Category Archives: Staff updates

Jorge Rodriguez named new principal of Lewis Elementary School

Jorge Rodriguez has been selected as the new principal of Lewis Elementary School. He has served as a teacher, interventionist, specialist, and most recently assistant principal at Longfellow Elementary School, where he supported the successful implementation of restorative discipline practices and “The Leader in Me” framework. His recognitions include being named a finalist for the Harris County Education Foundation Teacher of the Year and Bilingual Teacher of the Year while serving at Burbank Elementary School. Rodriguez holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. 

Scott C. Disch named new principal of West University Elementary School

Scott C. Disch has been selected as the new principal of West University Elementary School. Disch has served as a teacher and athletic coach at Grady Middle School. In his most recent role as Dean of Students at Westside High School, he supported the Westside Engineering and Geoscience Academy (WEGA), a prestigious magnet program that offers a unique chance for students to gain perspective and insight into the engineering field through a rigorous, hands-on, project-based math and technology curriculum. His recognitions include 2012 Grady Teacher of the Year and 2019 West Area Assistant Principal of the Year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Rice University and a Master’s in teaching. He currently attends the University of Houston to pursue a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy.  

Chavis Mitchell named new principal of Parker Elementary School

Chavis Mitchell has been selected as the new principal of Parker Elementary School. Mitchell has served as a teacher, teacher development specialists and assistant principal at Anderson Elementary School. As a highly effective teacher, he was selected to serve on HISD’s Teacher Advisory Council for Career Pathways and Compensation and under HISD’s Transformational School Initiative, he provided coaching, mentoring, and teacher development support for more than 40 campuses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern University A&M, and a master’s in public administration from Texas Southern University. 

Dave Wheat named new principal of Lanier Middle School

Dave Wheat has been selected as the new principal of Lanier Middle School. Wheat has more than 30 years of experience, including 20 of those years at HISD. He has served students as a teacher, dean of students, principal, and assistant superintendent. While a principal at St. George Place, he focused on building a strong academic program and led the campus to earn three TEA distinctions in the 2017-2018 school year. St. George Place also earned an “A” rating by Children and Risk for 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 school years.  He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from The University of Houston. 

Nicole Ayen-Metoyer named new principal of Fleming Middle School

Nicole Ayen-Metoyer has been selected as the new principal of Fleming Middle School. She joins Fleming after recently serving as dean of instruction at Fonville Middle School and has served as a teacher, educational diagnostician, a curriculum specialist, teacher development specialist, assistant principal at Hogg Middle School, and principal at Gregory Lincoln Education Center. Ayen-Metoyer was named interim principal at Fleming in December 2018. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from West Indies, Trinidad and a Master’s in Library Studies from the University of West Indies, Jamaica.  

Racquel Torres-Rosenbalm named new principal of Sherman Elementary School

Racquel Torres-Rosenbalm has been selected as the new principal of Sherman Elementary School. She is currently completing the 2017-2018 school year as the assistant principal of Yolanda Navarro Middle School and has served as a bilingual teacher and teacher specialist. Her previous work experience includes being an administrator at DeChaumes Elementary School, where she assisted in leading the campus to meet all TEA campus distinctions for the 2016- 2017 school year. This year, Torres-Rosenbalm was named the district’s East Area Assistant Principal of the Year. The campus was also recognized as a Gold Ribbon Winner and rated an A+ on the School Report Card. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University. 

Myra Castle-Bell named new principal of Peck Elementary School

Myra Castle-Bell has been selected as the new principal of Peck Elementary School. An educator for 20 years with HISD, Castle-Bell began her career as a third-grade teacher at Rusk Elementary, and has served as a literacy coach and Title I coordinator at Gregory Lincoln Education Center, instructional specialist at Lewis Elementary School, and an assistant principal at Edison Middle School. She joins Peck Elementary after her recent role and first principalship at Kelso Elementary School. She is a HISD alumni of Yates High School and holds two master’s degrees in School Counseling and Education Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.  

Chung Ying named new principal of Mandarin Immersion Magnet School

Chung Ying has been selected as the new principal of Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. Ying started his career in HISD in 2003 and has served students as a special education teacher, department chair and LPAC coordinator. For the last six years, he has been an assistant principal in Harmony Public Schools. He has extensive experience in special education and ESL education. Ying earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and holds an advanced degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. He is fluent in Mandarin.

Holly T. Gibson named new principal of Middle College at HCC Gulfton

Holly T. Gibson has been selected as the new principal of Middle College at HCC Gulfton. She began her educational career at HISD in 1991 as a math teacher at Jane Long Middle School and has since taught in Dallas ISD and served as an assistant principal before returning to HISD in 2004 as assistant principal at Fonville Middle school. For the last 10 years, she has served as dean of instruction at Lamar High School. Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Texas Southern University and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Toufic Elachkar named new principal of McNamara Elementary School

Toufic Elachkar has been selected as the new principal of McNamara Elementary School. In his 27-year career with HISD, he has served students as a bilingual teacher, Title III coordinator, and an assistant principal. As a classroom teacher, he was recognized as an Aspire Highly Effective teacher, ranking in the top 10 percent districtwide. During his tenure as assistant principal at McNamara, the campus has made notable progress with improved student performance. Elachkar earned a bachelor’s in political science from Texas Southern University and holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. Elachkar is fluent in Spanish, Arabic, French and English.