BISD names five new principals

 The BISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved new principals at four elementaries and one middle school in a reorganization brought about by the opening of three new elementary campuses in the fall.

Brett Springston, interim superintendent of the Brownsville Independent School District, chose what he characterized as established, successful principals to open the three new campuses - Mittie A. Pullam, Thomas W. Keller and Raquel Peña elementary schools - announcing his selections three weeks ago.

That created vacancies at the three schools whose principals were reassigned, Garza, Putegnat and Vermillion elementary schools

In addition, BISD will open Veterans Memorial High School and Manzano Middle School in August 2010. Last week, Springston named longtime Stell Middle School Principal Acacia Ameel as principal for Veterans Memorial, leaving a vacancy at Stell.

Tuesday night he did not name Ameel's replacement at Stell, nor did he name a principal for Manzano Middle School, saying five schools was enough for one night.

However, Springston did appoint Aimee Garza as principal at Garcia Middle School. Garza had been dean of instruction at Hanna High School.

Other appointments included:

Debbie Alford, an assistant principal at the Brownsville Academic Center, as principal at J.T. Canales Elementary, where principal Loyda Poy retired.

Ricardo Torres, an assistant principal at Yturria Elementary, as principal at Judge Reynaldo G. Garza Elementary. Former Garza principal Carlos Garza is going to Keller Elementary.

Carla Pereira, an assistant principal at Porter High School, as principal at Anne S. Putegnat Elementary, where former principal Ernestina Treviño was named to open Raquel Peña Elementary.

ä Socorro Houghtaling, an assistant principal at Morningside Elementary, as principal of Vermillion Elementary. Former Vermillion Principal Jay Harris was named the first principal at Mittie A. Pullam Elementary.

The appointments all required board approval.