Category Archives: Staff updates

Victoria Orozco-Martinez named new principal of De Zavala Elementary

Victoria Orozco-Martinez has been selected as principal of De Zavala Elementary School. She has served with distinction in multiple capacities with Team HISD for more than 20 years. Ms. Orozco-Martinez began her career in education in 1994 as a bilingual teacher at Brookline Elementary, where she was subsequently promoted to manage the school’s Title 1 program. She served next as a bilingual teacher and curriculum coordinator at Golfcrest Elementary, as well as campus literacy coach at Brookline.

In 2008, Ms. Orozco-Martinez made the transition to the district level as a curriculum and content specialist, working extensively in the development of curricula and assessments for five years and supporting campus implementation across HISD. In 2013, she returned to campus leadership as assistant principal of De Zavala. During this time, the school was twice identified as a high-performing and high-progress school by the Texas Education Agency. Ms. Orozco-Martinez is a graduate of HISD. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in educational management from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. She has two daughters.

Erika Kimble named new principal of N.Q. Henderson Elementary

We are pleased to announce that Erika Kimble has been selected as the new principal of N.Q. Henderson Elementary School. Ms. Kimble began her educational career as a teacher and teacher specialist at Bonham Elementary School. In 2013, she joined the team at Shadydale Elementary School as a teacher specialist supporting efforts to improve student achievement and then as assistant principal.

Ms. 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.

Everett Hare named new principal of Bastian Elementary

Everett Hare has been selected as the next principal of Bastian Elementary School. He has served HISD in various capacities for 10 years, first as a teacher at Dodson Elementary School and next as vanguard coordinator at Pleasantville Elementary School. Since then, he has served in multiple leadership roles, most recently as assistant principal at Bastian since August 2015.

Mr. Hare has a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas Southern University, where he is currently completing his doctoral studies. Mr. Hare has two children who attend HISD schools.

Zabeth Parra-Malek named new principal of Benavidez Elementary

Zabeth Parra-Malek has been named the new principal of Benavidez Elementary School. She has served as an instructional specialist at Cunningham Elementary, a position she has held since 2013. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Houston, she began her career with HISD as a first-grade bilingual teacher at Scott Elementary. For eight years, Parra-Malek served students as a bilingual and dual-language teacher. In 2008, Parra-Malek transitioned from the classroom into administration, serving as instructional coordinator at Jaime Davila and Port Houston elementary schools.

Parra-Malek holds a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Schools’ Office Organizational and Staffing Changes

As HISD prepares for the 2016-2017 school year, the district is taking the necessary steps to align the central office team in a way that best supports teaching and learning. Also, as a result of the $165 million recapture payment HISD must make to the state, the district is making changes to the organization and staffing structure at the cabinet level and throughout central office departments. Continue reading →

Alan Summers named new principal of Sam Houston MSTC

Alan Summers is joining Team HISD as the principal of the Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center. He comes to the district from Katy ISD, where he served as the Executive Director for Human Resources. Summers is a familiar face to HISD because he previously served the district as a teacher, grant writer, assistant principal, principal at Wainwright Elementary and Scarborough High School, and Assistant Superintendent of College and Career Readiness. He left the district in 2013, moving to Central Texas to enroll in the doctoral program at the University of Texas and to work in Round Rock ISD as the Director of School Support.

Summers has 23 years of experience in education, with nine of those years as a campus principal.

Brian Vannest named new principal of Valley West Elementary

We are pleased to announce Brian Vannest as the new principal of Valley West Elementary. Vannest began his career in HISD as a second- and third-grade teacher at Gallegos Elementary. After a successful teaching career in HISD, he was recruited to YES Prep to be a seventh-grade math teacher, math course team lead, and project manager where he developed teacher training, curriculum, and assessments for the YES Prep network of schools. Vannest continued that work when he returned to HISD to assume the role of dean of instruction at Westside High School.

Brian received his bachelor of science in Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and his Master of Business Administration at Rice University.

Vanessa Flores named new principal of Horn Elementary

Vanessa Flores has been selected as the new principal of Horn Elementary School. Flores currently is serving as the assistant principal at Horn Elementary. Prior to this, she served as a teacher development specialist, literacy instructional specialist, and literacy coach. Flores began her educational career in HISD 14 years ago as a second grade teacher at Cage Elementary. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston.

She earned her master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Richard Peña named new principal of Tijerina Elementary

Richard Peña has been named the Principal of Felix Tijerina Elementary School. Peña has been in education for 18 years and has been serving as the assistant principal at Dunn Elementary in Aldine ISD since 2013. He began his career as a bilingual teacher in Houston ISD, where he taught for six years before becoming the instructional specialist at Allen Elementary. He served four years as the instructional specialist before moving to Spring ISD as a fifth-grade bilingual teacher.

He earned his master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University in 2009 and soon after, was promoted to the role of assistant principal.

Dr. Steven Shetzer named new principal of Pershing Middle School

Dr. Steven Shetzer has been selected as the new principal of Pershing Middle School. Dr. Shetzer is currently serving as the principal of Kolter Elementary. Prior to this, he served as the AP/magnet coordinator at Roberts Elementary School. Dr. Shetzer began his educational career in HISD 12 years ago as a social studies teacher at Westbury High School, teaching everything from world geography to AP U.S. government. Dr. Shetzer holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from California Baptist University. He earned his master’s degree in secondary education and doctorate in teaching from the University of Houston.

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