Nicole Cornish named Athens HS principal
(Courtesy photo: Nicole Cornish.)
By Toni Garrard Clay'/AISD Communications Coordinator
Athens ISD is pleased to announce Nicole Cornish as the new principal at Athens High School. Cornish, who served the past three years as the district’s dean of the Ginger Murchison Pinnacle Early College High School, replaces Clay Tracy, who has just accepted the position of assistant superintendent at Mabank ISD.
“Mrs. Cornish has a reputation for excellence,” said AISD Acting Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims. “During her tenure as dean, she brought our early college high school into the state spotlight as a model school recognized by the Texas Education Agency. Her leadership as UIL coordinator has also led to strong performances, especially in the area of speech and debate. I’m confident she’ll bring that same focus for excellence to the entire high school campus.”
Cornish graduated from Lindale High School, where she won the UIL Class 3A State Championship titles in both policy debate and persuasive extemp her junior year. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Baylor University, and a master’s degree in education leadership from Lamar University.
She was first hired as a classroom teacher at Athens High School in 2010 and has been with the district all but one year since then, serving in a variety of positions, including speech teacher and head speech and debate coach, district UIL academic coordinator, AHS dean of accountability and instruction, and dean of the Pinnacle Early College High School. Her many accomplishments as speech and debate coach include multiple individual and team state medals, most notably the four consecutive years the UIL Class 4A Cross-Examination Debate Championship was won by Athens High School students.
“I am thrilled to have been named the Athens High School principal. It’s an honor to be part of such a tradition of excellence there,” said Cornish. “I'm also excited to continue working with the incredible staff, students and parents who make up the AHS community.”
She and her husband, Andrew, have one child, Grace, who just turned one.
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