Following the announcement of Donnie Bartlett leaving Timber Creek, Keller ISD has named a new TCHS Principal who is very familiar to Falcon students and families.
Michelle Somerhalder will be the new Timber Creek Principal. Update: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Somerhalder would be the first female KISD high school principal. That honor actually belongs to former Keller High School Principal Sharon Mayes.
Somerhalder was originally named to lead Timberview Middle School, but will return to Timber Creek High School to serve as the new principal. She was serving as an assistant principal at Timber Creek High School, a position she accepted in July 2015. From 2011-2015, Somerhalder was Assistant Principal at Keller Middle School, and she began her career teaching Spanish at Decatur High School in 2004.
“Ms. Somerhalder has established a strong rapport among both students and staff during her time at TCHS,” Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tommie Johnson said. “She is immersed in the culture created at Timber Creek HS. She continues to make an impact in Keller ISD and has demonstrated strong leadership skills that will suit her well for this position.”
Somerhalder attended Texas Christian University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and Lamar University where she earned Master of Education.
As for Bartlett, he’s not leaving Keller ISD, but instead focusing on Athletics as the new Assistant Athletics Director under nearly named Athletics Director Eric Persyn.
“With Mr. Bartlett’s background in athletics and campus leadership he will do an excellent job for us. We are confident in his skills and his abilities to continue building our athletics programs,” said Cecil McDaniel, Chief of Schools.
Bartlett joined Keller ISD from Grand Prairie ISD where he served as Principal at the South Grand Prairie 9th Grade Center from 2013-2016. He previously served as a middle school principal in GPISD and as an elementary school principal before that. However, Bartlett is no stranger to Northeast Tarrant County. He began his educational career in Carroll ISD where he served as a teacher and coach for five years before taking over as a teacher and offensive coordinator of the Richland High School football program in Birdville ISD.
Bartlett obtained his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of North Texas and his Master of Educational Administration from Dallas Baptist University.
“I look forward to the opportunity to help lead the District’s Athletics programs. I grappled with this decision because I loved my role as Timber Creek High School principal, but ultimately, I know this is where I need to be,” Bartlett said. “I’m committed to making a positive impact on the future of Keller ISD Athletics.”
Additionally, since Somerhalder is staying at Timber Creek, someone else will lead Timberview Middle School — and that person is a former Falcon as well.
Charles Erwin has been selected to lead Timberview Middle School. He has been a part of the Parkwood Hill Intermediate School community as an assistant principal since February 2016, and began his administrative career at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School, where he served during the 2015-2016 school year. Mr. Erwin taught 11th Grade AP/US History from 2013-2015 at Timber Creek High School, and began his teaching career in August 2011 in Krum ISD.
“Mr. Erwin’s leadership extends well beyond the campus level as he most recently led a group as part of the KISD Visioning work,” Johnson said. “His investment in the future of KISD as well as his collaborative approach were evident throughout the Visioning process. Timberview Middle School will definitely continue on its path to excellence with Mr. Erwin at the helm.”
