Spring ISD Community Engagement Coordinator and 2021-22 TEPSA President Dr. Lorena Zertuche.

The Spring Independent School District will host a delegation from the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Sept. 16-18, during the annual TEPSA President Home Visit.

The visit to Spring ISD celebrates the term of 2021-22 TEPSA President Dr. Lorena Zertuche, who also serves as the district’s community engagement coordinator with the district’s Family and Community Engagement department.

“TEPSA is a prestigious professional organization that leads the state and nation in educational research and practice,” said Spring ISD Chief of Innovation and Equity Dr. Lupita Hinojosa. “This is an amazing opportunity for us not only because we will be able to showcase our schools and specialty programs for a statewide audience, but also because the statewide TEPSA president is one of our own!”

The group represents more than 5,900 pre-K-8 school administrators who, combined, direct the educational activities of more than 3 million Texas schoolchildren. TEPSA’s visit to Spring ISD will bring a contingent of school leaders from across the state who make up the group’s current executive committee, along with other TEPSA leadership staff and special Spring ISD guests, including Superintendent Dr. Rodney E. Watson and members of the Spring ISD Board of Trustees.

On Sept. 17, the group will begin the day at the Spring ISD Community Engagement Center for an overview of the district – including remarks by Watson and other administrators – before heading out to spend time visiting classrooms and meeting teachers and students at three district campuses: Northgate Crossing Elementary School, where they will hear about the school’s dual-language specialty program; Springwoods Village Middle School, recently certified as an official International Baccalaureate World School; and Salyers Elementary School, where the group will learn about the campus’ global studies specialty program.

“It’s all about showcasing the opportunities and choice that our kids have here in Spring ISD, and giving education leaders from around the state an opportunity to see what that looks like,” Zertuche said. “We have a lot of unique schools and programs here in Spring ISD, so we’re excited for the chance to take them behind the curtain, inside the classrooms.”

Zertuche, who joined Spring ISD last year after serving as a campus principal in Katy ISD, is a longtime TEPSA member and advocate for Texas students and educators. After first becoming involved with the group while she was still an aspiring administrator working toward her doctorate in education at Baylor University, Zertuche went on to serve as vice chair of TEPSA’s advocacy committee and in several other roles before becoming the association’s president this year.

Also joining the TEPSA contingent during the Sept. 17 visit will be Spring ISD Principal Resident LaToya Patterson – currently based at Eickenroht Elementary School – who is also serving as this year’s TEPSA Region 4 President.

“It is truly a rare occurrence and an honor that both the TEPSA state president and the region president are in our district,” Hinojosa said. “We’re lucky to have these two strong leaders here in Spring ISD who are also doing such wonderful work to advocate for and support other school leaders throughout the state.”

Zertuche said she was grateful to Hinojosa, Watson, the district’s Workforce Development team, Spring ISD campus principals, the Innovation and Equity and Family and Community Engagement Departments, and all those whose support is going into making the upcoming visit a success. Most of all, she said she looks forward to sharing examples of opportunities and student success in Spring ISD with the TEPSA delegation.

“I’m extremely  passionate about our kids, mentoring, and bilingual education and other special programs for our students, because they deserve it,” Zertuche said. “Our kids deserve it, and it shouldn’t matter what zip code or area code you’re born into whether you have access to the greatest quality education possible.”