Lacy Starnes
Rowlett
Summary
Strategic educational leader and change agent with 17 years of experience in Mesquite ISD spanning classroom instruction, campus leadership, and instructional systems. Demonstrated success building stakeholder ownership, creating organizational clarity, and aligning people, processes, and programs around a shared vision for student success. Experienced in using data to identify opportunities, establish strategic priorities, develop capacity, and drive continuous improvement. Proven ability to lead complex change initiatives that expand student opportunity, strengthen academic outcomes, and move organizations toward measurable goals.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal
Kimbrough Middle School | Mesquite ISD
06.2024 - Current
- Lead instructional, operational, and strategic planning efforts for a comprehensive middle school serving close to 1,100 students, aligning campus improvement priorities with district goals and performance expectations.
- Established and communicated a shared vision for instructional excellence through campus-wide initiatives focused on literacy, student ownership, and rigorous learning experiences.
- Led the development of systems that strengthened PLC effectiveness, data analysis, intervention planning, and instructional decision-making, resulting in greater alignment between curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student support.
- Designed and facilitated professional learning structures that built teacher and instructional leader capacity in data-driven instruction, lesson design, feedback practices, and continuous improvement.
- Utilized multiple data sources to identify performance trends, establish strategic priorities, monitor progress, and guide campus improvement efforts.
- Led cross-functional teams in the implementation of school improvement initiatives requiring collaboration among teachers, counselors, instructional specialists, and district departments.
- Developed a culture of shared ownership and accountability by creating organizational clarity around campus goals, expectations, and instructional priorities.
- Partnered with district leaders to support system-wide initiatives, provide campus perspective on instructional priorities, and contribute to district-level planning and decision-making.
Instructional Dean / Assistant Principal
West Mesquite High School | Mesquite ISD
07.2020 - 05.2024
- Provided instructional leadership for a comprehensive high school through teacher development, data analysis, instructional planning, professional learning, and systems-level problem solving.
- Led and developed an instructional coaching team responsible for supporting teacher capacity, data-driven instruction, and implementation of campus-wide instructional priorities.
- Partnered with the campus Advanced Academics Coordinator to support AP, Dual Credit, and advanced learning pathways through recruitment, student identification, scheduling, and program support.
- Designed and implemented West Village, a campus-wide Advanced Academics initiative that strengthened teacher ownership, increased collaboration, and elevated student and family awareness of advanced learning opportunities.
- Through West Village, facilitated AP and Dual Credit teacher collaboration around recruitment, barriers to participation, student support, and shared practices to strengthen advanced academic access and success.
- Led an Inspiring Principals Academy problem of practice focused on increasing CCMR awareness, participation, and student achievement through stakeholder education, intentional student conversations, and strategic promotion of advanced academic pathways.
- Presented the West Village framework to district principals as a model for culture-building, stakeholder ownership, and Advanced Academics program development.
- Utilized enrollment, achievement, and participation data to identify opportunity gaps, inform decision-making, and expand student access to advanced coursework.
Assistant Principal
Terry Middle School | Mesquite ISD
02.2018 - 06.2020
- Supported instructional leadership efforts through teacher coaching, professional learning, data analysis, and campus improvement planning.
- Partnered with campus leadership teams to implement strategic initiatives focused on student achievement, intervention systems, and instructional effectiveness.
- Utilized student achievement and growth data to inform intervention planning and support continuous improvement efforts.
- Collaborated with teachers, counselors, and administrators to strengthen student support systems and improve academic outcomes.
- Supported the development of teacher leadership and campus-wide professional learning structures.
English Teacher | Pre-AP & AP Educator
John Horn High School | Mesquite ISD
08.2009 - 02.2018
- Taught English Language Arts across multiple grade levels, including Pre-AP and Advanced Placement courses.
- Designed rigorous, student-centered instruction focused on critical thinking, analytical writing, communication, and college readiness.
- Completed AP Summer Institute training and implemented Advanced Placement instructional practices aligned to college-level expectations.
- Built classroom cultures centered on challenge, growth, student ownership, and academic success.
- Developed instructional practices that balanced rigor with support for students entering advanced learning opportunities from varying levels of readiness.
Education
Master of Education - Educational Administration
Lamar University
12-2018
Bachelor of Arts - English
Texas A&M University–Commerce
05-2009
Skills
- Advanced Academics Leadership
- Strategic Planning & Systems Thinking
- Change Leadership & Organizational Improvement
- Stakeholder Ownership & Engagement
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Instructional Leadership & Capacity Building
- Communication, Vision & Culture Building
- Program Development & Continuous Improvement
Certification
- Texas Principal Certificate
- Texas Teacher Certificate
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
- Holdsworth Leadership Graduate June 2022
- Mesquite Leadership Academy Graduate May 2011
Timeline
Principal
Kimbrough Middle School | Mesquite ISD
06.2024 - Current
Instructional Dean / Assistant Principal
West Mesquite High School | Mesquite ISD
07.2020 - 05.2024
Assistant Principal
Terry Middle School | Mesquite ISD
02.2018 - 06.2020
English Teacher | Pre-AP & AP Educator
John Horn High School | Mesquite ISD
08.2009 - 02.2018
Bachelor of Arts - English
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Master of Education - Educational Administration
Lamar University