{"id":3108,"date":"2021-09-27T11:29:50","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T16:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/schooltestwp3\/?page_id=3108"},"modified":"2026-07-29T17:02:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:02:25","slug":"principal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/principal\/","title":{"rendered":"Principal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3108\" class=\"elementor elementor-3108\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d764cc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d764cc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c0268fd\" data-id=\"c0268fd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fb3bc7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4fb3bc7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/elementor\/thumbs\/FLA-Principal-DeMarcus-Goree-rbybfw802cj9tdlq9oeh4tmxl24iwq2dma5gvtfzus.png\" title=\"FLA Principal DeMarcus Goree\" alt=\"FLA Principal DeMarcus Goree\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c0929a0\" data-id=\"c0929a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-565a07d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"565a07d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Principal Demarcus Goree-Watkins<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-addecbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"addecbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Welcome Back to Forest Lane Academy!<\/span><\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Hello, Forest Lane Academy families and community!<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">I am DeMarcus Goree-Watkins, and I am honored to welcome you to the 2026\u20132027 school year. This marks my 11th year as an administrator at Forest Lane Academy, and I continue to be inspired by the incredible students, families, staff, and community that make our school such a special place.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At Forest Lane Academy, we believe in\u00a0<b>One Goal, One Team, One Vision\u00a0<\/b>\u2014creating a world-class learning experience for every child, every day. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the remarkable accomplishments of our students. Last school year, Forest Lane Academy ranked among the Top 5 elementary campuses in Richardson ISD for Overall MAP Growth in Reading and Math during the 25\/26 school year. Even more exciting, our students ranked #1 in Reading Growth for grades 3\u20136 across the district.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Our students also demonstrated tremendous academic achievement:<\/p><ul><li><span role=\"presentation\">50% of our Kindergarten through 5th grade students earned MAP RIT scores at or above the 50th percentile.<\/span><\/li><li><span role=\"presentation\">64% of our students achieved Fall-to-Spring growth at or above the 50th percentile.<\/span><\/li><li><span role=\"presentation\">Forest Lane Academy students outperformed the district in the percentage of students meeting their projected MAP Growth goals in nearly every grade level.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">These accomplishments did not happen by chance. They are the result of dedicated teachers, determined students, and a school community committed to doing whatever it takes for children to succeed.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">This year, our theme is\u00a0<b>&#8220;Our Legacy, Our Story.&#8221;<\/b>\u00a0Every day, we have an opportunity to write another chapter in the story of Forest Lane Academy. Legacy is not built by a single person\u2014it is built by an entire community working together with purpose and passion.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At Forest Lane Academy, we are\u00a0<b>Goal Over Role<\/b>. Titles do not define our impact; our shared commitment to student success does. Whether you are a teacher, parent, volunteer, office staff member, custodian, cafeteria employee, bus driver, or community partner, every person plays an essential role in helping our students learn, grow, and thrive.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">As we begin this new school year, I invite each of you to join us in continuing the tradition of excellence that defines Forest Lane Academy. Together, we will build upon the successes of last year, embrace new opportunities, and create a legacy that future generations will be proud of.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are excited to partner with you for another incredible year of learning, growth, and achievement.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Together, let&#8217;s write Our Legacy. Our Story.<\/p><p>Best,<\/p><p><span style=\"font-size: 16px\">DeMarcus Goree-Watkins M.Ed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-style: inherit;font-weight: inherit\">Principal,<br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-style: inherit;font-weight: inherit\">Forest Lane Academy<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2837e16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2837e16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"mailto:Demarcus.Goree@risd.org\">Demarcus.Goree@risd.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2898c89 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2898c89\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8df97d5\" data-id=\"8df97d5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aac89a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aac89a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/elementor\/thumbs\/Angela-Guesby-scaled-rr50weoxtc2ilj40zyiz2b517dz39r4noimz9lw27g.png\" title=\"Angela Guesby\" alt=\"Angela Guesby\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06467a4\" data-id=\"06467a4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d844ee4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d844ee4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Assistant Principal Angela Guesby\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4aef148 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4aef148\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is with great excitement and deep honor that I introduce myself as your newest member of the Administrative Team as an Assistant Principal at Forest Lane Academy. I am thrilled to join this wonderful school community and partner with our incredible principal, dedicated teachers, and supportive families to help every student grow and succeed.<\/p><p><br \/>I have taught PreK, kindergarten, 5th and 6th grades. I\u2019ve also been a reading and instructional coach, dyslexia teacher, and now an assistant principal the past 4 years.<\/p><p><br \/>As an instructional leader, coaching and teaching over the past 21 years in RISD, I have contributed to the advancement and success of all students and teachers. My goal and personal dedication is to continue to <br \/>advocate for students by leading effectively in order to cultivate, motivate, and build relationships with teachers, staff, and community to help create a dynamic environment where a mentality of learning, growth, college and career readiness, and success is the norm.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9aa845 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9aa845\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"mailto:Angela.Guesby@risd.org\"><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Angela.Guesby@risd.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a3b4b7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3a3b4b7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5663a05\" data-id=\"5663a05\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-826fb9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"826fb9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/elementor\/thumbs\/FLA-AP-Jennifer-Kim-rbybfy3og0luglizyp7q9t5urtv9c49uajgfudd7ic.png\" title=\"FLA AP Jennifer Kim\" alt=\"FLA AP Jennifer Kim\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-645f9b6\" data-id=\"645f9b6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-330ac1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"330ac1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Assistant Principal Jennifer Kim<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-031dcaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"031dcaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Mrs. Kim has been a part of Richardson ISD since 2007 and has been a part of the Forest Lane Academy community since 2013. She received her bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio and completed her admin certification courses at the University of Texas in Arlington. She has taught 3rd grade in a 50\/50 bilingual setting, worked as a campus math specialist, and as an instructional coach. She also attended Richardson ISD from Kinder through 12<\/span><sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0grade in the Berkner High School feeder pattern.\u00a0 Mrs. Kim grew up in an immigrant household which taught her to value education as an opportunity that opens doors for the future. She is committed to and passionate about equity and providing a high-quality education for all. Outside of school, Mrs. Kim enjoys quality family time, going to the park, or taking weekend trips with her two daughters and husband.<\/p><p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2c203e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2c203e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><a href=\"mailto:Jennifer.Kim@risd.org\">Jennifer.Kim@risd.org<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Principal Demarcus Goree-Watkins Welcome Back to Forest Lane Academy! Hello, Forest Lane Academy families and community! I am DeMarcus Goree-Watkins, and I am honored to welcome you to the 2026\u20132027 school year. This marks my 11th year as an administrator at Forest Lane Academy, and I continue to be inspired by the incredible students, families, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":41,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-3108","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"RISD","author_link":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/author\/bprewitt\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Principal Demarcus Goree-Watkins Welcome Back to Forest Lane Academy! Hello, Forest Lane Academy families and community! I am DeMarcus Goree-Watkins, and I am honored to welcome you to the 2026\u20132027 school year. This marks my 11th year as an administrator at Forest Lane Academy, and I continue to be inspired by the incredible students, families,&hellip;","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-06 20:43:51","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3108"}],"version-history":[{"count":102,"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42772,"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3108\/revisions\/42772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ForestLaneAcademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}