As part of Abilene ISD’s Building Brighter Futures strategic planning initiative, Purcell and Bowie Elementary Schools will be redesigned to launch the Abilene area’s first dedicated STEM learning models for K-5 students.
These exciting new programs reflect the district’s commitment to offering families greater access to innovative teaching and learning opportunities. Planning will begin during the 2025-26 school year, with both schools scheduled to open as STEM academies in 2026-27.
At Purcell Elementary, Justin Rosenquist will join the administrative team as planning year principal, working alongside current principal Matilda Jimenez to guide the early stages of the campus redesign. Together, they will collaborate with Bowie Elementary principal Janaye Wideman, who will lead the redesign efforts at Bowie.
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osenquist is an accomplished educator and campus leader with over a decade of experience and a strong foundation in science instruction. He began his career as a science teacher at Snyder Junior High and later at Mann Middle School, where he was named science department head. In that role, he led professional development and instructional alignment of teaching strategies across the 8th-grade team. In 2020, he joined Clack Middle School as assistant principal, where he was awarded the TASSP Region 14 Assistant Principal of the Year Award. He currently serves as assistant principal at Bowie Elementary, supporting campus-wide programs and administration.
“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to serve the students, families, and staff at Purcell Elementary,” Rosenquist said. “It is truly an honor to join such a dedicated and caring school community as we transition to a STEM academy. I look forward to building strong relationships, celebrating our successes, and working together to create the best possible learning environment for every child.”
Members of the Purcell and Bowie school communities will be invited to engage in the design process to ensure a thoughtful, community-focused implementation of the new learning models. These efforts are made possible in part by the grants Abilene ISD recently received from the Texas Education Agency and build on the district’s successful redesign process of Mann Middle School, which will launch as Mann STEAM Academy in 2025-26.