District News

Waco, TX — In a strategic move to fortify campus performance, expand equity initiatives, and drive student achievement, a cohort of four highly accomplished educational administrators has been selected for key leadership roles heading into the upcoming academic school year.

Bringing a collective wealth of over six decades of classroom, instructional, and executive experience, these proven leaders reflect a deep commitment to systemic turnaround excellence, data-driven professional learning communities (PLCs), and holistic student development.

The newly appointed administrators demonstrate rigorous expertise across elementary and secondary levels, with exceptional track records in boosting state accountability ratings, reducing disciplinary infractions, and mentoring the next generation of educators. Their backgrounds represent an elite tier of leadership, combining advanced academic degrees with specialized experience in crisis intervention and community engagement.

Dr. Monica Green

• Campus: Tennyson Middle School
• Profile: Dr. Monica Green is a visionary educational leader with an exceptional portfolio in transformational administration and equity-centered frameworks. She most recently served as the Director of Equity for Omaha Public Schools, where she spearheaded district-wide empathy interview initiatives involving a diverse sample of 8,000 employees, trained the Superintendent and District Leadership Team as interviewers, aligned budgets directly to measurable instructional outcomes, and led the New Teacher Training program for over 400 educators. Dr. Green possesses robust principalship experience across elementary and middle school levels, notably guiding McMillan Middle School and Benson West Elementary as Principal. At Benson West Elementary, Dr. Green, with extensive experience in Title 1 districts, successfully engineered a plan resulting in a 20 percent increase in student writing scores and maintained a teacher retention rate exceeding 95 percent. Dr. Green holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University and is completing her Superintendent’s Certification from the University of Nebraska.

Ms. Thia Johnson-Allen

• Campus: Brook Avenue Elementary
• Profile: Ms. Thia Johnson-Allen brings over 25 years of distinguished, mission-driven leadership within public education, marked by a deep expertise in secondary and elementary administration, cohort graduation tracking, and Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Behavior (MTSS-B). Currently serving as a Secondary Assistant Principal at Waco High School, her strategic refinement of MTSS-B systems directly contributed to an exceptional 41 percent year-to-date reduction in campus discipline referrals. The system she developed cannot be given credit alone. Her heart-centered leadership and the ability to inspire excellence in staff and students guide her decision-making. Ms. Johnson-Allen’s extensive tenure includes serving as an elementary campus principal for eight years, directing instructional and behavioral systems as an Assistant Principal at the Wiley Opportunity Center, and coaching educators as an Instructional Specialist. Recognized with a Waco ISD Lead from the Heart Award and named a Waco ISD Campus Teacher of the Year, Ms. Johnson-Allen holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Tarleton State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Baylor University.

Mr. Anthony Baney

• Campus: Bell’s Hill Elementary
• Profile: Mr. Anthony Baney is a results-driven administrator celebrated for his ability to lead turnaround efforts on underperforming campuses and navigate volatile periods of leadership transition. He has successfully driven critical campus transformations, notably supporting an elementary school campus improvement that elevated its state accountability rating from an "F" to a "C" rating through meticulous scheduling, system optimization, and the institutionalization of Professional Learning Communities. His versatile administrative background spans both elementary and secondary leadership roles across central Texas, following a foundational career as an award-winning classroom teacher, grade level leader, and recipient of the Educator's Choice Award. Supplementing his educational leadership, Mr. Baney is a certified Texas Firefighter and First Responder who served with the Killeen Fire Department, reflecting a unique capacity for managing high-pressure situations with a solutions-oriented approach. He earned his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Bradley Knox

• Campus: West Avenue Elementary
• Profile: Mr. Bradley Knox stands out as an impactful, highly collaborative instructional leader dedicated to cultivating positive school cultures and robust community partnerships. As the Interim Principal, Assistant Principal and 6th Grade Coordinator at Tennyson Middle School, Mr. Knox managed diverse facets of school operations, including attendance, behavior, safety, operations, athletics, and transportation coordination. His leadership trajectory within the district includes serving as the Administrator in Residence for G.L. Wiley Opportunity Center and an acclaimed tenure as a Reset Behavior Teacher at West Avenue Elementary, where he was honored as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Mr. Knox holds a Master of Education in Administration from Lamar University and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Physical Education Teacher Education and Exercise Science from Tennessee State University.

"We are thrilled to deploy these extraordinary leaders to their respective campuses," said Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Waco ISD Superintendent. "Each administrator brings a specialized set of skills that perfectly aligns with our strategic priorities - whether that is accelerating literacy and mathematics growth, strengthening school culture, or ensuring strict instructional compliance. We are confident that their leadership will yield immediate benefits for our students, staff, and communities."