New Principal For De Zavala Elementary

On Monday, May 23, 2016, the San Marcos School Board approved the appointment of Elena Villanueva as the new principal of De Zavala Elementary School. She brings with her a wealth of experience as a principal, counselor, and bilingual teacher. Most recently, Villanueva has served as an assistant principal of Haltom High School, Birdville ISD, in Haltom City, Texas, near Fort Worth.

Prior to that, she was an assistant principal of Ben Franklin Elementary and a school counselor with Scotland Park Elementary, both in Wichita Falls ISD. For two years Villanueva was assistant principal of the Clara Driscoll Middle School in North East ISD in San Antonio, and she was school counselor at A. Steele High School/Cibolo Center, Schertz-Cibolo Universal City ISD in Schertz, Texas.

Villanueva also served in Corpus Christi ISD, first as a school counselor and principal intern with Kaffie Middle School and as a bilingual teacher in Meadowbrook Elementary.  She began her teaching career in Laredo ISD in the Buenos Aires Elementary as a bilingual teacher.

She earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi University. She acquired her EC-4^th Bilingual Certification from Texas A&M International University in Laredo before earning two Master’s Degrees—one in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership and another in School Counseling— from Texas A&M Corpus Christi University.  Villanueva also took her Principal Certification from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Villanueva say that she has a strong commitment to the development of students and staff, and that her goal is “to provide a stimulating safe and motivating learning environment for all of my students.” She adds, “I am excited to be a part of SMCISD.”