In a nutshell
Oakley will be the principal at NISD’s first facility exclusively for pre-kindergarten students. She has experience at the district as the principal of Cox Elementary for the last seven years and has been in the district for 17 years, according to a news release from the district.
Oakley started as an elementary school teacher and has experience in other roles as a campus instructional teacher, intervention specialist and assistant principal.
“Early childhood is where it all begins. It’s where we first discover our love of learning, building relationships and where confidence and curiosity will start to take root,” Oakley said at a district board meeting Oct. 20. “I am very proud to lead the way in creating a space that nurtures all of this and more. This recognition is shared with many hands and many hearts that will help mold this vision.”
Cox Elementary will have a new principal in the 2026-27 school year to be announced at a later date, according to the district. The Hicks Early Childhood Center is scheduled to open for students August 2026.
The background
NISD broke ground on the Hicks Early Childhood Center off FM 156 south of Hillshire Drive and north of East Bonds Ranch road in July. The facility is one of four centers to be constructed for the district in an effort to meet student growth, according to previous reporting.
Voters approved the construction of the centers along with other facilities for the district in a 2023 bond election. Construction for the facility is expected to be completed June 2026 and enrollment is expected to open in April.
