HOUSTON – May 26, 2017 – Spring ISD has announced a few personnel changes for the 2017-18 school year, including both district and campus level assignments.
Central Support Staff
Dr. Rene Garganta has been named Assistant Superintendent of Administration for High Schools, a role that will put his experience as a secondary school administrator to good use. During his years as an educator, Garganta has served as a middle school principal in Waco ISD, a high school principal in Austin ISD and is currently serving as principal at the nationally recognized Spring Early College Academy in Spring ISD. He also brings valuable experience as a central office administrator in Victoria ISD, Austin ISD and Spring ISD to his new role.
After a brief stint at the United States Air Force Academy, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. He then completed the Region 20 Alternative Certification Program before he began his education career as a middle school science teacher in Seguin ISD. Garganta went on to earn his Master of Education degree with a major in Educational Administration from Texas State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Campus Leaders
Diana Kimberly is the new principal at Spring Early College Academy after most recently serving as principal at Gloria Marshall Elementary School. Kimberly brings 27 years of experience in education, both elementary and secondary, to her new role. She began her career as an elementary teacher before moving into administrative roles as an assistant principal at Montgomery Intermediate and then Montgomery High School in Montgomery ISD. Kimberly moved in to the principal role at Cannan Elementary in Willis ISD before coming to Spring where she has also been a part of Leadership North Houston and Raise Your Hand Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, her master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University and her superintendent certification from Lamar University.
Dr. George Flores will be the new principal at Bailey Middle School. He comes to the school from Meyer Elementary School where he most recently served as principal. A native Houstonian, Flores began his career in Aldine ISD where he served as a teacher, parent liaison and assistant principal and received the Latino American Who’s Who Award twice. While serving at Meyer Elementary, Flores was selected to become a member of the Raise Your Hand Texas Organization and earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership from Prairie View A&M University.
Kenisha Williams has been named principal at Twin Creeks Middle School. A Spring resident, she has served in Spring ISD for nine years, most recently as the associate principal at Twin Creeks. Her roles for the district include a variety of positions – teacher, instructional specialist and Gifted and Talented Coordinator for the district as well as assistant principal and associate principal at Twin Creeks. During her leadership she helped transition the GT program, led numerous initiatives at the school and developed key partnerships with businesses and organizations. Williams has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction: reading, and is currently working on her doctoral degree.
Micah Bachemin will serve as the new principal at Clark Primary School. She comes to the school from the Spring ISD Gordon M. Anderson Leadership Center where she most recently served as the Academic and Behavior Response to Intervention (RtI) Coordinator. After eight years as a trial paralegal, Bachemin decided to give in to her passion and begin a career in education. She served five years as a classroom teacher, and one year as an assistant principal at Carroll Elementary School in Sheldon ISD. She has worked in Spring ISD for six years, including two years as the Associate Principal of Instruction at Bammel Middle School. Bachemin earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of New Orleans and her master’s degree in education administration from Sam Houston State University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at the University of St. Thomas.
Torrance Brooks will assume the principal role at Clark Intermediate School. He comes from Aldine ISD where he began his teaching career in 1997, and most recently served as assistant principal of Lewis Middle School since 2010. His years in education include a variety of teaching assignments – science, biology, physical education and coaching – before he became an assistant principal at Hoffman Middle School in 2007. Brooks earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Prairie View A&M University.
Dr. H.P. Hyder has been named principal at Heritage Elementary School. Hyder is not new to the district. He brings 14 years of administrative experience in education to his position – with several of those years devoted to the success of students in Spring ISD. He most recently served as the district’s Director of Academic Support Services, but many will remember him for his years of service at Bammel Middle School where he was a principal for several years. Other positions include serving as an assistant principal at Heritage Elementary School and Wells Middle School in Spring ISD and as principal at Carroll Elementary School in Sheldon ISD. Hyder holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston and master’s and doctorate degrees in educational leadership from Prairie View A&M University.
John Baker, the new principal at Hirsch Elementary School, comes to the school from Houston ISD where he most recently served as principal of Marshall Elementary School. During his tenure with Houston ISD, he also served as principal of Helms Elementary and Davila Elementary where he led successful turnaround efforts; as well as leading Mark Twain Elementary and Browning Elementary to their first ever exemplary ratings. Additionally, he was the principal of Blanton Elementary and served as a bilingual classroom teacher in Austin ISD. Baker attended the University of Texas and completed his graduate work at the University of Houston.
Debra Broughton will be the new principal at Gloria Marshall Elementary School. Her most recent assignment has been with the Achievement School District in Tennessee where she has been working on turning around the bottom five percent of schools, a five-year goal that was accomplished in just two years. Prior to joining the Achievement School District, she worked for Memphis City Schools as new leader resident principal at G.W. Carver High School, assistant principal at Westside Middle School, and taught special education at Hankins Middle School in Mobile, Alabama. Broughton has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop College, a Master of Divinity degree in urban theological studies from Emory University and a Master of Education from the University of South Alabama. In addition, she holds certifications from the New Leaders Principal Academy and the Relay Graduate School of Leadership.
C’ne Dawkins has been selected to serve as the principal at Meyer Elementary School. She comes from Hirsch Elementary School where she was a counselor for three years before transitioning into the role of assistant principal where she has remained for the past four years. Prior to joining Spring ISD, Dawkins filled a variety of positions that have prepared her for this new leadership role, including elementary classroom teacher and sixth-grade English Language Arts teacher in North Forest ISD as well as five years as an elementary counselor for Fort Bend ISD. Dawkins has a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from the University of Houston Downtown, and a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M University.
Sharon Carpenter has been named principal at Salyers Elementary School. She most recently served as principal at Bonner Elementary School in Houston ISD. During the more than 30 years that she has been with the Houston school district, she has worked in various capacities, including classroom teacher, instructional coordinator, content specialist, and as a leadership development and training administrator. Carpenter graduated from Eastern Illinois University, and once here in Texas, continued with her education at the University of Houston and Lamar University, receiving her master’s degree in administration.