June 20, 2007

Familiar face appointed to lead Timberline Elementary

The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on June 18 approved the appointment of Cody Spielmann to the position of principal at Timberline Elementary, effective July 1. Spielmann, 53, served as assistant principal at Timberline during 2006-2007 and succeeds Dr. Rob Thornell, who has been principal at Timberline since 2003.

Spielmann has served 27 years in education, the past seven as a campus administrator in GCISD at Timberline, Heritage and Grapevine elementary schools. Since 2004, she also served as principal of the District’s elementary summer school, Summer Academy.

“It has been a rewarding experience to work at Timberline Elementary as assistant principal, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as principal,” Spielmann said. “I believe that all students can be successful learners and am looking forward to continuing the work of our students, staff, parents and community toward our common goals.”

Prior to joining GCISD, Spielmann worked as an assistant principal and teacher in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD and a teacher in White Bear Lake (Minn.) ISD and at Glenwood (Iowa) State Hospital School. She has served 17 years as a teacher and 10 as a campus administrator.

Spielmann is active in the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), serving as Region XI president for the 2006-2007 school year and in various leadership roles since 2001. This past spring, she was honored as the District XI TEPSAN of the Year. She is also a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education in 1975 from South Dakota State University and a Master of Educational Administration and Supervision in 1994 from the University of North Texas. She holds a Preschool Handicapped/EMH certification and has participated in numerous trainings including Kagan Higher Level Thinking Skills, Kagan Cooperative Learning Institute, and Leadership Development Process.

She has received several awards including the PTA “Friend of Children” Award and the Texas State Reading Association Excellence in Teaching Award, and serves on various District and professional committees.

Spielmann and her husband, Richard, have lived in Colleyville for 10 years. They have two daughters – Katie Neal, who is a first-grade teacher at Dove Elementary, and Libby Spielmann, who is a student at Tarrant County College.