Author Archives: HISD Communications

Luis Saenz named new principal of Patterson Elementary School

Luis Saenz has been named the new principal of Patterson Elementary School. An product of the Austin High School Magnet Program for Teaching Professions, Saenz started his career in HISD 19 years ago as a teacher assistant and bilingual teacher at Crespo and Twain Elementary Schools. Upon completing HISD’s Principal Academy for Collaborative Engagement cohort, Saenz joined Patterson Elementary as assistant principal and IB Primary Years Program coordinator. Through his leadership, Patterson Elementary became the first elementary campus in the East Area to become authorized by the IB Program to offer the Primary Years Program as part of the IB continuum in the Chavez Feeder Pattern.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in bilingual education and master’s degree in English from the University of St. Thomas.  

Danielle Williams named new principal of Nat. Q. Henderson Elementary School

Danielle Williams has been selected as the new principal of Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary. Williams has over 10 years of experience in education. She has served as a teacher and department chair at Jones High School, instructional specialist at Wisdom High School, and assistant principal at Sam Houston MSTC and Fleming Middle. Williams has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as well as a master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. 

Avisay Cerda named new principal of Davila Elementary School

Avisay Cerda has been selected as the new principal of Davila Elementary School. Cerda began her career in HISD 23 years ago at Rucker Elementary School as a teacher assistant. She then went on to obtain her certification as a bilingual teacher. From 2003-2019, she worked at Park Place Elementary School serving in many roles.   Her dedicated work turned Park Place into an A rated campus with six academic distinctions. Last year, she was invited to join Davila as a campus administrator and helped implement a campus wide system for Response to Intervention and provide instructional support. Cerda earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at UH-Clear Lake and holds a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Shundra L. Harris-Mosley named new principal of Cook Elementary School

Shundra L. Harris-Mosley has been named the new principal of Felix Cook Elementary School. She currently serves as the Dean of Instruction at Kashmere Senior High School. Mosley began her professional career as a teacher at Houston Gardens Elementary, now known as Ernest McGowen Elementary, and taught fourth and fifth grade at Burrus Elementary.   She also served on the administrative teams at Milne and Kashmere Gardens Elementary Schools before she joined the Kashmere team. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Southern University and a master’s at University of St. Thomas in Educational Leadership. 

Heather Luebbers named new principal of Burbank Elementary School

Heather Luebbers has been selected as the new principal of Burbank Elementary School. Luebbers currently serves as Assistant Principal for Burbank. During her tenure at Burbank, she has led the implementation of R.T.I., Balanced Literacy Instructional Framework, and served as the Magnet Coordinator of the Fine Arts Program. She began her educational career as a middle school science teacher, has taught 4th and 5th grades, and also served as an instructional specialist and teacher specialist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Sioux Falls, master’s in Business Administration from the University of Houston and completed the Educational Leadership Program at the University of St. Thomas.

Alana E. Holloway named new principal of Bastian Elementary School

Alana E. Holloway has been selected as the new principal of Bastian Elementary School. Holloway began her career in education 12 years ago in HISD.  During her career, she has served students as a Secondary English Language Arts teacher, reading teacher, ESL reading teacher, Teacher Specialist, Assistant Principal and Principal.  Currently, she is the Principal at Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary School where she has served for two years and earned the “New Principal of the Year Award.” Holloway earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Houston and a Master of Educational Administrative Leadership at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kylene Vasquez named new principal of Ashford Elementary School

Kylene Vasquez has been selected as the new principal of Ashford Elementary School. Vasquez began her educational career as a Special Education Teacher Assistant and continued in HISD as a teacher, teacher specialist, and most recently served as the assistant principal at Grissom Elementary School. Her experience has afforded her opportunities to serve students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She attended the University of Houston, earning a bachelor’s in Fine and Studio Art, English, and a master’s in Administration and Supervision. Vasquez is currently completing her doctoral studies in Executive Educational Leadership at Houston Baptist University.

Annie Marie Garcia named new principal of Browning Elementary School

Annie Marie Garcia has been selected as the new principal of Browning Elementary School. She began her educational career with HISD as a high school student enrolled in the Texas Association of Future Educators organization at Sam Houston MSTC. During her 19 years with HISD, Garcia has served as a teacher at Lyons Elementary, and assumed teacher specialist positions at Ketelsen Elementary and most recently, Smith Elementary. In her leadership experience, she has been instrumental in collaborating with numerous elementary campuses in developing strategic literacy plans. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Houston-Downtown and a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University

Yolanda Bruce named new principal of Fleming Middle School

Yolanda Bruce is the new principal for Fleming Middle School. Bruce joined Team HISD in 2016 after a 15-year tenure in Tennessee. Since joining HISD, she has served as a dean of instruction, leadership development program manager, and interim principal at various campuses. Prior to relocating to Houston, Bruce served as a statewide curriculum developer and a districtwide professional learning community coach. She has spent much of her career coaching teachers and leaders in high-needs campuses. Bruce received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from Tennessee State University.

Jessica Rivero named new principal of J.R. Harris Elementary School

Jessica Rivero has been selected as the new principal of J.R Harris Elementary School. Rivero began her educational career in Calcasieu Parish, in Louisiana, as a teacher, curriculum consultant, and assistant principal. Most recently, she served in HISD as a teacher development specialist and assistant principal at Ortiz Middle School. During her tenure at Ortiz Middle School, she focused on creating a campus-wide system for Response to Intervention and providing instructional support in the area of math. Rivero earned her bachelor’s degree at McNeese State University and her master’s degree from Lamar University.