Anderson Elementary School Assistant Principal LaToya Patterson stands with the Point of Pride award she received from the Spring ISD Board of Trustees in honor of her election as TEPSA Region 4 President-Elect.HOUSTON – Nov. 19, 2020 – The Spring ISD Board of Trustees last week recognized Anderson Elementary School Assistant Principal LaToya Patterson, who was recently named Region 4 President-Elect for 2020-21 by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA).
“TEPSA’s Board of Directors advance the association’s mission and build leadership capacity to ensure Texas PK-8 students and teachers are successful,” said TEPSA Executive Director Harley Eckhart in a statement announcing this year’s board members.
Patterson was elected earlier this year by fellow TEPSA members. In the role, she will support the organization’s goal of empowering educational leaders “to learn with and from each other,” and next year she will begin a term serving as Region 4 President for 2021-22.
“TEPSA currently has relatively few assistant principals serving on its board. Ms. Patterson’s election is especially impressive,” said Chief of Communications and Innovation Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield during her remarks at the district board meeting. “Her own achievements, together with her dedicated work in support of her professional colleagues, has set her apart.”
A 2015 Spring ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and finalist for Region 4 Teacher of the Year, Patterson herself grew up in Spring ISD schools, attending Hirsch Elementary, Twin Creeks Middle School and Spring High School. She taught in Spring ISD at Dekaney High School and in a number of capacities at Anderson Elementary School before becoming Anderson’s assistant principal in 2017.
Having previously served as a regional vice president helping to organize programs, events and activities for TEPSA members, Patterson said she was excited to continue her work with the organization, which she said had been a great support to her as she studied for and began her work as an administrator.
“It is very humbling, and I’m excited for the opportunity,” Patterson said. “I think my husband would say that sometimes I bite off more than I can chew, because I’m always asking, ‘What’s the next thing? What else can I do? How else can I serve?’ But, really, I want to know how I can grow. My goal is to be a campus principal, and so I’m always finding things that will help me learn more, new ideas that I can bring back to my campus, that I can bring back to my teachers and to my students.”
With its dual focus on professional development and ongoing practical support for administrators, Patterson said TEPSA can be a wonderful resource for educators at any point in their careers.
“I think TEPSA’s a great organization. I want all of our principals and assistant principals to join,” she said.
Anderson Elementary Principal Kristin Falcon was also on hand for the board meeting, during which she described Patterson as a trusted colleague and friend.
“She exemplifies leadership in all aspects of the word,” Falcon said. “But what I love most about Ms. Patterson is every decision she makes she’s got what’s best for kids in her heart.”
Patterson isn’t the only current Spring ISD administrator who will be serving as a member of TEPSA’s Board of Directors over the next two years. The other is Dr. Lorena Zertuche, TEPSA Board of Directors President-Elect, who just this fall joined Spring ISD as the district’s new Community Engagement Coordinator.
“We’re incredibly proud to have these district leaders on the TEPSA board,” said Superintendent Dr. Rodney E. Watson, “and we’re especially excited to see one of our own homegrown leaders representing Spring ISD and doing such great work on behalf of students and fellow educators, both here in Region 4 and across the state.”