As HISD prepares for the 2016-2017 school year, the district is taking the necessary steps to align the central office team in a way that best supports teaching and learning. Also, as a result of the $165 million recapture payment HISD must make to the state, the district is making changes to the organization and staffing structure at the cabinet level and throughout central office departments.

To create a more purposeful and community-oriented support system for principals, HISD will transition from a school structure organized by level and accountability rating, which can change from year to year, to a structure organized by area. This structure will not fluctuate, and will enable school support teams to identify and address instructional gaps throughout feeder patterns while connecting communities with needed resources and central office services.

The following team members have been appointed to lead five areas:

• North area: Dr. Grenita Lathan
• South area: Dr. Sam Sarabia
• East area: Mr. Jason Bernal
• West area: Dr. Jocelyn Mouton
• Non-zoned/charters: Dr. Esther Omogbehin

All five appointees have previously served as Chief School Officers at HISD. Dr. Lathan previously served as Chief School Officer over elementary transformation schools during the 2015-2016 school year. She came to HISD after serving as superintendent of schools for Peoria Public Schools, where she oversaw approximately 14,000 students and 2,700 staff. Dr. Sarabia is a veteran HISD administrator who previously served as Chief School Officer over elementary schools. In his 28-year career with HISD, Dr. Sarabia has served as a regional superintendent, executive principal, and principal.

Mr. Bernal, who has led secondary transformation schools as a Chief School Officer, joined HISD in June 2015 after serving as president of YES Prep schools, which won the first Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools in 2012. Dr. Mouton has served as both a Chief School Officer and School Support Officer for HISD, where she has served as a curriculum writer, teacher, principal, and executive principal. And Dr. Omogbehin, also a veteran administrator with an impressive track record of success in improving schools at all levels, has served as Chief School Officer for secondary schools and a School Support Officer since joining the district in 2014.

These five individuals bring decades of diverse experience and formidable accomplishments and will serve our communities well.

The new Schools Office structure will be effective July 1. All five Chief School Officers and their School Support Officers will be housed at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. (For a high-level view of the four physical areas assigned to the Chief School Officers, please click here.)