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Kamalia Cotton Named Principal Of Ebby Halliday Elementary School

22 Feb 2011

Veteran Administrator to Lead School Named for Visionary Real Estate Trailblazer

DALLAS—Kamalia Cotton, former principal at H.S. Thompson Learning Center, will take the helm as principal of the new Ebby Halliday Elementary School opening August 2011. The announcement was made by Shirley Ison-Newsome, senior executive director of the Southeast Elementary Learning Community.

"Ms. Cotton is an excellent choice to lead the new Ebby Halliday Elementary School," said Ison-Newsome. "Her commitment and dedication to students, coupled with her standards of excellence and exemplary achievement will, undoubtedly, have a lasting impact on the Ebby Halliday Elementary students and surrounding community. A principal leader par excellence, she embodies the spirit and achievement standards of the renowned Mrs. Ebby Halliday."

Cotton began her career in 1984 as a teacher and has since served as principal and assistant principal at a number of elementary campuses. While at H.S. Thompson, she led her school to become one of the district's top performing schools. Under her leadership, the school was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and was rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency for the last two years and again in 2006.

"I am very excited to be named principal at a school that honors the top real estate giant in the state," said Cotton. "Ms. Halliday has spent 65 years serving the citizens of Dallas, and I look forward to continuing her legacy of visionary leadership, working with the community and providing students every opportunity to receive the best education in a great learning environment."


Cotton earned her master's degree in educational administration/supervision from the University of North Texas. She received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Oklahoma.

Ebby Halliday Elementary School will accommodate 810 students in pre-k through grade 5. The school is located at 10210 Teagarden Rd.

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