Plano ISD is pleased to announce several leadership appointments for the 2025–2026 school year. These leaders bring a wealth of experience, passion and proven success in serving students and communities.
Karma Cunningham Named Principal of Aldridge Elementary School
Ms. Karma Cunningham, Principal of Aldridge Elementary School
Karma Cunningham has been named as the newest principal of Aldridge Elementary School. A respected educational leader with more than two decades of experience in public education, Cunningham most recently served as principal of Davis Elementary and the Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. Throughout her career, she has led with vision, integrity and a strong commitment to student success.
Cunningham’s leadership journey began at Omaha Public Schools, where she held multiple roles, including teacher, instructional facilitator and principal. Since joining Plano ISD in 2009, she has served as both assistant principal and principal across multiple campuses, spearheading efforts to improve student outcomes, lead campus transformations and strengthen community partnerships.
Her expertise includes federal program management, staff development, strategic planning and program evaluation. She is also an active volunteer and community leader, having served with local nonprofits and agencies such as Minnie’s Food Pantry, the Plano Housing Authority and This Side Up! Family Center.
Cunningham holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Education in Technology in the Classroom from Lesley University. She brings a data-driven, relationship-focused leadership style to her new role overseeing recruitment, retention and development of district talent.
Noline Martin Named Principal of Barron Elementary School
Ms. Noline Martin, Principal of Barron Elementary School
Plano ISD is proud to welcome Noline Martin as the new principal of Barron Elementary School. Martin steps into this position with an impressive track record in turning around campuses and fostering student growth through strategic leadership, staff empowerment and community connection.
Prior to joining Plano ISD, Martin served as assistant principal at Thurgood Marshall Elementary in Richardson ISD, where her leadership helped improve the campus's state accountability rating. She brings deep instructional expertise and is known for cultivating a culture of collective teacher efficacy, implementing evidence-based literacy practices and leading data-informed instructional improvement.
Martin began her educational career as a bilingual teacher and instructional coach and has taught Spanish and ESL at both the elementary and secondary levels. She is a trained Teaching Trust and Paul Bambrick-Santoyo practitioner and has a strong record of improving student outcomes, particularly in reading.
A bilingual leader fluent in Spanish, Martin holds a Master of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the West Indies. Her leadership is defined by responsiveness, innovation and a heartfelt commitment to student success.
Antreshawn Buhl Appointed Principal of Jackson Elementary School
Ms. Antre'Shawn Buhl, Principal of Jackson Elementary School
Antreshawn Buhl has been named the new principal of Jackson Elementary School. With nearly 20 years of educational experience in Plano ISD, Buhl is a dynamic leader known for creating safe, inclusive and academically rigorous school environments.
Buhl began her Plano ISD career as a classroom teacher and instructional specialist at campuses including Forman, Dooley, Gulledge and Boggess Elementary Schools. She later served as assistant principal and principal, most recently leading at the elementary level with a focus on data-informed instruction, campus safety and community engagement.
She brings a practical and student-centered approach to leadership and is passionate about improving student outcomes through strong teacher support, effective policy implementation and strategic planning.
Buhl earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio and holds a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas at Dallas.
Shannon Bennett Named Director of Human Resources
Mr. Shannon Bennett, Director of Human Resources
Shannon Bennett brings more than two decades of experience in public education to his role as Director of Human Resources for Plano ISD. His journey in education began with the inspiration of a third-grade teacher who demonstrated the transformative power of high expectations, patience and belief in every child—values that have shaped his career ever since.
Originally from Waco, Shannon has served in a wide range of educational leadership roles, including teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, associate principal of a large urban high school, director of student services and assistant superintendent of schools. His work has consistently focused on expanding opportunities for students and building leadership capacity across school systems.
While serving as Assistant Superintendent of Henderson ISD, Shannon led districtwide efforts that increased pre-K enrollment, expanded CTE pathways and added dual credit and AP course offerings. He also implemented a college and career readiness center and led initiatives to support teacher development and retention, including the creation of the Inspiring Leadership Academy.
Most recently, Shannon served as Director of Student Services at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, where he oversaw student discipline across 32 campuses. In this role, he provided training in restorative strategies, analyzed data to inform district policy and supported efforts to address truancy and chronic absenteeism.
