O. Henry ES. A dedicated educational leader with more than 20 years of experience serving students, staff, and families in Richardson ISD, Wall brings a student-centered approach and a strong commitment to creating inclusive, high-performing learning environments where every child can succeed. Read Full Bio
Valerie Barron – Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary – RISD welcomes a new district educational leader. She is a dynamic and results-oriented educational leader with more than two decades of experience dedicated to serving students, staff, and families in Fort Worth ISD. Recognized for her ability to lead large, high-needs campuses, Barron has built a reputation for creating student-centered systems that strengthen instruction, advance equity, and drive measurable academic growth. Read Full Bio
Mariam Kagaso – Yale Elementary – RISD welcomes Mariam Kagaso as the new Principal of Yale Elementary. An accomplished educational leader with more than 12 years of experience, most recently in Mansfield ISD. Kagaso brings a strong track record of improving student outcomes, leading campus transformation efforts, and building high-performing school communities. Read Full Bio
RISD Names New Principal of O. Henry Elementary School
Kylee Wall, Current Assistant Principal at Lake Highlands Elementary, Named New Principal of O. Henry Elementary for 2026–2027.
Kylee Wall, current Assistant Principal at Lake Highlands Elementary, has been selected as the new Principal of O. Henry Elementary beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. A dedicated educational leader with more than 20 years of experience serving students, staff, and families in Richardson ISD, Wall brings a student-centered approach and a strong commitment to creating inclusive, high-performing learning environments where every child can succeed.
As an emergent bilingual and fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker, Wall believes deeply in the transformative power of education and the importance of ensuring every student has access to meaningful opportunities. She is known for her warm, relationship-driven leadership style, operational expertise, and ability to cultivate school cultures where students and educators feel valued, supported, and empowered.
At Lake Highlands Elementary, Wall has helped lead key initiatives focused on strengthening instructional practices, improving student behavior systems, enhancing school culture, and supporting staff development. Through strategic interventions and proactive campus systems, she contributed to reducing office referrals, improving school climate, and boosting staff morale through meaningful recognition efforts and strong community partnerships. She also co-leads instructional leadership efforts, using student data to drive differentiated instruction and continuous academic growth.
Prior to her current role, Wall served for 10 years as Assistant Principal at Northlake Elementary, where she played an instrumental role in the campus earning AVID Showcase Elementary status and served as an RISD Mentor Assistant Principal. Throughout her career, she has led campus safety initiatives, strengthened family and community engagement, expanded student leadership opportunities, and supported educators as an instructional coach and classroom teacher at Stults Road Elementary.
Wall earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University Texas and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Chinese from Trinity University. Her leadership and service have been recognized through honors including the RISD Royal Walk Through Award, RESSA Rookie Administrator of the Year, and Lake Highlands Exchange Club Teacher of the Year.
With a deep passion for developing people and maximizing the strengths of others, Wall is recognized for building collaborative teams, fostering meaningful relationships, and creating learning environments where students, staff, and school communities thrive.
RISD Welcomes New Principal to Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary
RISD welcomes a new district education leader, who will be Principal at Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary starting in 2026-2027.
Valerie Barron is a dynamic and results-oriented educational leader with more than two decades of experience dedicated to serving students, staff, and families in Fort Worth ISD. Recognized for her ability to lead large, high-needs campuses, Barron has built a reputation for creating student-centered systems that strengthen instruction, advance equity, and drive measurable academic growth. Her leadership is grounded in data-informed decision-making, restorative practices, and a deep commitment to ensuring every student has access to opportunities for success.
Since August 2024, Barron has served as Principal in Fort Worth ISD, where she quickly established a culture of growth and high expectations. Under her leadership, the campus accountability rating improved from a D to a C within her first year, with continued progress projected toward a high C in year two. She also led efforts that strengthened campus culture and climate, improved student discipline outcomes, increased PTO involvement, and expanded meaningful family and community engagement.
Prior to serving as principal, Barron held the role of Assistant Principal at the same campus, in FWISD. Throughout her career in FWISD, she has served in multiple leadership capacities, including assistant principal roles across the district, one of which was at her alma mater. She began her educational journey as a science teacher, establishing a strong instructional foundation that continues to shape her leadership approach today.
Barron earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. She brings a proven record of transformational leadership and a passion for fostering excellence as she joins Richardson ISD and the Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary community.
RISD Welcomes New Principal to Lead Yale Elementary
RISD welcomes Mariam Kagaso as the new Principal of Yale Elementary.
An accomplished educational leader with more than 12 years of experience, Kagaso brings a strong track record of improving student outcomes, leading campus transformation efforts, and building high-performing school communities. She is recognized for her strategic leadership, commitment to instructional excellence, and passion for creating learning environments where every student and educator can thrive.
Currently serving as Principal of Cross Timbers Intermediate and Fine Arts Academy in Mansfield ISD, Mariam leads a one-of-a-kind dual campus of nearly 700 students that operates simultaneously as a traditional academic school and Fine Arts Academy, with a strong focus on data-driven instruction, instructional coaching, and campus turnaround efforts. Her leadership model is rooted in the belief that developing the whole child means honoring both rigorous academic growth and creative expression.Throughout her leadership career, she has demonstrated a proven ability to improve student outcomes, strengthen teacher practice, and create systems that support long-term success. Under her leadership, campuses have implemented impactful professional learning structures, strengthened family engagement, and improved student performance and attendance.
Prior to her current role, Mariam served in a range of instructional and administrative leadership capacities across various DFW-area school districts, from classroom teacher and Instructional Coach to Dean of Instruction and Assistant Principal. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to developing educators, expanding leadership capacity, and ensuring equitable opportunities for students.
Mariam earned a Master of Education in Administration from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University. She holds Texas Principal EC–12 and Generalist 4–8 certifications and remains passionate about empowering students, supporting educators, and building strong school communities.
