RECENTLY ASSIGNED
SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICERS
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
We are pleased to announce the following new school support officers and new school principals.
NEW SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICERS
New school support officers have been assigned for North Forest elementary and middle schools, Apollo 20 elementary and middle schools (2 officers) and comprehensive middle schools.
North Forest Elementary and Middle Schools—School Support Officer Julia Dimmitt
Julia, who is currently working as SSO for our Apollo middle schools, will serve as anSSO for the North Forest elementary and middle schools.
Apollo 20 Elementary and Middle Schools—School Support Officer Nicole Moore
Nicole will be serving as a SSO for one-half of our Apollo 20 elementary and middle schools for the next school year and several of our elementary schools that are trending in the wrong direction. Nicole is currently the principal of Key Middle School. Under her direction, Key Middle School experienced great student growth for the past three years. Prior to becoming a middle school principal, Nicole was the principal of J.R. Harris Elementary School.
Apollo 20 Elementary and Middle Schools—School Support Officer Ken Davis
Ken will split SSOduties for ourApollo 20 elementary and middle schools with Nicole Moore. He will also work with severalof our middle schools that are trending in the wrong direction. Currently the principal of Dowling Middle School, Ken also has experience as a school-turnaround principal that will assist him as he coaches and mentors schools similar to the one he is leaving. Prior to coming to HISD, Ken was an elementary school principal in the Lamar Consolidated School District where he was named 'Texas Distinguished Principal of The Year.'
Middle Schools—School Support Officer Charles Foust
Charles, currently the principal ofFondren Middle School, will coach and mentor other district middle school administrators to assist them in continuing to improve student achievement. Under Charles' leadership,Fondren has made strong improvement in student achievement and the school's student population has grown.
NEW SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
New school leaders have been assigned for Almeda, Codwell, Foster, Hines-Caldwell, and Tinsley elementary schools, Deady, Dowling, and Fondren middle schools, Twilight and Waltrip high schools, Community Services School, and Sharpstown International Academy.
Almeda Elementary School—Principal Max Pope
Max Pope is coming to HISD from his current position as principal of Pilot Elementary School in Guilford County, North Carolina. Max brings a wealth of experience as a principal at the elementary and middle school levels in addition to extensive work as a central office administrator. Prior to his experience in North Carolina, Mr. Pope was recognized as Kentucky’s Principal of the Year.
Max earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gardner-Webb College and Master of Arts degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Codwell Elementary School—Principal Kristy Love
Ms. Kristy Love will be replacing Dr. Valerie Orum who is retiring after serving the children of HISD for 17 years. Kristy has been a member of Team HISD since 2002. Currently she is the Dean of Students at Woodson K-8 Leadership Academy where she brings experience from the elementary and middle school levels. Prior to her new position, she served as a science teacher at Hogg Middle School and Assistant Principal at Burbank Middle School.
Kristy received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Alcorn State University and her Master of Education in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.
Foster Elementary School—Principal Eric Tingle
Eric Tingle has been selected to serve as the principal of Foster Elementary. Eric currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Law Elementary S.T.E.M. magnet school, where he helps to oversee more than 730 students. In addition, he has been instrumental in the development of their new Dual Language Program. Prior to joining Team HISD, Eric served in Alief Independent School District as a math and reading interventionist, and a corps member advisor for Teach For America. Eric received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Elementary Education, his master’s degree from the University of Houston Clear Lake in Educational Management and he is currently working on his doctoral degree from the University of Houston Clear Lake in Educational Leadership.
Hines-Caldwell Elementary School—Principal Torrye Hooper
Ms. Torrye Hooper came to HISD in 2007 as a Science Content Specialist, and currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Cullen Middle School. Prior to HISD, she taught Biology in Aldine ISD and also worked overseas in Europe preparing educators to teach in the United States.
Last year Ms. Hooper participated in HISD’s “New and Emerging Leader Institute”. Torrye earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Southern University and her Master’s degree in School Administration from the University of Houston Clear
Tinsley Elementary School—Principal Brandi Brevard
Brandi Brevard has been selected to become the principal for Tinsley Elementary. She has been with HISD for 15 years. For the past two years she has been a dedicated member of Sharpstown High School’s leadership team in the school’s turnaround efforts. Prior to working at Sharpstown, she was a program manager for the Apollo 20 project. Before her administrative roles, Brandi taught for 12 years at almost all levels and in all core content areas.
Brandi attended college at The University of Houston and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Mathematics and Reading instruction, and obtained her Master’s in Educational Administration from Lamar University.
Deady Middle School—Principal Orlando Reyna
Mr. Orlando Reyna was most recently an assistant principal at Thomas Middle School for two years. Mr. Reyna received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Science from Prairie View A&M University in 1999. Mr. Reyna taught Chemistry, Biology, and IPC at the high school level for five years before moving into an instructional coordinator position.
Mr. Reyna brings a wealth of experience in turning around scores at both the middle and high school levels. While an assistant principal at Sam Houston High School, he helped to increase the exit level Science scores 48% and increase parental involvement at the Ninth Grade College Preparatory Academy. While at Thomas Middle School, he was a part of an instructional leadership team that increased test scores, increased attendance, and created a safer campus environment.
Dowling Middle School—Principal Josefa Olivares
Dr. Olivares Dr. Josefa Olivares began her career in HISD in 2001 as a bilingual education teacher. She then served as Assistant Principal and Principal Intern at Holland Middle School and Chavez High School. For the past four years, she has led the turnaround effort and achieved much success as the principal of Bonner Elementary.
Dr. Olivares received her Bachelor of Science in Bilingual Education and her Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston. She just recently completed her Doctorate of Educational Leadership, also from the University of Houston.
Fondren Middle School—PrincipalMonique Lewis
Monique Lewis is a native of Houston,Texas. She attended Texas State University, San Marcos Texas,where she received herBachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications. She went on toearn herMasters of Arts inEducationLeadership from Columbia University, Teachers College in New York, New York.
Monique began her career in education 14 years agoas an alternative high school teacher in Central Texas. It was there that she discovered a passion to inspirechildren todevelop alove of learning. With innovativeand interactivelessons she used her classroom as a platform to deliver a message of hope.“Failure Is Not anOption”was the mantra which she used to motivate her students to remain determined to succeed.
Twilight High School—Principal Clarissa Giddings
Ms. Clarissa Giddings began her HISD career 14 years ago as a teacher at Sharpstown Middle School. She also worked as a math teacher, Magnet Coordinator, and Math Specialist. She is currently working at the Houston Academy for International Studies as a Dean of Instruction.
Ms. Giddings earned her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston. She received her Master’s from Texas Southern University. Most recently, she participated in Emerging Leaders Institute in the summer of 2012.
Waltrip High School—PrincipalAndria Schur
Ms. Andria Schur is currently the principal at Barbara Jordan High School for Careers, where she has served since 2010. Prior to her time at Barbara Jordan, she taught at the middle school level in Pasadena ISD before moving to Clear Creek ISD to be the at-risk coordinator and then a dean of instruction. Under her leadership, Barbara Jordan has seen test scores rise, career pathways increase and become more relevant, and the number of scholarship offers for seniors increase more than five-fold.
Ms. Schur is a native Houstonian who graduated from Aldine High School. She received her B.A. and M.A. in Education from the University of Houston and is currently in a University of Texas doctoral program.
Community Services—Principal Stephen MacLauchlan
Dr. Stephen MacLauchlan has been appointed as the new principal for Community Services. He has spent the last ten years in HISD, having moved from Canada. He will be replacing Ms. Rhonda Cotton, who is retiring. Dr. MacLauchlan has a business and two education degrees. His business experience along with his experience at the elementary and high school levels will stand him in good stead at Community Services, which is a school that supports students at all grade levels and has dealings with numerous institutions and businesses.
Dr. MacLauchlan’s most recent position was assistant principal and magnet coordinator at Reagan High School. Prior to that, he was a teacher at Reagan High School, Lyons Elementary School, and Sam Houston High School.
Sharpstown International Academy—PrincipalThuy Le-Thai
Ms. Thuy Le-Thai has been appointed as the next principal of Sharpstown International Academy. She has been filling the role of interim principal at the school since February, after the previous principal moved to South Korea.
Ms. Le-Thai was born in what was then Saigon, in Viet Nam, but graduated from Sharpstown High School, here in Houston. Ms. Le-Thai completed her B.A. and M.Ed. at the University of Houston. She started her career in HISD at White Elementary where she worked her way from a teaching position to principal. Under her leadership the school earned an Exemplary rating. She has more recently served as a School Support Officer in the Elementary School Office.
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