Spring Branch ISD Has Recently Named A New Stratford High School Principal

Earlier this year, Robert “Danny” Gex was named as the new principal at Stratford High School. He has 24 years in education, including 12 years in Spring Branch ISD as a teacher and a coach, assistant principal and then associate principal.  

Principal Gex earned his bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University, and he later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M University in 1998. He’s an ABD doctoral candidate in educational administration at Texas A&M University, completing all requirements except the dissertation. He’s also pursuing an MBA, or master’s in business administration, through Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business.

In SBISD, he was a teacher and coach for five years at Spring Forest Middle and Stratford High schools. He later returned to the district in 2007 and was an assistant principal and associate principal at Stratford until being named principal in January. He also was an assistant principal and grade-level principal in Katy ISD and served as director of student affairs and athletic director at Second Baptist School in Houston.

“I’m honored and blessed to have been selected for this position at Stratford High,” Principal Gex said. “I have been a student, teacher and coach at Stratford High School, and I now have my children attending as students. I am both personally and professionally invested in the continued excellence in education, which has always been a tradition at Stratford. I look forward to serving our students, staff and community for many years to come.”

As the new principal, Mr.  Gex is committed to working together with his high school team to assure that every child is well equipped with the academic, social and life skills to meet Spring Branch’s T-2-4 goal for high school graduates.

The T-2-4 goal calls for graduates to successfully complete some form of higher or technical education, such as military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.
Principal Gex holds state certifications in Secondary Physical Education and Health Education (Grades 6- 12), Secondary Biology (Grades 6- 12), and Mid-Management Administration (Prekindergarten-12).

Danny has been married for more than 20 years to his wife, Michelle. They have four daughters ranging in age from 17 to 10, His two oldest daughters are Stratford High students and participate in the school’s Spartanaires drill team and soccer program.

He replaced longtime Principal Chris Juntti, who now serves as SBISD Executive Director of Operations.

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Spring Branch ISD Names New Academy of Choice Program Director

Jill Wright has been named the new program director at the Academy of Choice School. She has 27 years in Spring Branch ISD education serving as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant and grade-level principal, and as the director of Cornerstone Academy.

Director Wright earned a bachelor of science in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University in 1988, and then later earned her master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Houston in 1993.

In SBISD, she taught from 1988 until 1995 at Thornwood Elementary and Northbrook Middle schools, and then was an assistant principal at Northbrook Middle and a grade-level principal at Stratford High. She became the first director of Cornerstone Academy, a new district charter middle school, in 1998, a position she has held since then.

Both Cornerstone Academy and Academy of Choice, the district’s alternative high school, are located on the Spring Branch Education Center (SBEC) campus, which is now being renovated. Both programs will operate this school year on the East Transition Campus at 8655 Emnora.

Since it first opened, Cornerstone Academy has earned the state’s highest accountability rating annually.

“I’m thrilled to be appointed director at Academy of Choice,” Director Wright said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with a team of committed educators and a staff who are passionate about doing whatever it takes to ensure that all our high school students reach their highest potential.”

As director at both schools, she is committed to working together with her team to assure that every child is equipped with the academic, social and life skills to meet Spring Branch’s T-2-4 goal for all graduates. That goal seeks for students to successfully complete some form of higher or technical education, such as military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

A graduate of Stratford High, Director Wright returned to the district and was later named Teacher of the Year in 1995. “My life has been in Spring Branch! I returned here to begin my teaching career, and when I later worked with a committee designing a new middle school concept, I knew that I also understood all the passion behind the concept, and I had to be the one to help implement the new concept,” she said. “At Academy of Choice, I hope to be that new leader who listens, understands and inspires similar passion.”

Director Wright holds state certifications in Elementary Self-Contained and in Elementary Mathematics (Grades 1-8), Secondary Mathematics (Grades 6-12), and in the area of Mid-Management Administrator (Prekindergarten-Grade 12).

She replaces Michele Hilberth at Academy of Choice, who has retired.

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SBISD Names New Wildcat Way School for Early Learning Director

Morella Tapia has been named as the new director at the Wildcat Way School for Early Learning. She has 14 years in Spring Branch ISD as an elementary teacher, intervention specialist and assistant principal. 

In 2001, Director Tapia earned her bachelor of arts in education from St. Thomas University in Houston. In 2006, she earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Houston.

In SBISD, she taught for five years at Shadow Oaks Elementary School, and then served for two years as an intervention specialist there. Since 2008, she’s been the assistant principal at Valley Oaks Elementary School.

“I’m thrilled to be appointed director at Wildcat Way School for Early Learning,” Director Tapia said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with a team of committed prekindergarten educators and a staff passionate about doing whatever it takes to ensure that all our youngest students reach their top potential.”

As the new director, Director Tapia is committed to working together with her team to assure that every child is well equipped with the academic, social and life skills to meet Spring Branch’s T-2-4 goal for its high school graduates.

The T-2-4 goal calls for graduates to successfully complete some form of higher or technical education, such as military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Director Tapia holds state certifications in Assistant Principal (Prekindergarten through 12th Grade), Generic Special Education (Prekindergarten through 12th Grade), Self-Contained Elementary (Grades 1-8), and Bilingual/English as a Second Language(ESL)-Spanish (Prekindergarten through 12th Grade).

She replaces Tim Ashford, who has retired.

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Spring Branch ISD Names New Northbrook Middle School Principal

Sarah Guerrero has been named as the new principal at Northbrook Middle School. Sarah has eight years in education serving in Houston ISD as a middle school teacher, assistant principal and principal. 

In 2007, Principal Guerrero earned twin bachelor of science degrees in physics and Spanish from Azusa Pacific College in Azusa, Calif. In 2009, she completed a master of education degree from the University of St. Thomas. She also participated in the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP), and three years ago, earned an MBA, or master of business administration, from Rice University.

She taught math for four years at Patrick Henry Middle School in Houston ISD, and then served for two years as assistant principal there. In 2013, she became principal at Patrick Henry Middle School before joining SBISD as a new principal.

“I’m excited to be appointed principal of Northbrook Middle School as a part of the SKY Partnership,” Principal Guerrero said. “We are a committe team of educators and I look forward to maximizing every minute to unleash our students’ potential.”

As the new principal, Principal Guerrero is committed to working together with the Northbrook Middle team to assure that every child is well equipped with the academic, social and life skills to meet Spring Branch’s T-2-4 goal for its graduates.

The T-2-4 goal calls for graduates to successfully complete some form of higher or technical education, such as military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.
Principal Guerrero holds state certifications in Principal (Early Childhood through 12th Grade) and in Classroom Teacher, Mathematics (Grades 4-8).

Outside of school, Principal Guerrero enjoys eating great food and being active. She loves spending time with family and friends, especially her husband, Steve, and stepson, Diego.
She replaces Valerie Johnson, who has joined Stratford High School as an assistant principal.

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SBISD Names New Treasure Forest Elementary School Principal

Aaron Dominguez has been named as the new principal at Treasure Forest Elementary School. Aaron has 14 years in education including seven years in Houston ISD serving as an elementary school principal and a middle school dean of students. 

In 2001, Principal Dominguez earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from University of Texas in Austin. He later earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Houston in 2007, and he’s currently pursuing a doctorate in educational administration advanced study, also through the University of Texas.

He taught for seven years at Mission West Elementary School in Fort Bend ISD, and then served for two years as dean of students at Alexander Hamilton Middle School from 2008-2010. For the past five years, he was principal at Macario Garcia Elementary School in Houston ISD. His family has moved to SBISD.

“Our mission here at Treasure Forest Elementary will be to educate our kindergarten through fifth-grade scholars for college through rigorous instruction, demanding work and a culture of excellence in all that we do,” Principal Dominguez said. “We will provide a world-class education to the families we serve here in Spring Branch ISD and, together, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that all Treasure Forest Elementary scholars realize their full potential.”

As a new principal, Principal Dominguez is committed to working together with Treasure Forest’s team to assure that every student is well equipped with the academic and life skills to meet the Spring Branch T-2-4 goal for its graduates.

The T-2-4 goal calls for graduates to successfully complete some form of higher or technical education, such as military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Principal Dominguez holds state certifications in Principal (Early Childhood through 12th Grade), Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-6) and Bilingual/English as a Second Language (Grades 1-6).

Principal Dominguez and his wife, Loren, a kindergarten teacher, recently bought a home in the Spring Shadows neighborhood. They’re the parents of two young boys, Ben and Sam, and their family has two dogs, Luna and Molly. Mr. Dominguez enjoys cooking big meals with his family and is a sports fan. He also is an avid duck hunter and loves to fish.

He replaces Blanca Reyes, who has been named director overseeing SBISD’s Childcare Program.

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Spring Branch ISD Names New Spring Woods Middle School Principal

Deborah Silber has been named as the new principal at Spring Woods Middle School. Deborah has 17 years of teaching and administrative experience in Spring Branch and Houston ISDs. For the past two years, she served as an associate principal at Spring Woods High School.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Ms. Silber attended primary and secondary Jewish schools there. After she moved to the United States as a young adult, Ms. Silber earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston in 1987. Three years later, she earned an MBA, a master’s degree in business administration, from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., with a special concentration in organizational behavior.

From 1998 until 2001, she taught at Benavidez and Braeburn elementary schools in HISD. For the next three years, she was an assistant principal at Braeburn Elementary, then assistant principal for two years of Sam Houston High School. Later, she served as principal at Berry Elementary School for seven years.

“I do credit my educational experiences and upbringing for molding my philosophy and outlook on education. I left Venezuela at 20 years old to pursue my dream to live in the United States, and also pursue an education. The knowledge and experience I gained from studying here in America fueled perseverance, and my own path to success. I hope to inspire my students at Spring Woods Middle to pursue the dreams for education and success that they hope to achieve,” she said. 

Principal Silber believes strongly in Spring Branch ISD’s T-2-4 goal, which calls for students of all ages to successfully complete some form of higher education after their graduation, such as  military training, technical certification,  or a two-year or four-year college degree.

She holds state certifications in Principal (Early Childhood-Grade 12), Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-6) and Bilingual/English as a Second Language (Grades 1-6).

Outside of school, Ms. Silber loves to travel, read and spend personal time with her two children.

She replaces Karen Liska, who has been appointed the new principal at Hollibrook Elementary School.

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