The Northwest ISD board of trustees unanimously approved to name Tricia Lutkenhaus as the inaugural principal of Barksdale Middle School during their regular meeting March 10.

The details

According to a district news release, Lutkenhaus has 25 years of experience in education and has served Northwest ISD in the following capacities:
  • Teacher
  • Assistant principal
  • Principal
Lutkenhaus currently serves as principal of Gene Pike Middle School, a role she has maintained for the past four years. She will continue to serve as the principal of Pike for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. She will then start assembling the staff for Barksdale Middle School and collaborate with the district's departments to coordinate the school's opening.

The news release states Lutkenhaus has earned several awards throughout her career including:
  • 2022 Outstanding Principal award from the Texas Secondary School Principals
  • 2024-25 Distinguished Administrator from the Texas Music Educators Association
  • 2017 Pike Middle School Exemplar Educator
Quote of note

“I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to open Barksdale Middle School and collaborate with our inaugural teachers and staff to set the culture and standard of excellence at a new school in Northwest ISD,” Lutkenhaus said.


Lutkenhaus earned her master’s degree in education administration from Lamar University and her bachelor’s degree in science from the University of North Texas, according to the news release.

Diving in deeper

Barksdale Middle School is one of several new campuses that are under construction in Northwest ISD. Northwest ISD Executive Director of Construction Tommy Osborne provided an update on these campuses and other facilities to trustees during their regular board meeting Feb. 25.

Osborne said that Barksdale Middle School, which is located next to the Pecan Square community in Northlake, is about 20% complete.


Funding for these capital projects and renovations comes from the district’s $2 billion bond package that passed in May 2023. Projects from that bond are helping to accommodate the rapid growth in student enrollment that is not expected to end anytime soon.