Category Archives: Staff updates

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.

Gina Colion Hernandez named new principal of Herod Elementary School

Gina Colion Hernandez is the new principal for Herod Elementary School. Colion Hernandez is a product of HISD schools and has served as a teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal. For the last three years, she has served as the assistant principal at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. During her tenure at MIMS, she not only focused on building a strong academic program but on developing Mandarin immersion from pre-K through 8th grade. Colion Hernandez was awarded the West Area Assistant Principal of the Year for 2019 – 2020. Colion Hernandez earned her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University and her master’s degree from Lamar University-Beaumont.

Eden Bass named new principal of Love Elementary School

Eden Bass has been selected as the new principal of Love Elementary School. She began her career in HISD as a sixth-grade math teacher at Patrick Henry Middle School and spent the past five years at the Arabic Immersion Magnet School. Bass joined the founding team at AIMS as an Arabic language enrichment teacher. She then moved to the AIMS leadership team and over the years served as magnet coordinator, teacher specialist, and assistant principal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in Public School Leadership from Columbia University.

Bronchelle W. Johnson named new principal of Milne Elementary School

Bronchelle W. Johnson has been selected as the new principal at Milne Elementary School. Johnson joined HISD in 2006 as a reading interventionist and then went on to serve as a reading and science teacher at Mitchell Elementary School. She was nominated as HAASBE Teacher of The Year for two consecutive years. She transitioned to the role of teacher specialist in 2011 and then to an assistant principal role at Shadowbriar Elementary Schoo,l where she focused on data-driven instruction, equitable educational systems, tiered interventions, and the student’s social emotional needs. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in Education as well as a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston.

Emeterio Cruz named new principal of Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School

Emeterio Cruz has been selected as the new principal of Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School. Cruz has been with HISD for eleven years, starting as a fifth-grade bilingual teacher at Sutton Elementary School. He served as a teacher specialist at Shearn Elementary School, assistant principal at Pugh and Anderson elementaries, and most recently as the principal of Sanchez Elementary School. Under his leadership, Sanchez has maintained an “A” rating and all six Texas Education Agency’s rating distinctions three years in a row. Cruz earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston-Downtown and a master’s degree in Education as part of the HISD Leadership Cohort from the University of Houston.

Nimmi Thomas named new principal of Park Place Elementary School

Nimmi Thomas has been selected as the new principal of Park Place Elementary School. Thomas started her career 20 years ago as a paraprofessional in HISD. She then became a Special Education and ESL teacher at Lamar High School. She has held the position of assistant principal at Lanier Middle School and most recently at Baylor College of Medicine-Biotech Academy at Rusk. Thomas was selected as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year for the East Area for 2020. She earned her master’s in Social Work from Bombay University, India, and her MBA-E from The Cameron School of Business at University of St Thomas.

Samyra Rogers named new principal of Pleasantville Elementary School

Samyra Rogers has been selected as the new principal of Pleasantville Elementary School. Rogers began her career in HISD 12 years ago at Holland Middle School as a mathematics teacher. While at Holland, her leadership roles have included department chairperson, teacher specialist, and most recently, assistant principal. She has served Holland as assistant principal for the last three years. Her most recent accomplishment has been her selection as the Achieve 180 Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year 2020. Rogers earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University and holds a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.