Tullos previously served as assistant principal at Argyle West Elementary for the past two years and has navigated the transition to her new role since January with a focus on staffing and connecting with students and families including attending a beam signing event for the campus Feb. 14.
She brings 15 years of experience in education and started in AISD as a counselor at the former Argyle Intermediate School before it became the Sixth Grade Center. Before arriving in the district, she worked in Dallas ISD as an elementary school counselor and also has educational experience as a behavioral interventionist.
The district built Jane Ruestmann Elementary to provide enrollment relief at the elementary school level as the district experiences exponential growth. By 2033 the district could serve around 11,000 students and has grown 13% since the end of the 2021-22 school year.
The district expected to serve 599 students at Jane Ruestmann Elementary in 2024, which serves Kindergarten through 5th grade and has an 850 student capacity, but that number will be closer to 800, per Zonda Education data.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
You have more than 15 years of experience in education, how will you leverage that experience in your new role?
I think that every role I have had has prepared me for taking on the role of principal at Jane Ruestmann. I worked in Dallas ISD prior to working in Argyle and I've had experience with very diverse populations of students. I have had experience with implementing different curriculums and so the experience that I have had from every pocket of teaching and counseling has prepared me to use those skills to ensure that we come together as a school community and create the best possible learning environment that we can.
Does your experience as a counselor provide a unique perspective in administration roles?
I think that being a counselor for so many years has helped my ability to communicate with people and my ability to problem solve and truly be a listener when I need to be a listener and be a problem solver when I need to be a problem solver.
How do you balance leaving familiarity for the unknown?
Quite a few staff members are trans transferring from Argyle West Elementary and from Argyle South Elementary, so the beautiful piece of that is we get to take all of the greatest things from those campuses, the great systems and procedures and all the things that we've learned good, bad or otherwise, and create something new at Jane Ruestmann.
What are some lessons that you've learned throughout your career and how do you feel they'll impact you going into this position?
Communication is undoubtedly one of the most important pieces of opening a new campus and leading a highly functioning highly impactful campus. Additionally, seeing opportunities out of failures is important because it's how we grow and how we get better. I am not often faced with things that I walk away from and feel like I have failed because I always try to take lessons from everything that I'm involved in.
What are the top priorities on your to-do list as principal?
After working to staff the campus and secure supplies and materials throughout the year, the priority is establishing the culture and community now that the school is open. Cultivating a culture that's really dynamic and prioritizes our academic excellence is really important. We want students and staff to be innovative and collaborative and have a commitment to growing and learning and becoming strong, independent individuals. I really envision the campus being a place where students are encouraged to explore and recognize their potential. I want to establish an environment where everyone has a love for lifelong learning.
If there's one message that you could convey to the residents of Argyle ISD about your new role, what would it be?
I am incredibly honored and excited to serve alongside our staff and our families as we open this building, and they can expect nothing less than it being an incredible place for their children to spend their days.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional information.
