Marlen Peña has been named the new principal of Lewis Elementary School. Peña began her career as a second-grade teacher at Herrera Elementary School, worked as a health teacher at Eastwood Academy, and served as the magnet coordinator at Burbank Elementary School. Her most recent assignment was assistant principal at Benavidez Elementary.
Peña earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and a master’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
April Williams has been named the new principal of Oak Forest Elementary School. She previously served as an assistant principal at Lanier Middle School. Williams began her 12-year career with HISD as a fifth-grade teacher at Law Elementary School, and has served as a classroom teacher at both Peck Elementary and Ryan Middle School. She also held the role of high school graduation coach. While at both Peck and Ryan, she received the Classroom Teacher of the Year and the English as a Second Language Teacher of the Year awards.
Williams received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University. She received her doctorate of education in professional leadership from the University of Houston.
Amy Poerschke has been named the new principal of Durham Elementary School. She previously served as the assistant principal of Garcia Elementary School. Prior to that, she taught reading language arts at Dodson Elementary and Garcia. In 2012, she was awarded the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.
Poerschke holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in executive leadership from the University of Houston.
Trealla Epps has been named the new principal of Roberts Elementary School. She began her career in HISD as a first-grade teacher at Longfellow Elementary School. After teaching both first and second grades at Longfellow and taking on a variety of leadership roles, Epps served as the school’s instructional coordinator and assistant principal. In 2006, she became the principal of Gordon Elementary (now the Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School). She became the principal at Bruce Elementary School in 2011.
Epps holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston (Central Campus) and a master’s degree in educational mid-management and supervision from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. She also holds certification in English as a Second Language and early childhood education.
Linda Bellard has been named the new principal of Garcia Elementary School. She began her education career in Aldine ISD as an elementary school teacher, where she was voted campus Teacher of the Year. She went on to serve as a reading specialist and an assistant principal at the elementary and intermediate levels. In 2007, she joined HISD as the principal of Blackshear Elementary, and later served at Elrod Elementary in the same capacity.
Bellard holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in reading and a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas Southern University.
LaShonda Bilbo-Ervin has been selected as the new principal of Holland Middle School. Bilbo-Ervin, who has 14 years of experience in education, began her career as an English and science teacher at Peck Elementary School. She also served as an instructional coordinator at that same campus, and as an assistant principal at Washington High School. She most recently served as the principal at Washington.
Bilbo-Ervin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a master’s degree in school administration from Prairie View A&M University.
Laura Alaniz has been named the new principal of Harvard Elementary School. She previously served as the principal at Gabriela Mistral Center for Early Childhood for five years. Under her leadership, the school established a working collaboration with Rice University to create the Rice Oral and Written Language Lab, which operates as a teaching lab for educators in the greater Houston community.
Alaniz has an extensive career in education. She has served as an elementary teacher, a bilingual evaluation specialist, a parent involvement manager, and an assistant principal at a comprehensive high school.
Laura received a bachelor’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University and a master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Dr. Carlos Ramirez has been named a new elementary school support officer. He has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, assistant principal, principal, and deputy superintendent over the course of his 24 years in education.
Dr. Ramirez began his career in California as a fourth–sixth-grade teacher in Rio Linda and Sacramento City Unified School Districts. He served as an assistant principal for three years in San Francisco Unified School District. During his 16-year tenure as principal, one of his campuses received the high honor of being named a California Distinguished School.
Having demonstrated strong instructional leadership skills, Dr. Ramirez was recruited to lead two Texas schools through the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate authorization process. Most recently, Dr. Ramirez served as deputy superintendent for Stafford Municipal School District.
Dr. Ramirez earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis, a master’s degree from Chapman College, and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of North Texas.
Erin A. Chávez has been selected as the new principal of Looscan Elementary School. She has been a part of Team HISD for seven years, and has served as a bilingual teacher, dual-language teacher, magnet coordinator, and most recently an assistant principal at Bonham Elementary School.
Chávez has also served in several other leadership capacities, including Limited English Proficient coordinator, Title I coordinator, summer school coordinator, testing coordinator, Gifted and Talented coordinator, and Intervention Assistance Team chairperson.
Chávez completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Houston Central Campus with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She received her master’s degree in education administration with a concentration in urban schools from the University of Texas. Chávez and her husband are proud products of HISD, and their two daughters attend HISD schools as well.
Adam Stephens has been selected as the new officer for innovative curriculum. He will report to Chief Academic Officer Drew Houlihan.
Stephens joined HISD in 2003 and began his career as a special education teacher. He has held various other positions over the past 12 years, including regional manager, assistant principal, and principal. He most recently served as the assistant superintendent of Linked Learning. In this role, Stephens provided leadership in the areas of program conceptualization, design, implementation, and evaluation for the $30 million dollar Race to the Top District Grant.