Category Archives: Staff updates

Erika Kimble named new principal of Hilliard Elementary School

Erika Kimble poses for a photograph, April 4, 2016. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Erika Kimble has been selected as the new principal of Hilliard Elementary School. Kimble began her career in education as a teacher and teacher specialist at Bonham Elementary School. In 2013, she joined Shadydale Elementary School, where she served as a teacher specialist and assistant principal. Most recently, Kimble has served as the principal of Henderson Elementary School. Kimble earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and completed graduate studies in Special Education at Prairie View A&M University and Educational Administration and Supervision at the University of Houston.

Alana Holloway named new principal of N.Q. Henderson Elementary School

Alana Holloway has been selected as the new principal of N.Q. Henderson Elementary School. Holloway began her career in education 10 years ago in HISD. Holloway has served students as a secondary English Language Arts teacher, Reading teacher, ESL Reading teacher, and teacher specialist. Holloway is currently the assistant principal at Paige Elementary School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Houston and a Master of Educational Administrative Leadership at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Connie Smith named new principal of North Forest High School

Connie Smith poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Connie Smith has been selected as the new principal of North Forest High School. Smith has 20 years of experience in education and has served as a teacher, content specialist, teacher coordinator, dean of instruction, and elementary and middle school principal. In 2017, Smith’s leadership at Thomas Middle School earned the campus four distinctions in mathematics, social studies, student progress, and postsecondary readiness. Smith is an Army veteran and holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Dillard University and a Master of Education in mid-management from Prairie View A&M University.

Alvaro Montelongo Jr. named new principal of Looscan Elementary School

Alvaro Montelongo, Jr. poses for a photograph, April 4, 2016. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Alvaro Montelongo Jr. has been selected as the new principal of Looscan Elementary School. Montelongo has been an educator for 11 years and has served in HISD as a math coach, instructional specialist, and assistant principal. Montelongo began his career at Santa Fe High School before joining HISD. Since 2015, Montelongo has served as an assistant principal at Lewis Elementary School. Montelongo earned his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Mexican-American Studies from the University of Houston and master’s degree in Educational Leadership from University of Texas at Tyler.

Vernitra Shivers named new principal of Thomas Middle School

 (Milton Durango)Vernitra Shivers has been selected as the new principal of Thomas Middle School. Shivers has more than 15 years of experience in public education. She began her career as an elementary teacher in Orleans Parish Schools in New Orleans. In 2004, Shivers joined Team HISD as an ELA teacher at Williams Middle School. Shivers has worked as a literacy coach at Jane Long Middle School and assistant principal at Patrick Henry and Deady middle schools. For the past three years, Shivers has served as assistant principal and dean of instruction at Madison High School. Shivers earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Xavier University of Louisiana and master’s degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Amanda Rodgers named new principal of Braeburn Elementary School

Amanda Rodgers poses for a photograph, November 7, 2016. (Dave Einsel)Amanda Rodgers has been selected as the new principal of Braeburn Elementary School. Rodgers has served as assistant principal of Braeburn for the last five years. Previously, she taught at Pat Neff Elementary School in HISD for six years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas and her master’s in Business Administration from Rice University. She received her principal certificate through the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP).

Shani Wyllie named new principal of Attucks Middle School

Shani Wyllie has been selected as the new principal of Attucks Middle school. Wyllie joined HISD in 2010, where she has served students at Navarro, Jackson, and Deady middle schools. Wyllie currently is the assistant principal at Edison Middle School, where she oversees both the math and science departments. Wyllie received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland.

Marques Collins named new principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary School

 (Milton Durango)Marques Collins has been selected as the new principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary School. Collins started his 20-year career in HISD as a sixth-grade self-contained teacher for the Male Initiative Program at Kennedy Elementary School. He has served as the assistant principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary School for the past 2 years and has been instrumental in significantly improving student outcomes. Collins earned his bachelor’s degree in Health Education with a minor in Social Work from Prairie View A&M University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.

Angie Miranda named new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center

Dr. Angie Miranda has been selected as the new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center. Miranda has served HISD for the past 24 years as a bilingual teacher, bilingual coordinator, ACP supervisor, principal, and school support officer. Under her leadership at Seguin Elementary School, the campus reached high levels of academic achievement as evidenced by its consistent Exemplary and Met Standard status with all distinctions for the current accountability system. Prior to joining HISD, Miranda successfully led a kinder to ninth-grade campus in Puerto Rico. She also served as a special education teacher for elementary, middle and high school. Miranda earned a bachelor’s in Education and master’s in Administration and Supervision from the University of Puerto Rico. In addition, she earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas.

Reginald Bush named new principal of Kashmere High School

Reginald Bush poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Reginald Bush has been selected as the new principal of Kashmere High School. Bush began his career in HISD as a seventh- and eighth-grade Social Studies teacher at Williams Middle School. He later served as assistant principal and 21st century afterschool coordinator in collaboration with the Acres Homes Coalition. Bush previously served as assistant principal at Burrus Elementary School and has served as the principal at Kashmere Gardens Elementary for the last three years, leading the campus from IR to Met Standard status. He is a graduate of Delta State University Cleveland, where he earned his bachelor’s in Political Science and a master’s in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.