Saturday, July 27, 2024
AZLE — Azle ISD will greet at least two new elementary school principals next fall. Leyah Miles and Amy Yelle stood and were introduced at a recent Azle ISD board of trustees meeting April 15.
Miles will be the new principal of Liberty Elementary School. She will take over from Lisa Koehler who is moving to a new role within Azle ISD, the district said in a statement released on its website. Miles served as assistant principal at Park Glen Elementary in Keller ISD for the past five years.
She has 12 years’ experience in public education in Mansfield and Keller ISD. Miles taught reading, language arts and social studies before becoming an administrator. She also helped write reading and language arts curriculum for Mansfield and Keller school districts.
While this is Miles’ first time working for an Azle school, she spent all 12 years of her primary and secondary education as an Azle student. Miles herself spent her formative elementary years at Liberty Elementary. In a statement released by the district, she said she is honored to now serve the institution that helped shape her childhood education.
“It feels good (to be back),” Miles said at the meeting. “(I’m looking forward) to learning some new things, new challenges, new district, new role. I came out of being an assistant principal, so I learned a lot from some really great principals and leaders. So, being able to come and meet everyone, learn and lead a school, I’m excited.”
Miles has a Bachelor of Science in education from The University of North Texas and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. She and her husband Justin have two daughters — Finley, age 9, and Eastyn, age 7.
“We proudly welcome Mrs. Miles back to her former elementary campus,” Azle ISD Superintendent Todd Smith said. “She has a proven track record of fostering an environment of academic and social growth for students while maintaining a positive campus culture for students, staff and families.”
At the meeting, the district also welcomed Yelle as the incoming principal of Walnut Creek Elementary. She will replace Stephen Garretson, who has served as principal since 2022. Yelle worked as an assistant principal at nearby Hilltop Elementary School for the past year and previously worked at Walnut Creek. She has 19 years of experience in public education. Yelle taught seventh and eighth grade English, several high school courses, and has acted as a counselor at three schools.
“I’m just so excited to go back to my Walnut Creek family from Hilltop,” Yelle said at the meeting.
Yelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in English education and a master’s degree in school counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She and her husband Dave Yelle have 15- and 12-year-olds, Elly and Luke, who currently attend Azle schools. Yelle’s husband works in the contracts management department for Lockheed Martin.
“We look forward to bringing Mrs. Yelle back to Walnut Creek Elementary,” Smith said. “Her deep understanding of academic expectations, campus culture and commitment to Azle ISD will continue to uphold the high standards of excellence of Walnut Creek Elementary.”
