October 2020

Shemeka Phipps, a residential life coordinator for UH Student Housing and Residential Life, was recently selected to serve as an at-large council member for the Learning Communities Association for a three-year term. The association promotes student success through “learning communities,” or fostering community among faculty, staff, and a cohort of students in a learning environment. Phipps earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership – special populations from the College in 2020.

September 2020

Dr. Karen Dickinson, who earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction — health science education in 2020, recently published an article in the journal Surgery about her systematic approach of customizing the curriculum for general surgery residency training to target specific learning needs and optimize resources. Sara McNeil, an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, was a co-author. Dickinson also recently published an article in the Journal of Surgical Education utilizing the principles of universal design to optimize learning during the pandemic. Susie Gronseth, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, was a co-author.

July 2020

Maria Cruz, who earned an M.Ed in administration and supervision in 2018 and a B.S. in human development and family studies in 2014, has been promoted to assistant principal of Truitt Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, where she is currently a testing coordinator. Cruz was part of a graduate degree partnership program between the College and the district.

Khalilah Campbell-Rhone, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 in 2014, has been named officer of special populations for Houston ISD after serving as principal of Worthing High School in the district. She previously taught as an adjunct professor for the College.

Jamie Enriquez has been named assistant principal of Bane Elementary School in Cypress Fairbanks ISD after serving as an instructional specialist at Reed Elementary in the district. Enriquez earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2017.

June 2020

Samantha Brooks, who earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2008 and an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2018, has been named the new principal of North Houston Early College High School in Houston ISD after serving as dean of instruction at South Early College High School in the district.

Four alumni who graduated in 2019 have won Teacher of the Year awards from their respective schools:

• Megan Harper, who earned a bachelor’s in teaching, was awarded 2020 First Year Teacher of the Year at Carleston Elementary in Pearland ISD, where she is a third grade teacher.
• Kallie Holtkamp, who earned a bachelor’s in teaching, was awarded 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Glenn York Elementary in Alvin ISD, where she is a fourth grade teacher. Holtkamp also went on to win 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year for the district.
• Krystal Kennedy, who earned a bachelor’s in teaching, won 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Franz Elementary in Katy ISD, where she is a first grade teacher.
• Anicia Rodriguez, who earned a B.S. in human development and family studies , was awarded 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Briargrove Elementary in Houston ISD, where she is a fifth grade teacher.

May 2020

Johnny Paz, who earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in 2014, has been named the new assistant principal of Cleveland High School in Cleveland ISD after serving as assistant principal of Hambrick Middle School in Aldine ISD.

Darryl Henson, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2014, was named superintendent of Marlin ISD south of Waco. He previously served as assistant superintendent of school leadership at Cedar Hill ISD and principal of North Forest High School in Houston ISD.

April 2020

Leticia Guzmán, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2019, was named acting superintendent for Royal ISD in Pattison, Texas. She previously served as director of federal, state and special programs for the district. Guzmán also earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2009 and a B.S. in teacher education in 2000 from the College.

February 2020

Joanna Flores, who earned a B.S. in teaching in 2019, has been named Teacher of the Year at Houston ISD’s Blackshear Elementary, where she teaches second grade. Flores completed her student teaching at Blackshear Elementary in 2019.

Allison Matney, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2012, has been named officer of research and accountability at Houston ISD. Matney previously served as executive director of research, assessment and accountability at Katy ISD.

Gerardo Chapa, who earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2017, has been named Houston ISD teacher of the month for February. Chapa currently teaches fifth grade mathematics and coordinates the after school program at Browning Elementary. He previously taught band, drumline and mariachi for five years at Helms Elementary, where he started the music program.   

Akilah Reynolds and LaWanda Hill received an annual small practice grant from the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race. Their grant proposal is titled “(Re)Defining STRONG: Sisters Taking Risks on Growth.” Reynolds and Hill each earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the College in 2016.