Principal Lisa Hernandez currently leads HISD’s Briarmeadow Charter School. Her commitment to teacher-student engagement through high-quality instruction, student achievement, and meeting the needs of Special Education students is what makes her this week’s HISD Star Educator.

Before taking the helm at Briarmeadow this school year, Hernandez was the principal of Mark White Elementary School, starting in 2016. She says year one of transformation was the best instruction she’s seen at the non-New Education System campus, attributing much of the success to differentiated instruction methods working for the diverse needs of Mark White’s student body. Hear more in the video below.

Hernandez began her career in education two decades ago as a fifth-grade teacher in Austin ISD, where she taught for ten years before moving into a math instructional specialist role. In 2008, she joined HISD as a fifth-grade teacher at Twain Elementary School. She later served as an instructional specialist and International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator and an assistant principal at The School at St. George Place.

Learn more about her love for her campus and Houston community:

Favorite subject in school: Reading and Social Studies

Favorite memory of your time with HISD: Opening a new school and being the founding principal.  It had its fair share of challenges, but it was amazing to be part of the process of opening a new school.

Favorite thing about Houston: My favorite thing about Houston is the diversity! It is a vibrant, welcoming city where people from all walks of life come together. Houston offers a unique blend of traditions and perspectives that make the city feel like a true global community.

Goal for your students and staff this upcoming school year: I want to focus on refining my coaching and feedback practices to support teachers in becoming highly skilled practitioners, therefore ensuring that every student receives high quality instruction every day.