As we enter the second week of Summer, GJM students, families, staff, and the greater Mustang community may be interested to know who the new leadership will be at the campus for the 2021-2022 school year. Current Principal Mrs. Suzy Ponton will be leaving us and heading to the San Antonio area with her family and we wish her well! We are excited to announce that, Superintendent Mircovich hired Mr. Kenneth Dykes from Orange Grove, ISD to serve as the next Principal for GJM Elementary.
Dykes was born and raised in Rockport, Texas, and has over twenty-three years of experience in education. Mr. Dykes journey began in Robstown ISD where he taught Reading for three years. From Robstown, he moved on to Bloomington ISD where he was the assistant principal for both the junior high and high school for two years. From there, he became the principal at Placedo Elementary for his remaining two years in Bloomington. Mr. Dykes then relocated to San Antonio and began employment with Lytle ISD for the next thirteen years. While employed by Lytle ISD, Mr. Dykes was the principal of three campuses. He began as the principal of the elementary campus for four years, spent five years as the primary school principal, and from there moved to the junior high by the superintendent's request. At the time the junior high was going into Improvement Required (IR). Working collaboratively with the staff, they were able to have the campus out of improvement required in one year and continued moving in a positive direction. Along with that accomplishment, the campus began an iPad one-to-one initiative. By year two, and with his leadership, they were able to achieve that goal. The final four years at the junior high ended with Mr. Dykes relocating back to the Coastal Bend area to be closer to his daughter for her senior year of high school.
In relocating to the Coastal Bend, Kenneth had the opportunity to lead Orange Grove Junior High for three years, once again helping a school that required targeted improvement. "During the last year, reflecting on times when I was happiest; I realized working with younger students is what I wanted to pursue again. I now have that opportunity at Gilbert J. Mircovich Elementary! My career took me up the road a bit but, I didn’t go off too far, and I am thankful to be back home! I look forward to and anticipate our journey at GJM, the 'GJM WAY -- BE HELPFUL IN EVERY WAY, TAKE PRIDE IN EVERY DAY!'" Mr. Dykes holds a Bachelor's Degree in History with a minor in Reading from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M Kingsville.
Mr. Dykes, welcome to MUSTANGLAND!!!