Principal Leslie Ceballos
I am tremendously excited and humbled to introduce myself as the new principal of Bowie Elementary School! Being selected to serve as the leader of such a vibrant and dedicated school community is truly an honor. This campus is rooted in so much history and tradition that anyone who steps onto the campus can feel the pride, passion, and sense of family that makes this school so special. I am thrilled to be joining a team of educators, students, and families who are deeply committed to student growth, belonging, and excellence.
I bring to this role more than 16 years of experience in education, each one preparing me for this exciting next step. I earned my degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin—Hook ’em Horns! And later completed a master’s in education focused on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. My career began in RISD as a third-grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary, followed by a role as an instructional coach at Carolyn Bukhair Elementary. I then spent seven years in Allen ISD, serving as a district technology specialist and a science instructional specialist before becoming the assistant principal at Boon Elementary where I served for four years. Four years ago, I proudly returned to RISD as the assistant principal at Brentfield Elementary, where I’ve loved serving this amazing community.
This opportunity is especially meaningful to me because I am a proud graduate of the Pearce Learning Community. My roots in Richardson ISD run deep, and stepping into this role feels like a full-circle moment. I understand firsthand the transformative impact of our schools, and I’m deeply committed to ensuring every Mustang is seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
My husband, Santiago, and I have been married for 12 years and are proud parents to three amazing kids who keep us inspired, laughing, and on our toes every single day. Emma will be entering third grade, Mia will be starting first grade, and our youngest, Luka, will be joining the Pre-K 3s class at Brentfield this coming school year.
I can’t wait to meet everyone and begin this exciting new chapter. Let’s make it an unforgettable year, Mustangs!
Assistant Principal (Mary) Katie Sandford
As a former Bowie Mustang myself, I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to serve in my own community as assistant principal at Bowie Elementary! I attended Bowie as a child Kindergarten through 6th grade, continued on to Westwood Jr. High School, and then graduated from JJ Pearce High School. I am so grateful for the opportunity to support the families of our community and be able to make a positive impact on each child’s learning and growth.
I am entering my 23rd year in education, and 14th year serving as assistant principal. I earned my degree in elementary education from the University of North Texas– GO MEAN GREEN! I later returned to UNT to complete my master’s in educational administration. I began teaching in Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD where I taught second, third, and fourth grade at Central Elementary for eight years. I enjoyed serving as a mentor for student teachers in my classroom and transitioned into an Instructional Math Coach role, which allowed me to have a positive impact on classroom instruction and, in turn, student growth and achievement. I then served as assistant principal in CFBISD for 10 years before returning to RISD and Bowie three years ago.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and catching a local game. My husband, Greg, and I have been married for 5 years and have two daughters, Maggie, a junior at Pearce, and Molly, in 8th grade at Parkhill. Between our teenagers, dogs Lucy and Bruce, and cat Clover, we stay busy!
I am so excited to see all of our Mustangs dream on this year and reach for infinity and beyond!
