Washington to lead Cedar Hill High School

Cedar Hill—Courtney Washington is beginning her first year as principal of Cedar Hill High School with the goal of continuing, and building upon, the campus’ reputation as the District’s Flagship campus.

“I want the community and the stakeholders to see us as the premiere provider of education,” Washington said. “The students will know how to look someone in the eye, shake hands and have good conversations that will set them apart from anyone else when they go into a job interview.”

Washington was officially hired as CHHS Principal at the July 21CHISD Board of Trustees Meeting.

She’s determined to have staying power on the campus, after working in just two other districts (Irving ISD and Plano ISD) in her 28-year-career.

“I’ll be right at home in Cedar Hill ISD; there are so many good things happening here,” Washington said. “We have a collaborative spirit to make CHHS even greater than it is. I just want to be part of that journey.”

Washington was quick to cite the importance of her campus administration team, all of whom are returning from the 2024-2025 school year.

From 2006-2025, Washington was a campus administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels in Plano ISD. Plano ISD splits its high schools into ninth/10th grade and 11th and 12th grade.

Washington said she’s grateful for the opportunity to lead a traditional four-year high school.

“You have a sense of community where the scholars are on a journey for all four years at the campus,” Washington said.

The daughter of educators, Washington was born and raised in the small southern Louisiana city of Houma. After high school, she headed north to Grambling State with the goal of becoming a doctor.

Following her parents into education wasn’t on her mind, until it was. She battled an illness soon after college and decided to shift her priorities from medicine to education.

Around the same time, her husband, Jarvis, accepted a position in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Washington began teaching in 1997, and one of her campus administrators quickly noticed her leadership qualities. Four years later, she had a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Texas.  Washington was an assistant principal before the age of 30 and a principal before age 40.

“Leadership is second nature to me, but being a servant leader is what’s important,” Washington said. “I love to collaborate with people and bring out the best in everyone. My mantra is ‘Flagship means first.’”

Washington earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree in biology/pre-medicine from Grambling State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1995.

Washington is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and served as the Vice President of the Tau Rho Omega Chapter. She’s on the board of the Women of Pearls Community Action Foundation and a deaconess, choir member, and women’s auxiliary member of the Ben Washington Baptist Church in Irving.

SOURCE Cedar Hill ISD