Category Archives: Staff updates

Yamel Melchor named new principal of Whittier Elementary School

Yamel Melchor has been selected as the new principal for Whittier ES, where she was previously served as assistant principal. She began her educational journey in 2006 as a bilingual early childhood and fourth grade teacher at Cage Elementary. After 7 years as a teacher, she stepped into the role of teacher specialist at Whittier ES. Melchor has been recognized with several awards, including First Year Assistant Principal of the Year and Tier II Excellence in Leadership Award.

Melchor earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Texas-Austin.

Marcie Colemon named new principal of Wainwright Elementary School

Marcie Colemon has been selected as the new principal of Wainwright Elementary School.  Colemon began her career in 2009 as an Early Childhood educator in North Forest ISD and then joined Houston ISD. Colemon most recently served as the assistant principal at MacGregor Elementary School.  She was awarded the Northwest Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year this school year.  Colemon is a native Houstonian and a proud product of Houston ISD schools.  

She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s in Political Science Pre-Law and the University of St. Thomas with a master’s in Educational Leadership.

David Church named new principal of Travis Elementary School

David Church has been selected as the new principal of Travis Elementary School. He has served as the teacher specialist at Oak Forest Elementary School for the past three years. Church began his career with HISD in 2002 as a 4th-grade teacher at Travis Elementary School and then at Oak Forest Elementary School.

Church has a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and master’s degrees from Marquette University and Prairie View A&M University.

Sanjuanita Mottu named new principal of Tijerina Elementary School

Sanjuanita Mottu has been selected as the new principal of Tijerina Elementary School. Mottu is a product of HISD schools and has served as a teacher at Lyons Elementary, magnet coordinator at Burbank Middle School, and for the past 3 years as the Assistant Principal at Tijerina Elementary, her childhood school. In 2019, she was awarded the East Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year.

Mottu earned her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University, and her master’s degree from the Concordia University-Austin. 

Lindsey Vela named new principal of Pin Oak Middle School

Lindsey Vela has been selected as the new principal of Pin Oak Middle School. Vela has 18 years of experience serving diverse student populations in rural, suburban and urban districts. Vela has served HISD as a Dean of Students at West Briar Middle School for the last 3 years. Most recently, Vela was named West Area Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year. 

She graduated from the University of Texas—Pan American with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English and Concordia University—Austin with a Master’s in Educational Leadership.

Jesseye Brown named new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center

Jesseye Brown has been selected as the new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center. Brown began her educational career in Aldine ISD as a 5th grade elementary school teacher. Most recently, she served in HISD as a teacher, department chair, teacher specialist, and assistant principal at Ortiz Middle School. Brown was selected as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year for the East Area for 2020-2021.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at University of Houston and her master’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington

Brishaun Sutton named new principal of Briarmeadow Charter

Brishaun Sutton

Brishaun Sutton has been selected as the new principal for Briarmeadow K-8. Sutton has 28 years of experience in education with 24 of those years in HISD. She has served as a teacher, instructional coordinator, teacher development specialist, assistant principal, and for the last four years as the Principal of Kate Bell Elementary. During her tenure at Bell, she not only focused on building systematic instructional delivery programs which improved the TEA Accountability Rating from C to B with distinctions, but also developed and achieved Platinum Certification as a Family Friendly School. 

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Kendal Bailey named new principal of Piney Point Elementary School

Kendal Bailey

Kendal Bailey has been selected as the new principal for Piney Point Elementary School. Bailey is currently the Assistant Principal at Piney Point Elementary School. During her 25 years in education, Bailey has taught middle school Language Arts and Choir. She has also served as an elementary school Library Media Specialist.   Before joining Piney Point Elementary School, Bailey was Assistant Principal at Long Academy. She was named West Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year.

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Elisa Reyes named new principal of Mistral Early Childhood Center

Elisa Reyes

Elisa Reyes has been selected as the new principal for Mistral Early Childhood Center.  She has been with HISD for 23 years.  She started as a First-Grade Bilingual Teacher at Barrick Elementary and then she transferred to Sutton Elementary, where she has been for the last 21 years.  At Sutton, she has served in different capacities: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First-Grade Bilingual Teacher, Technology Applications Teacher, Instructional Specialist, and currently Dean of Instruction.

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Kristy Love named new principal of Forest Brook Middle School

Dr Kristy Love

Kristy Love has been selected as the new principal of Forest Brook Middle School. Love has over 19 years of experience in education. She has served as a teacher and department chair at Hogg Middle School, Assistant Principal at Burbank Middle School, and Dean of Students at Woodson K-8. For the past 8 years, Love has served as principal of Codwell Elementary School. As principal of Codwell, Dr. Love oversaw a 14-million-dollar school renovation.

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