HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza recently announced the reorganization of the district’s schools office. HISD’s 287 schools have been divided by region and placed under the stewardship of seven chief school officers, all of whom report directly to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Samuel Sarabia.
North Region
Dr. Matilda “Maty” Orozco is overseeing schools in the north region. After graduating from Milby High School, Dr. Orozco earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Houston, her master’s degree in educational leadership from University of Houston-Clear Lake, and her doctorate in professional leadership from University of Houston. She served HISD as a bilingual teacher, assistant principal, building principal, assistant superintendent of special populations, and school support officer before moving to Beaumont ISD, where she was assistant superintendent of elementary administration. Dr. Orozco is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: HSPVA, Sam Houston, North Houston Early College, Northside, and Booker T. Washington
Middle Schools: Burbank, Fonville, Henry, Marshall, and Williams
Elementary Schools: Barrick, Burbank, Burrus, Coop, DeChaumes, Durkee, Garcia, Herrera, Highland Heights, Janowski, Jefferson, Kennedy, Ketelsen, Looscan, Lyons, C. Martinez, Moreno, Northline, Osborne, Roosevelt, Ross, Scarborough, Sherman, and Wesley
Early Childhood Centers: Farias
Northeast Region
Julia Dimmitt is in charge of schools in the HISD’s northeast region. She has a bachelor of arts in English and a master of education in secondary education and public school administration from University of St. Thomas. Dimmitt’s 25 years of service to HISD include teaching English and history at Ryan Middle School, Madison High School, and Harris County Juvenile Detention Center. She served as principal of Edward White Elementary School and Lanier Middle School. For the past eight years, Dimmitt has been executive principal of schools in the Yates/Lamar secondary feeder pattern, a school improvement officer for HISD middle schools, and school support officer of the North Area Office. In 2013, she oversaw the transition of the former North Forest School District into HISD. Chief Dimmitt is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Jordan, Kashmere, North Forest, and Wheatley
Middle/High School Combinations (6-12): Mickey Leland College Prep for Young Men
Middle Schools: Fleming, Forest Brook, Key, and McReynolds
Elementary Schools: Atherton, Berry, Bruce, Cook, Dogan, Eliot, Elmore, N.Q. Henderson, Hilliard, Isaacs, Kashmere Gardens, Marshall, R. Martinez, McGowen, Paige, Pugh, Scroggins, and Shadydale
Early Childhood Centers: Fonwood
Northwest Region
Dr. Steven Gutierrez is overseeing schools in HISD’s northwest region. He received his bachelor of arts in English at UCLA and his master’s and doctorate degrees in education from University of Houston. After graduating from UCLA, he joined Teach for America and began his teaching career at Patrick Henry Middle School. Dr. Gutierrez has served as a dean of students at West Briar Middle School, principal of The Rusk School, and a school support officer, first in the Elementary Schools Office and then in the South Area Schools Office. Dr. Gutierrez is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Carnegie, Challenge Early College, DeBakey, Heights, Houston Academy for International Studies, Lamar, Scarborough, and Waltrip
Middle/High School Combinations (6-12): Young Women’s College Prep
Middle Schools: Black, Clifton, Hamilton, Hogg, Lanier
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8):Garden Oaks, Gregory-Lincoln, The Rice School, Wharton, Wilson
Elementary Schools: Arabic Immersion, Benbrook, Browning, Crockett, Durham, Field, Harvard, Helms, Love, MacGregor, Memorial, Oak Forest, Poe, River Oaks, Roberts, Sinclair, Smith, Stevens, Travis, Twain, Wainwright, and West University
East Region
Dr. Rolando “Rudy” Trevino is in charge of the east region. After graduating from HISD schools, he taught at Burbank Middle School before becoming assistant principal. He moved on to principal of Herrera Elementary School, Sam Houston Ninth Grade Academy, and Eastwood Academy. Dr. Trevino served as an elementary school improvement officer before become the superintendent of schools at Lockhart ISD. His most recent position was school support officer in the HISD South Area Office. Dr. Trevino has a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, a master’s in educational leadership and counseling from SHSU, a second master’s in Spanish literature from University of Houston, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from SHSU. Dr. Trevino is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Austin, Chavez, Eastwood Academy, East Early College, Furr, High School for Law and Justice, Milby, and REACH
Middle Schools: Deady, Edison, Holland, Navarro, Ortiz, Project Chrysalis, and Stevenson
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8): The Rusk School
Elementary Schools: Bellfort, Bonner, Briscoe, Burnet, Cage, Carrillo, Crespo, Davila, De Zavala, Franklin, Gallegos, J.R. Harris, R.P. Harris, J.P. Henderson, Lantrip, Lewis, Oates, Park Place, Patterson, Pleasantville, Port Houston, Robinson, Rucker, Sanchez, Southmayd, Tijerina, and Whittier
Early Childhood Centers: Laurenzo
South Region
Dr. Erick Pruitt is in charge of schools in HISD’s south region. He began his education career as a teacher at Woodlawn Community Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools before serving as New Leaders resident principal, contract principal, and deputy chief of schools. Most recently, Dr. Pruitt worked in the East Area Schools Office as a school support officer for schools in the Wheatley feeder pattern. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue University, a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago, and a doctoral degree from National Louis University. Dr. Pruitt is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Energy Institute, Jones, South Early College, Sterling, Worthing, and Yates
Middle Schools: Attucks, Baylor College at Ryan, Cullen, Hartman, and Thomas
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8): Woodson
Elementary Schools: Alcott, Almeda, Bastian, Blackshear, Brookline, Codwell, Cornelius, DeAnda, Foster, Frost, Garden Villas, Golfcrest, Gregg, Hartsfield, Kelso, Law, Lockhart, Mading, Mitchell, Peck, Reynolds, Seguin, Thompson, Young, and Whidby
Southwest Region
Dr. Jocelyn Mouton is overseeing schools in the southwest region. She has served as teacher, curriculum writer, director, and principal at the Rice School, as well as executive principal. Dr. Mouton also worked in Boston Public Schools as assistant deputy superintendent in professional development and school support services. She was employed by Houston A+ Challenge to coordinate and support educational programs in five area school districts, including HISD. She has served as a school support officer and chief school officer for the district. Dr. Mouton has a master’s degree in early childhood education and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from University of Houston. Dr. Mouton is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Bellaire, Madison, and Westbury
Middle Schools: Fondren, Lawson, Meyerland, Pershing, Pin Oak, and Welch
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8): Billy Reagan
Elementary Schools: Anderson, Bell, Braeburn, Condit, Elrod, Foerster, Fondren, Grissom, Gross, Halpin, Herod, Hines-Caldwell, Hobby, Horn, Kolter, Longfellow, Lovett, Montgomery, Parker, Petersen, Red, Shearn, Tinsley, and Windsor Village
Early Childhood Centers: King and Mistral
West Region
Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo is in charge of schools in the district’s west region. After graduating from HISD schools, he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from University of Houston. Dr. Arredondo began as a teacher and then became assistant principal at Milby High School before moving on to principal of McReynolds Middle School and Austin High School. Most recently he served as assistant superintendent for Family and Community Engagement. In 2016, Dr. Arredondo was named Educator of the Year by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 402.
Dr. Arredondo is in charge of the following schools:
High Schools: Sharpstown, Westside, and Wisdom
Middle/High School Combinations (6-12): Jane Long Academy and Sharpstown International
Middle Schools: Revere, Sugar Grove, Tanglewood, and West Briar
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8): Briarmeadow, Pilgrim, and T.H. Rogers
Elementary Schools: Ashford, Askew, Benavidez, Bonham, Briargrove, Bush, Cunningham, Daily, Emerson, Mandarin Immersion, McNamara, Milne, Neff, Neff EE-1, Piney Point, Rodriguez, St. George, Shadowbriar, Sutton, Valley West, Walnut Bend, E. White, and M. White
Charters and Alternative Schools
Dr. Mouton is in charge of the following HISD Charters and Alternative Schools:
K-12 Schools: Community Services and Texas Connections
High Schools: Advanced Virtual Academy, E-STEM West, E-STEM Central, Liberty, Middle College HCC Felix Fraga, Middle College HCC Gulfton, Mount Carmel, Victory Prep North, and Victory Prep South
Middle/High School Combinations (6-12): Harper Alternative
Middle Schools: Energized for Excellence, E-STEM Central, E-STEM West, High School Ahead, Inspired for Excellence West, and Las Americas
Elementary/Middle School Combinations (K-8): Victory Prep and Young Scholars
Elementary Schools: Energized for Excellence, Kandy Stripe Academy, and TSU Charter
Early Childhood Centers: Energized for Excellence and Young Learners
Social and Emotional Learning (K-12): Beechnut Academy, JJAEP, and Elementary DAEP
Special Education: HCC Life Skills, RDSPD, and SOAR