In memoriam: Roger Ibarra, 1976–2015
Roger Ibarra, 1976-2015
Team HISD is mourning the passing of Secondary Schools Office Director Roger Ibarra, who died on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, at the age of 39.
Ibarra joined HISD in 2001 as a math teacher at his alma mater, Sam Houston High School (now known as the Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center), where he also served as an assistant principal. He then served as principal at Fonville Middle School from 2009-2014.
In 2014, Ibarra was promoted to Middle Schools Office director, where he served until 2015, when he took over as the Secondary Schools Office director.
“HISD has lost a dedicated educator, visionary, and wonderful human being,” said Chief Secondary Schools Officer Michael Cardona. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Roger have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.”
Ibarra led successful efforts to turn around a large urban high school and helped campuses transition to new systems, including a new teacher appraisal system and state accountability and assessment system.
Ibarra earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Our Lady of the Lake University and graduated with cum laude honors. He also earned a master’s degree in education from the University of the Incarnate Word. Ibarra had recently been accepted into the doctoral program at the University of Texas’ College of Education and started taking classes this past summer.
Ibarra is survived by his wife, Christine, and son, Austin.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be communicated at a later date.
Roger led the Fonville feeder pattern (Lyons, Moreno, DeChaumes, Durkee, Northline and Farias) with such passion and dedication. We all learned so much from him. I will dearly miss our birthday celebrations together. Rest in peace my friend.
Moments like these leave me without words. I never met him but any dedicated educator is a friend of mine. Condolences to his wife and son, our HISD family, and friends.
What a loss of a dear professional who touched my life. I was humbled last semester when Roger apologized for not attending several meetings. All in attendance were amazed by his thoughtfulness. I feel we have been blessed for knowing Roger and learning from him.
My condolences to all the Ibarra family, He was a great coworker and friend .Will truly be missed.
My high school, homie, and football teammate!
#RIH
#MuchLove
#SamHigh
I am thankful for having known Mr. Ibarra. He gave me a start in HISD as a Reading Interventionist at Fonville Middle School when North Forest ISD closed. He was warm, but yet tactful. I often thought that he reminded me of a celebrity. I will forever cherish his memory.
I am thankful to have worked with Roger. You will be missed friend.
A true professional and an educator who was always willing to take time and talk to me and answer any questions that I had. Had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking to him one on one during conferences in Austin. Thank you for all the words of encouragement and taking the time to mentor me Mr. Ibarra. You will be missed. RIP
He was really one of the good guys. He cared so much about his students. He was soft-spoken, intelligent, and he was a strong ambassador for Houston ISD.
I feel his passing so deeply my condolences to his wife and son. He was my mentor and educator, I still remember his wonderful smile, his inspiring and encouraging never giving up words. I quote ” don’t become an a statistic”. I was pregnant at sixteen a junior and in transition to becoming a senior at Sam Houston. He open door I didn’t know existed coming from a low income family. I learn so many opportunities that HISD had to offer thanks to him. He when out his way in his busy schedule to guide me, mentor me and provide real life knowledge. He was there when my daughter was fighting for her life just hours of being born. I quote ” stay strong she will get through this” . He did everything he could to push me the right direction to graduate. Thanks to Roger Ibarra I became a three year graduate with honor at Sam Houston math, science and technology center back in 2009. I owe my graduation to him. I went of to Houston community college acquired a sterile processing diploma. Then continued my associates in Surgical technology. Now persuing my bachelors in chemistry minor in forensics. I am currently a certified registered central supply mangegment technologist. Soon to become a certified instrument specialist and certified flexible scope processor technologist. Thanks to him to his never giving up words . I have become unstoppable , he gave me courage to seek knowledge and skills no matter how hard they seem. Thank you Roger Ibarra for being in my life, for taking time to guide me to always giving me a bright smile in my darkest moments. I will miss you, my heart will always remember you. May you rest in peace my dearing mentor and educator.
wao…..so painful…..
exit of a mentor and educationist…..
may the good Lord grant your soul eternal rest…..
amen……..