TEMPLE, Texas — Travis Science Academy Principal Dr. Tiffany Weiss has been named 2022-23 Region 12 Middle School Principal of the Year. The award is sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) and recognizes exemplary performance by campus-level administrators across the state.
Weiss has worked in education for 20 years and is entering her fifth year as the principal at Travis Science Academy. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in history and education. Weiss then went on to earn a master’s in educational administration from Tarleton State University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Abilene Christian University. The nomination for Weiss highlighted the change in culture at the school, with a focus on involvement, open communication and support for teachers and students. Teachers are able to have a leadership piece and parents and students also have a voice with school administrators. Travis created mentor groups to help teachers new to the campus and focused on listening to the needs of teachers, staff and students. The school also showed double-digit gains in reading and growth in all academic areas including math, science and social studies during the 2021-2022 school year. Travis Science Academy is an International Baccalaureate World School.
“This honor means the world to me because I try to do this job with a servant’s heart,” Weiss said. “I feel called to do this job and anytime someone recognizes your work it is very special. It was a nice surprise to even be nominated. Since I walked in the door at Temple ISD and Travis, I have really been embraced by the whole community and I think that is a big reason for our success. The community embraced me and allowed me to be the leader here, and they helped influence the space I’m in right now and I just really appreciate the community’s support.”
School administrators are nominated and chosen by their peers from within the region for the TASSP Regional Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year honors. Winners are selected based on their exemplary performance and outstanding leadership. As Region 12 Middle School Principal of the Year, Dr. Weiss will move on to be a finalist for the TASSP State Principal of the Year Award. The 2022-23 State and Regional Principals of the Year will be recognized at the TASSP Summer Workshop next June.
“We are so excited to have one of our secondary principals honored by the TASSP,” said Dr. Lisa Adams, deputy superintendent of academics and school leadership for TISD. “Dr. Weiss is a phenomenal principal who leads her campus to excellence every day. We are grateful for her leadership both on her campus and across the district.”
TASSP is an organization established in 1923 that was formed by and for, over 5.600 campus-level administrators. The association’s goal is to provide an active network of administrators that want to take responsibility for the quality of school leadership.