Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District trustees have approved a new principal to succeed James Whitfield at Colleyville Heritage High School.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the trustees voted to hire Julia Stephen as the new principal at Colleyville Heritage High School in a board meeting on February 28.
Stephen, who has served in the education field for 20 years, is currently the principal at Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD.
“I am beyond excited to be joining GCISD and Colleyville Heritage High School,” Stephen said in a news release. “GCISD is a phenomenal district with an outstanding reputation for excellence.”
According to the news release, Stephen was assistant principal at Irons Middle School in Lubbock before becoming principal of Coronado High School.
Stephen also served as an associate principal at Kennedale High School from 2017 to 2018 and assistant principal at Kennedale Junior High from 2016 to 2017.
The news release also revealed that Stephen was named Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2016 by Mansfield ISD, where she taught science.
Stephen’s appointment comes after Whitfield agreed to part ways with the district following months of controversy over critical race theory (CRT).
Whitfield has been suspended from his administrative position since September 2021, when parents complained to the local school board, claiming that he promoted CRT and indoctrinated students.
According to The Dallas Express, the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to terminate Whitfield’s contract on November 8, 2021, effective August 2023. Whitfield will remain on paid administrative leave until his termination takes effect.
During the February 28 board meeting, trustees also approved the hiring of Todd Raymond as the district’s new executive director of athletics. Raymond, currently the athletic director for Pflugerville ISD, has extensive experience coaching and leading athletic departments spanning over 26 years.