Business Seen: Gagnon named Amarillo Managing Director; Boys Ranch principal earns award

Gagnon named city of Amarillo Managing Director/Chief Information Officer

Rich Gagnon has been named the city of Amarillo Managing Director/Chief Information Officer. According to a news release, in his most recent position with the city, Gagnon was CIO and director of Information Technology.

“I was seeking the opportunity to serve the community I call home in a greater capacity,” said Gagnon, who has been with the city for five years, according to the release. “It is an honor and a privilege to expand my role at the city as part of the city management team.”

City departments under Gagnon’s oversight consist of Information Technology, Emergency Operations, Amarillo Public Library and the development of new areas such as 311 and broadband.

“Rich has extensive experience in both the private sector and the public sector with the city of Amarillo,” said City Manager Jared Miller. “His knowledge and expertise of ever-changing technology will be a major asset to the community in his new role.”

Gagnon led the worldwide engineering team responsible for over a billion dollars of annual revenue as the Global Vice President of Systems Engineering for F5 Networks. His experience also includes stints as Theater Vice President of the Americas for Palo Alto Networks and the Director of Global Infrastructure for GameStop.

Gagnon has a Bachelors of Business Management from Colorado Technical University and attended Thayer Leadership Development Group at West Point.

Boys Ranch principal named outstanding principal for Region 16

BOYS RANCH – Shawn Read, principal of Boys Ranch High School in Boys Ranch Independent School District, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as a Region 16 Outstanding Principal of the Year, according to a news release. 

The award represents exemplary performance and outstanding leadership. As a Region 16 winner, Read is eligible to compete for the state title of Texas Principal of the Year. TASSP recognizes outstanding principals and assistant principals from the 20 Education Service Centers in the state. 

School administrators are nominated and chosen by their peers within their regions. Read, a 14-year principal, has headed the leadership team at Boys Ranch High School since 2017. He graduated from Dumas High School in 1984. He earned an associate degree from Clarendon College, a bachelor’s from Texas A & M University, and a master’s from West Texas A & M University. 

In addition, he is seeking a doctorate in educational leadership from WTAMU. 

“I was proud to be selected by the WTAMU Department of Education as a member of Cohort 1. I applied to improve as a leader for BRHS students and teachers,” Read said. “I needed to match the efforts of everyone on campus somehow.” 

Read also served as a member of the TASSP Legislative Committee for one term. Read sees himself as a leader of learners and credits his staff and students for providing opportunities to improve individual and campus outcomes at Boys Ranch High School in academics and social and emotional learning. 

The region winners will be recognized during the Josten’s Night of the Stars Awards Dinner in conjunction with the Summer Conference in June in Austin. Each principal will be presented with an award and recognized in a commemorative book, “Texas Principals, Texas Heroes.” Boys Ranch Independent School District is located on the campus of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. For more on Boys Ranch Independent School District, go to www.boysranchisd.org