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SISD Welcomes New Hires
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SISD Welcomes New Assistant Superintendent: Dr. Jacob Duce
The SISD Board of Trustees approved Dr. Jacob Duce as SISD’s new Assistant Superintendent at Monday’s called board meeting.
“Dr. Duce brings a wealth of leadership to Sunnyvale,” Superintendent Matt Kimball said. “He is known for elevating student success, growing leaders around him, and engaging students, staff, and parents. I look forward to him joining our amazing team!”
As assistant superintendent, Dr. Duce will primarily focus on curriculum and instruction in SISD while also supporting the superintendent.
“It’s no secret that Sunnyvale ISD is a destination for families and educators because of the district’s values and student achievement,” Dr. Duce said. “My professional beliefs and values strongly align with the instructional framework in SISD. I look forward to serving the Sunnyvale community as we continue to value student learning and enhance the outcomes of our students.”
Dr. Duce joins the Raider family after serving Frisco ISD for the past 15 years, where he worked as a campus administrator at three different campuses. His most recent post was as Lebanon Trail High School’s campus principal, leading the successful 5-A campus of 2,100 students and over 200 staff members. Lebanon Trail was rated the highest achieving comprehensive high school in Texas for two years (TEA Accountability).
“These leadership opportunities have allowed me to work with diverse perspectives and multiple stakeholders to provide a rich learning experience for all students,” Dr. Duce said.
Dr. Duce says his initial goal is to get to know SISD’s staff, students, and community.
“SISD is recognized as a leader in public education in North Texas so my primary focus will be on learning the culture and strengths of the district,” he said.
One of Dr. Duce’s strengths lies in collaborative leadership. Understanding the needs of Sunnyvale’s students, teachers and community members is one of his top priorities.
“Collaborative leadership allows you to bring in diverse perspectives and experiences," Dr. Duce said. “This approach allows for a more comprehensive approach to achieving our goals in public education. Limiting leadership to one individual reduces the ideas and experiences available to learn from.”
Dr. Duce and his wife of 18 years, Melissa have three children: Delaney (13), McKinley (10), and Noah (5). They currently live in McKinney.
Kirsten Booth Named Director of Special Programs
Sunnyvale ISD’s Board of Trustees recently named Kirsten Booth the district’s new Director of Special Programs.
“We are excited to have Ms. Booth join our leadership team,” Superintendent Matt Kimball said. “She brings a wealth of experience and has a passion for serving students. I am looking forward to her leadership and influence over vital programs for all of our students.”
Ms. Booth is a twenty year educator with certifications in Special Education, Educational Diagnostician, ESL and administration as a principal. She has a Masters degree in Professional Development from Amberton University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University.
Her most recent post was in Richardson ISD as an Educational Diagnostician. She also worked at the Trinity Basin Preparatory School first as an Instructional Coach and then as the district’s 504, RTI, Dyslexia District Coordinator.
“Having assumed these various roles has equipped me with the knowledge needed to support other staff, students, and parents with growth in education,” Ms. Booth said.
Ms. Booth has also taught in schools in Mesquite ISD, Duncanville ISD and in Dallas.
She says she looks forward to being a part of the Raider Nation. Her children, Jeremy and Madison, will attend SISD, as well.
“I was led to Sunnyvale ISD because I heard about all of the great things that were occurring in one of the top ranked districts in the state,” Ms. Booth said. “I am an educator who is all about student excellence, growth and preparation for the future. I also knew that SISD was something I wanted to be a part of and provide my own children with the best opportunities for their future.”
Ms. Booth’s goals for her department are spelled out succinctly by the acronym “MEET.”
“My goals for the Special Programs Department are to:
Meet the students where they are and encourage growth;
Engage, equip, and empower all learners for life-long success which aligns with the
districts vision;
Ensure ALL Sunnyvale ISD students receive our full support and all resources available;
To support/collaborate with campuses and partner with parents in their efforts to support
and grow ALL students.”
Mission Statement:
The mission of Sunnyvale ISD is to engage, equip and empower all learners for life-long success.
Vision Statement:
Sunnyvale Raiders Rise!
SISD District Calendar