Waxahachie Global High principal Don Snook resigns

Photo courtesy Waxahachie ISD.

Waxahachie Global High School principal Don Snook turned in his resignation Monday, June 29 and has accepted the position of principal at West High School.

WAXAHACHIE — Waxahachie Global High School principal Don Snook formally turned in his resignation to Waxahachie ISD on Monday.

"I have very much enjoyed being the principal of a school that other districts, states and even nations have visited so that they could emulate our success. I have worked with some of the best educators in the profession and I believe that our students have learned critical thinking and problem solving skills that will serve them well in the 21st century. Our future is in wonderful hands with our graduates," Snook said.

Snook became the principal of Global High in 2009 where under his leadership, the school has become a top-tier Early College High School and received recognition by the Texas Education Agency as a model Early College High School.

"I appreciate the opportunity I was given by Mr. (Tom) Collins as a first year principal when he hired me as the principal in 2009. Global was beginning its third year of existence and had just been named an Early College High School. We went from a school that was threatening to close — they couldn't even promise my job would be for more than a year — to a nationally ranked school and a Texas model high school," Snook said.

Snook guided Global High as it became first in the nation on a multitude of fronts.

"We have continually led the nation in educational firsts: the first school to have two fully functioning higher education partners, the first to have a partnership with a four year University in the STEM fields, the first to offer dual credit fully accepted by Ivy League universities, the youngest university students in the nation, the first science offerings for majors in the nation, the first computer science program for majors in the nation, and the list goes on," Snook said.

"I want to thank the parents, students, faculty and community for all of their support - this couldn't have happened without everyone functioning as a team."

Waxahachie ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Glenn acknowledged Snook's value to Global High students in a written statement.

"Our students have been fortunate to benefit from Mr. Snook’s expertise during his years with us. He has ensured that Global students have obtained a quality education and gained experiences that they will remember for a lifetime," Glenn said.

Snook began his education career in 1986 as a science teacher in Conroe, Texas. He also taught chemistry, physics and coached golf in Spring, Irving and Duncanville for 20 years before becoming an assistant principal at Mansfield Timberview High School in 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a Master of Education from Texas A&M.

Snook is leaving Waxahachie ISD to join West ISD.

"I am very excited to have been named the principal of West High School to help the community rebuild and become the education destination that I envisioned Global being when I was first brought on board," he said.

Glenn expressed excitement for the experience Snook will offer West ISD and said he will be missed in Waxahachie.

"We are excited for the students in West ISD, students who will benefit from his knowledge and experience, but he will be greatly missed," Glenn said.

Members of the community have already begun expressing their gratitude for Snook and his wife, Tanya, who was also a dearly loved teacher at Global.

"He and Mrs. Snook will be greatly missed! Very disheartened," Valerie Todd Daniel wrote on the Ellis County Citizen Facebook page.

"The Snooks are very, very special people. Touched so many lives," Nicole Gavin Mansell wrote.

"They were both great mentors and always put the students first! This is so sad," Sharon Adkins-Miller wrote.

"I hate that this is happening! My heart is literally broken. I wish them both happiness, as they so deserve it," Shannon Nelson-Moyers wrote.

"I hate to hear this. Mr Snook is a great man and leader. Global won't be the same without him!!! I don't think they can find another to fill "those" shoes! God bless our kids at Global," Robin Robinson-Del Bosque wrote.

"Words can't even begin to define how I feel about this. I know how much Global means to both Mr. and Mrs. Snook. I know how much Mr. and Mrs. Snook mean to Global, to it's students, parents and other faculty members. It was a union/bond that was greater than any I have ever seen in a school system. I know the Snooks are strong, they will pick up and share the greatness that they are elsewhere and the world outside our Global will be all the better for it. Our students, they are strong too, they will stand up and keep their heads held high in honor of all that the Snooks did for them. I hope to see them all carry on with determination and spirit, but when it comes right down to it, you cannot tell me that any one of us can keep that tear from falling down from a saddened broken heart today," Tina Collins Tramell wrote.

After receiving Snook's resignation, Waxahachie ISD quickly posted a job opening for a Global High School principal. Qualifications required include a master's degree in educational administration, Texas principal or other appropriate Texas certificate and a Certified Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS) appraiser. Additionally, the job posting states three years experience as a classroom teacher and two years experience in instructional leadership roles is required.

"With school starting in just a few short weeks, we will be working diligently to fill this leadership position. Our first priority is always our students," Glenn said.