New principal named for Northwest ISD elementary school after leader’s sudden death
Educator Edwina West-Dukes is the new principal of Northwest ISD’s J.C. Thompson Elementary. She was named to her position July 25, 2024, after the sudden death of principal Leigh Anne Romer. (Courtesy photo | Northwest ISD)
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Principal Leigh Anne Romer wanted Northwest ISD’s J.C. Thompson Elementary to be “the place to be” and “the best school in the universe.”
After Romer’s sudden death in early July, Edwina West-Dukes plans to carry those mottoes forward as the new principal of Thompson Elementary. Northwest ISD named West-Dukes as the new campus leader July 25.
“I am eager to join the JCT Trailblazer community and build upon the amazing work that Dr. Romer created in her 12 years as principal,” West-Dukes said in a statement.
West-Dukes was most recently principal of Heritage Elementary in Keller ISD. She previously served as an assistant principal for two years in Keller ISD and four years in Fort Worth ISD.
Before that, West-Dukes was an elementary teacher for eight years in Fort Worth ISD.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University and has two master’s degrees, one in educational leadership and the other in policy studies, from the University of Texas at Arlington.
“One of my top priorities is to maintain a positive and welcoming campus culture, which motivates students and staff alike to continuously improve academically,” West-Dukes said. “I look forward to meeting our Trailblazer community in the coming days.”
Romer built the positive and welcoming campus culture, Northwest ISD Superintendent Mark Foust wrote in a July 8 letter.
“Dr. Romer took pride in fostering an environment where all students knew they were going to be valued and cared for, and every day at JCT is an amazing day thanks to the culture she established in her 12 years as principal,” Foust said.
Jacob Sanchez is a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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