After a lengthy process of gathering stakeholder input, a nationwide search that included a diverse pool of applicants, and a comprehensive interview process, the HISD Board of Education has announced Millard House as the lone finalist for superintendent of the Houston Independent School District
House currently serves as Director of Schools (Superintendent) of Clarksville-Montgomery School Systems in Clarksville, Tennessee.
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Amanda Sebba has been selected as the new principal of Garden Oaks Montessori. She has served as the assistant principal for the past four years at Braeburn Elementary School.
During her time at Braeburn, Sebba helped lead the school to academic gains in several areas including reading, math, and writing. She also spearheaded efforts to strengthen protocols around interventions and data analysis. This work was all done despite the challenges the school faced after being displaced for three years due to Hurricane Harvey damage.
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Alynthia Curtis has been selected as the new principal of Atherton Elementary School. Curtis has served as the assistant principal of Atherton for the past 10 years. During her tenure there, the school earned a Texas “A” Rating along with numerous distinctions.
She has advised and supported students with the “Girls and Pearls” and “Boys with Bow Ties” mentorship programs. She began her educational career 27 years ago as a first- and second-grade teacher and also has served in middle school as a literacy coach. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown and her master’s degree at Prairie View A&M University.
Ericka Austin has been selected as the new principal of Sugar Grove Middle School.
Austin joined HISD in 2014 as a teacher specialist at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, after beginning her career in Arlington ISD as a fifth-grade math and science teacher and later, grade-level chair. She also served as a teacher specialist at High School Ahead Academy before moving into the role of a data-driven instructional specialist for the district. In 2019, she returned to High School Ahead Academy as principal.
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Orlando Reyna has been selected as the new principal of Austin High School. Reyna is a veteran HISD educator who began his career as a physics and chemistry teacher before becoming an instructional coordinator and assistant principal in HISD.
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Tammie Moran has been selected as the new principal of Furr High School. Moran began her career in education in 1996 and has served the students in the HISD community for the last 24 years. Moran has experience as a science teacher, department chair, new teacher induction coach, registrar and assistant principal at both Wisdom and Furr High Schools. Most recently, she held the position of Principal at Franklin Elementary School. Moran earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Texas Southern University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.
Laura Zavaleta has been selected as the new principal of Franklin Elementary School. Zavaleta started her career fifteen years ago in HISD, as a bilingual teacher. Zavaleta continued to serve as an ESL teacher at Sugar Grove Academy Middle School and later served as a teacher specialist at McNamara Elementary School. She was promoted to assist campuses, at the district level, as a Data Driven Instructional Specialist. Most recently, she joined Team Franklin as a teacher specialist. Zavaleta earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston- Downtown and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University.
Ricardo Mena has been selected as the new principal of Sanchez Elementary School. Mena started his career 17 years ago as a science teacher at a charter school in North Houston. In 2005, he became a science teacher at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (now Kinder HSPVA). He has held the position of assistant principal at Eastwood Academy High School for the last five years and most recently at Austin High School. Mena was selected as the Teacher of the Year for HSPVA for 2006-2007. Mena earned his bachelor’s in Earth Sciences from Texas A&M University his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.
Michael Hutchins has been selected as the new principal of Elrod Elementary School. Hutchins is a product of HISD schools and has served as a teacher, Title I coordinator and IAT liaison throughout his teaching career. He has also served as assistant principal for the last five years with HISD – two years at the middle school level, and three years at the elementary level. During his years as a teacher, Hutchins was nominated as Teacher of the Year and HAABSE Teacher of the Year. Hutchins received his bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University and went on to receive his Master of Education Administration from Texas Southern University.
Matthew Schwer has been selected as the new principal at Eliot Elementary School. Schwer currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Eliot Elementary. During his tenure at Eliot, he has advised and supported students and parents across the Leader in Me Program, APPTT Parent Engagement Initiative, and DAEP Program. He began his educational career in middle school as a classroom teacher in Special Education, sixth- and seventh-grade math, team lead, cultural development lead, and assistant principal. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree at Sam Houston State University.