The Norman Public Schools Board of Education has approved two leadership appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, welcoming a new principal to Cleveland Elementary and Madison Elementary.
Mrs. Megan Chavez has been selected as the new principal for Cleveland Elementary.
Megan Chavez is an experienced educational leader with more than 12 years of service in both general and special education settings. Most recently serving as Principal of Earl Harris Elementary School in Bethany, Oklahoma, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive, high-achieving learning environments where every student has access to the support and opportunities needed to succeed.
Throughout her career, Megan has demonstrated a strong commitment to instructional excellence, strategic leadership, and collaborative problem-solving. As a principal, she has led initiatives to improve instructional equity, secured grant funding to enhance technology integration, restructured student support systems, and aligned campus resources to maximize student achievement. Her previous leadership experience as an assistant principal and special education teacher has provided her with a deep understanding of meeting the diverse needs of learners while supporting teachers and families.
Megan holds a Master of Education from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is certified in Elementary and Secondary Administration and holds teaching certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and Mild/Moderate Disabilities.
Known for her strengths in strategic planning, systems development, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement, Megan is passionate about building positive school cultures where students, staff, and families thrive. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, equity, and a belief that every child deserves access to high-quality educational experiences.
Mary Mullican has been selected as the new principal for Madison Elementary.
Mary Castillo Mullican is a bilingual educational leader with more than 26 years of experience in public education, spanning classroom instruction, instructional leadership, and school administration. She has most recently served as an Elementary Principal in Springdale Public Schools, where she has successfully led a highly diverse school community with significant populations of economically disadvantaged students and multilingual learners to achieve academic growth and state and national recognition.
Throughout her career, Mary has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, strategic school improvement, and fostering inclusive school cultures. As a principal, she has overseen all aspects of school operations, including instructional leadership, staff development, data-driven decision-making, and fiscal management. Under her leadership, her school earned recognition as a Marzano High Reliability School, a Solution Tree Promising Practices School, and an Arkansas School on the Move for literacy and mathematics.
Prior to becoming a principal, Mary served as an assistant principal, instructional facilitator, ESL teacher, bilingual educator, and social worker. Her diverse professional background has equipped her with a deep understanding of student needs, family engagement, and systems-level leadership. She is especially passionate about supporting multilingual learners, developing teacher leaders, and creating collaborative environments that empower both students and staff to succeed.
Mary holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma, Arkansas State University, Cameron University, and an ESL endorsement from John Brown University. She has also been recognized as an Arkansas Department of Education PLC Practitioner, supporting schools across the state in implementing Professional Learning Community processes and strengthening educator collaboration.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, strong communication skills, and commitment to continuous improvement, Mary believes that every student deserves access to high-quality educational opportunities and a supportive learning environment where they can thrive.