Spring ISD Dr. Lupita Hinojosa joined district staff, cabinet and board members, administrators, parents, and community members on Tuesday evening for a meet-and-greet at the Randall Reed Community Center.

The bilingual event allowed Dr. Hinojosa to meet and hear feedback from not just district staff but parents and other stakeholders as well. For Valerie Doud, the parent engagement liaison for Spring Leadership Academy, the event was a chance to hear more about the future of Spring ISD.

“I think it’s important to meet our new leadership,” Doud said. “I want to see if my thoughts and my dreams for our district align with hers. I also want to be able to go back to speak to the teachers at our school and get them encouraged.”

Along with district leaders and representatives, other community stakeholders were in attendance, like Dr. Archie Blanson, the president of Lone Star College – North Harris, faith-based leaders from throughout the area, and a representative from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office. Spring ISD board members were also in attendance, including President Justine Durant, Vice President Winford Adams, Jr., Secretary Kelly Hodges, Carmen Correa, Dr. Deborah Jensen, and Natasha McDaniel. 

“As board members, we believe this is something brand new and exciting in Spring ISD,” Durant said. “She has demonstrated her ability to make big things happen. SHe knows our district and she knows our students. She believes in Spring ISD and we believe in her.”

Hinojosa, who was born to immigrant parents and raised in South Texas as a first-generation Mexican American, began her career in education as a bilingual teacher in the Houston Independent School District. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds a master’s and Doctorate of Education from the University of Houston.

Upon joining Spring ISD in 2014 as chief academic officer, she helped oversee the implementation of the district’s Five-Year Strategic Plan focused on student-centered transformation. She also was at the forefront of the district’s equity study, and in her previous role as chief of Innovation and Equity her primary goal has been to create excellent and equitable opportunities for all students from various backgrounds – securing more than $40 million in grants for school and district transformation efforts.

Her goal as superintendent is to continue that progress.

“We want to go far. We must go far for our students. And we need to do it together,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “I’m asking for all of us to join and reconnect so we can go far for our students.”

Hinojosa was instrumental in helping to develop the district’s established strategic direction and plans to further the district’s progress with that. She also spoke to the crowd about her three guiding principles as she gets started, which are joy, empowerment, and re-engagement.

“Our ‘why’ in Spring ISD doesn’t change and it will not change,” she said. “The reason we are here is to ensure excellent and equitable outcomes for all students. That will always stay the same.”