MHS Dean of Instruction named Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year

Nicola Gardere, Dean of Instruction at Marlin High School, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as a 2021-2022 Region 12 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year.  

TASSP recognizes outstanding principals and assistant principals from the 20 region Education Service Centers in the state.  School administrators are nominated and chosen by their peers within their regions.  

Nominations are based upon exemplary performance and outstanding leadership.  As a Region 12 winner, Gardere is eligible to compete for the state title of Texas Assistant Principal of the Year.

Gardere started as the Dean of Instruction at Marlin High School in 2021. Previously she was at Manor Middle School in Killeen.  

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management and was awarded a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a published author and is currently pursuing her doctorate in education at Walden University. Her professional affiliations include the Central Texas Area Alliance of Black School Educators, the Texas Area Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Texas Education Policy Foundation. Gardere sees herself as being a servant leader committed to excellence and has focused on restorative discipline and creative leadership.

“I am grateful and honored to be selected as the Region 12 Assistant Principal of the Year,” Gardere said. “As a servant leader it is important for me to be successful because my success creates opportunities for others.”

Each of the region winners will be recognized during the Josten’s Night of the Stars Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the TASSP Summer held each year in June in Austin.  Each will be presented with an award and recognized in a commemorative book entitled Texas Principals, Texas Heroes.