Abilene ISD Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn announced Friday that he has appointed Leslye Roberts to serve as the principal of Martinez Elementary School, effective Dec. 1. A veteran campus leader with 18 years of experience in Texas public education, Roberts will lead the implementation of innovative models for instruction and student experience at Martinez. Roberts is currently the principal of Taylor Elementary, a position she has held since 2021.
Kuhn further announced that Taylor Elementary Assistant Principal Shanda Bourn will serve as interim principal at Taylor, also effective Dec. 1. Bourn will lead campus operations at Taylor through the spring 2026 semester, with Roberts serving as an advising principal to provide additional leadership support during the transition.
“I have complete confidence in Leslye Roberts and her ability to build school cultures that support great teaching and learning,” Dr. Kuhn said. “Leslye is a school leadership expert with a significant track record of success in achieving positive outcomes for Abilene ISD students and families. I’m excited to support her as her success continues at Martinez.”
Roberts first joined Abilene ISD in 2012 after spending five years in Santo ISD. She began her AISD career as a teacher at the former Reagan Elementary (now the Hartford Center) before being named the instructional coordinator at the former Lee Elementary (now Stafford) in 2015. She later served as assistant principal for the former Johnston Elementary (now Purcell) until she returned to Reagan as campus principal in 2018. As principal at Taylor and Reagan, Roberts’s areas of focus and expertise were developing healthy school cultures featuring professional learning communities and implementing effective systems for data-driven instruction.
“I am honored to be appointed as the next principal at Martinez Elementary. I look forward to building relationships with the Martinez school community and working together to create the best learning opportunities for all students,” Roberts said. “I am also deeply grateful to have served the students, families, and staff at Taylor Elementary and will cherish the memories, growth and success we have achieved together.”
A 2005 graduate of Lubbock Christian University, Roberts earned her master’s degree in education from Abilene Christian University in 2011. In 2024, she was named the Region 14 TEPSAN Principal of the Year by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) and subsequently elected to serve as the current TEPSA Region 14 President. In that role, Roberts works to positively impact high-quality education for pre-k through eighth grade students across Texas.
Outgoing Martinez Elementary principal Kimberly McCutcheon will remain with Abilene ISD to serve students in a different capacity. The search for the next full-time principal at Taylor Elementary will be completed in the spring.