Arlington School & Family Magazine January 2015 | Page 26
School District & Administration
Superintendent appoints director of human resources
customer service center
Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos announces the selection of Mark Strand as director of human
resources customer service center. Strand has been a principal in the Arlington ISD for 18 years,
including stops at Newcomer Center (2007-present), Anderson Elementary (2004-2007), Crouch
Elementary (2000-2004) and Dunn Elementary (1996-2000). He was an assistant principal at Sherrod
Elementary from 1993 to 1996. Strand also taught second and sixth grades at Starrett Elementary
from 1990-1993 and fourth grade at Goodman Elementary from 1989 to 1990. Prior to that, Strand
was an English teacher for Gwinnett County Schools in Georgia from 1988 to 1989. Strand taught
seventh-grade English and eighth-grade reading at Nichols Junior High from 1985 to 1988. And he taught English at Lutheran
High School in Dallas from 1983 to 1985 and also in Melrose Park, Ill., from 1978 to 1983. Strand has a bachelor’s from
Concordia Teachers College in Illinois and master’s degrees from both the University of Illinois-Chicago and the University
of North Texas.
Board of trustees names principal of consolidated
Workman/ Hutcheson Junior High
The AISD Board of Trustees announces its selection of Inelda Acosta as principal of the consolidated
Workman/Hutcheson Junior High. As a part of the 2014 bond program, current Hutcheson Junior
High students will be rezoned to Workman Junior High starting next fall while a districtwide career
and technical center is built on the Hutcheson site. Acosta has been the principal at Hutcheson Junior
High since May 2014. Prior to that, she was principal at Crow Elementary since 2012, and she was an
assistant principal at Carter Junior High from 2008 to 2012. Acosta was a seventh- and eighth-grade
ESL teacher at Shackelford Junior High from 2002 to 2008, and she taught bilingual third grade at
Roark Elementary from 1999-2000. Acosta has a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from the
University of Texas at Arlington.
Board of trustees names principal of consolidated
Ousley/Ferguson Junior High
The AISD Board of Trustees announces its selection of Lora Thurston as principal of the consolidated
Ousley/Ferguson Junior High. As a part of the 2014 bond program, current Ferguson Junior High
students will be rezoned to Ousley Junior High starting next fall so the Ferguson building can be
repurposed for Newcomer Center and Venture High School. Thurston has been the principal at
Ousley Junior High since 2002, and she was an assistant principal at Ousley from 1998 to 2002.
Thurston taught ninth-grade English and reading at Bowie High School from 1994 to 1998, and she
was a seventh-grade English and reading teacher at Carter Junior High from 1992 to 1994. Prior to
her time in the Arlington ISD, Thurston was an eighth-grade reading improvement teacher in the Abilene ISD from 1988 to
1991. Thurston has a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.
Board of trustees names principal of Gunn Junior High
The AISD Board of Trustees announces its selection of Juan Villarreal as principal of Gunn Junior
High. Villarreal has been serving as the principal at Turning Point High School since 2013, and,
prior to that, he was an assistant principal at Martin High School for seven years. Villarreal served
as an assistant principal for five years for the Fort Worth ISD at Paschal High School and Arlington
Heights High School. He was a Spanish and AP Spanish teacher and coach for six years in the
Reagan County ISD after beginning his career in the Water Valley ISD as a Spanish teacher and
coach in 1992. He has a bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and a master’s degree from
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