Mrs. Ward is beginning her third year as the Tenaha Elementary Principal (grades PK-6).  Over the past 21 years, she has taught nearly all grade levels, with the exception of 1st through 3rd grade, in seven school districts across East Texas. While most of Mrs. Ward's career was spent teaching Reading Language Arts, she has also been able to teach theater, newspaper, and  elementary p.e. She and Coach Ward have been happily married for 27 years this December. They are proud parents of Andy, Cooper, and Luke Ward. All three of their boys attended Tenaha ISD, and Luke is a proud graduate of Tenaha High School in 2023.

Each year, Mrs. Ward chooses a theme for the new school year, and for the 24/25 school year, we will be living by the motto: “Plant. Grow. Bloom.” In order to keep growing as a district, we have been fortunate to qualify for several Texas Education Agency curriculum grants. Our kindergarten through 5th grade classes will begin using a new Reading Language Arts curriculum called Amplify, and our kindergarten through high school students will begin a new math curriculum (Eureka for K-5th and Carnegie for 6th-High School). We are one of over 200 districts in the state joining this endeavor. Our teachers and administrators began training over the summer and will continue to work with our Region 7 partners throughout the year as we implement our new programs. This will be a big shift for our students as well, and we are confident that these changes will pay off in the long run. More details will be released along with opportunities for family literacy nights, so our families can be informed and involved as we make these changes. 

“I have no doubt that our students and staff will rise to the challenge of implementing a new research-based curriculum. I think we are going to continue to see our Tigers grow academically and close those gaps. We need to remember that we are all on the same team, and work together to do what is best for our students.”