Category Archives: Staff updates

LaTreal Peterson named new principal of Paige ES

LaTreal Peterson

LaTreal Peterson has been selected as the new principal of Paige Elementary School. Peterson started his educational career as a 2012 Teach for America corps member at Emerson Elementary School and later transferred to Burbank Elementary. He has also served as a gifted and talented coordinator, instructional coach, school director, and teacher specialist. In 2018, he became the Dean of Instruction at DeAnda Elementary and for the past two years has held the same leadership role at Burbank.   

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Erica Cantu Tran named new principal of Patrick Henry MS

Erica Cantu Tran

Erica Cantu Tran is the new principal for Patrick Henry Middle School. Cantu Tran began her education career 19 years ago as a 4th grade ESL teacher for the Houston Independent School District at J.C. Mitchell Elementary. Tran went on to work in Goose Creek CISD as a 3rd grade teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal and principal. In 2018, she returned to HISD as the Principal of Bonham Elementary where she has restructured the school and built a community of trust and academic excellence.

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Tier II leaders attend New Leader Institute ahead of school year

For Ashly Evans Vining, the fall season means she gets to return to the two places she loves the most: the classroom and the stage.

The trained opera singer —who has been performing professionally for 15 years— is ready to see students back in the classroom and also recently received her schedule for the new season with Houston Grand Opera.

She is also embarking on a new journey this year in her educational career. The former choir director and Section 504 coordinator was recently chosen to serve as the assistant principal at Pin Oak Middle School. This week, she attended the New Leaders Institute with other new Tier II leaders from across the district, including other assistant principals, deans, instructional specialists, and teacher specialists.

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Johnatan Guzman named new principal of Jefferson Elementary

Johnatan Guzman is the new principal for Jefferson Elementary School. Guzman is a proud product of HISD schools and has been an educator for 14 years starting as a teacher assistant before becoming a teacher then a teacher specialist. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Milby High School.  His recognitions include being named “Teacher of the Year” in 2013 and 2014.  He was also selected to participate in the distinguished HISD MBAE Cohort #2 and Career Pathways leadership program.

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Gaylon Davenport named new principal of Roosevelt Elementary

Gaylon Davenport

Gaylon Davenport is the new principal for Roosevelt Elementary School. Dr. Davenport is a proud product of HISD, including having attended Roosevelt as a child. He has served as a teacher, instructional coach, and interventionist. He is currently the Dean of Instruction at Foerster Elementary School. His recognitions include being named “Teacher of the Year” in 2015 as well as being selected to participate in the distinguished Leadership Advisory Committee. 

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Rim Mohamed named new principal of Dogan Elementary

Rim Mohamed has been selected as the new principal of Dogan Elementary School. As a 15-year educator she has served in many roles and is currently the Assistant Principal at Seguin Elementary. As part of the leadership team at Seguin, she established an extensive community partnership with Brighter Bites to assist with community needs.

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Lilly Rincon named new principal of Scarborough High School

Lilly Rincon has been selected as the new principal of Scarborough High School. Rincon began her 22-year career as an educator in the McAllen Independent School District. Returning back home to Houston after two years of teaching in South Texas, she served as a classroom teacher at Burbank Elementary and Travis Elementary within Houston ISD. During this time, she was recognized as Bilingual Teacher of the Year and selected as a candidate for the Houston ISD Turnaround Leadership Cohort. Rincon joined the Jefferson Elementary team in 2013 and has served as a Teacher Specialist, Assistant Principal, and Principal. During her tenure, Jefferson has attained an 89 TEA rating with 3 distinctions and has been awarded Butterfly Effect by the Neuhaus Education Center for the inspiring work in literacy. 

Rincon received her bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Houston Downtown and master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston.

Dr. Alexis Clark named new principal of Crockett Elementary School

Alexis Clark
Alexis Clark

Dr. Alexis Clark has been selected as the new principal of Crockett Elementary School. Clark started with HISD as a teacher at Brookline and Harvard Elementary Schools. She then served as the Assistant Principal of Harvard for almost five years. While at Harvard, she helped to close the student achievement gap through the authenticity of the PLC process and the implementation of depth and complexity elements for all students. Most recently, she served as an educational consultant with an organization specialized in early childhood brain development. Clark also has experience in dance and vocal performance.

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Jose Cordova named new principal of Memorial Elementary School

Jose Hilario Cordova has been selected as the new principal of Memorial Elementary School. He is a proud product of Houston ISD graduating from Carnegie Vanguard High School.  He has served as an Assistant Principal at Lanier Middle School for the past two years. He began his career with HISD in 2014 as a social studies teacher at Welch Middle School. He was named “Beginning Teacher of the Year” for the District in 2015. He then transitioned to being a teacher and administrator at Lanier Middle School.

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Alexander Gonzalez named new principal of Helms Elementary School

Alexander Gonzalez has been selected as the new principal of Helms Elementary. Gonzalez first began his career in education as a middle school reading teacher at Killough Middle School in Alief ISD. In 2014, he served as a teacher, department chair, and site coordinator for Houston ISD’s Advanced Virtual Academy. In 2017, he became a Teacher Specialist at Hines-Caldwell Elementary overseeing IAT, LEP, and 504. For the last three years he has served as an Assistant Principal at Scarborough High School. 

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