Assistant Superintendent of Administration Named

Magnolia ISD has named Dr. Ben King the Assistant Superintendent of Administration. For the past year, Dr. King has been the Chief of Student Services, overseeing Special Services, Fine Arts, and Counseling. He is also the liaison to the Montgomery County Constable Office and responsible for the leadership development of Assistant Principals and Principals and campus culture.

Dr. King began his career in education in 2008 as an English teacher and coach at Magnolia Junior High in Magnolia ISD. He went on to serve as a teacher at Magnolia High School and Lone Star College - Montgomery, a curriculum coordinator in Magnolia ISD, and an Academic Coordinator at Magnolia Junior High before moving into administration. As a campus administrator, Dr. King has served the district as Principal of Bear Branch Junior High and later as Principal of Magnolia West High School. In 2021, he began serving Magnolia ISD as the Executive Director of Student Services.

Dr. King was born in Orange, TX, and was raised in Bridge City, TX. He holds a BA in English from East Texas Baptist University, where he also played basketball, and an MA in English from Belmont University. He earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and wrote a dissertation on student engagement.

He and his wife Heather have two children, AnnElise and Langston, who both attend Magnolia ISD schools.

 

Patricia Horrigan Named Principal at Dr. Todd Stephens Academy

Magnolia ISD has named Patricia Horrigan, the Principal at Dr. Todd Stephens Academy, formerly Alpha Academy. Mrs. Horrigan has been the Assistant Principal at Magnolia West for the past five years.

Mrs. Horrigan has been in public education for 14 years, the last nine of which were in Magnolia ISD. She taught math at Magnolia West and, before that, taught math at Trinity ISD. She has been recognized as the Teacher of the Year (2006), Teacher of the Month (2015), and Teacher of the Quarter (2017). 

" I am delighted to accept the principal role at the newly named Dr. Todd Stephens Academy. I am eager to lead with passion, integrity, and dedication to student success!" stated Ms. Horrigan.

She received her Bachelor's in Science in Education with a Minor in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership with a Minor in Curriculum and Instruction from Sam Houston State University. 

She and her husband have three grown children: Katie, Ty, and Billie Jean. They enjoy traveling, camping in their fifth wheel, visiting different states, and riding their side-by-side off-road vehicles through the mountain trails. They also own Harleys and enjoy riding together on pretty days.