HUNTSVILLE, TX (April 16, 2026) – The Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the recommendation to hire by Superintendent Dr. Scott Sheppard during their regular board meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The district is proud to announce Mr. Colby Oliphant as the new principal of Mance Park Middle School. Mr. Oliphant brings a strong background in instructional leadership, student support, and campus operations, along with a deep commitment to fostering student success and a positive school culture. He will replace Mr. Don Jackson who announced earlier this semester that he would not be returning next year.
“We are excited to promote Mr. Oliphant to this position as the new leader of Mance Park Middle School,” said Superintendent, Dr. Scott Sheppard. “His experience, leadership skills, and deep roots in the Huntsville community make him an excellent fit for this role. He is well liked and respected by the staff, students and families at Huntsville High School.”
Mr. Oliphant currently serves as Associate Principal at Huntsville High School, where he supervises and evaluates professional staff, supports innovative instructional practices, and plays a key role in developing and maintaining the campus master schedule. He collaborates closely with campus leadership to uphold high expectations for teaching, learning, and community engagement.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Oliphant served as Assistant Principal at Huntsville High School from 2021 to 2024. In that role, he worked closely with students, teachers, and families to address academic and behavioral needs, participated in 504 and ARD meetings, and helped guide students in setting and achieving educational goals.
Mr. Oliphant began his career in education at Huffman Middle School in Huffman ISD, where he served as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Business Education teacher from 2014 to 2021. During this time, he developed and implemented engaging instructional strategies tailored to meet diverse student learning needs and analyzed student performance data to drive academic growth.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Sam Houston State University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in School Counseling at Sam Houston State University, with expected graduation sometime this year.
A proud product of the Huntsville community, Mr. Oliphant was raised locally and has strong family ties to the area. He is a graduate of Huntsville High School, making this appointment especially meaningful. As a lifelong member of the community, Mr. Oliphant is truly a Hornet through and through, bringing both personal passion and professional dedication to his new role.
