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Aldine Principal Fellow Academy

Leadership Matters in Aldine ISD

Vision: This work is directly aligned with Aldine’s New Way Forward, specifically through the priority of Mission-Driven Leadership. We know that strong school leadership is key to ensuring all students in the district receive a rigorous, enriching educational experience that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. School leaders set a vision and maintain the systems and culture required to ensure instructional excellence, and Aldine ISD is committed to creating a strong pipeline of highly effective instructional leaders who are able to bring this vision to life for our students.

Purpose: The Principal Fellow Academy exists to build a bench of high-performing leaders who have a strong foundation in the role specific behaviors outlined in Aldine’s Leadership Definition. Through a year-long cohort, Fellows engage in practice-based clinical learning and work on areas of development. This development is obtained through 4 main modalities: Cohort Meetings, One on One Mentoring, Short Term In-Residence Observations and Project Based Learning.

  • Cohort Meetings: 
    • Purpose: The cohort meetings foster a deep-dive into the leadership behaviors and practices at the leader of campus level. These monthly experiences offer an opportunity to learn about and elevate personal leadership while building camaraderie and developing a strong network of leaders throughout the district. Sessions focus on Aldine’s Leadership Definition Competencies with opportunities for collaboration, problem solving, and community of practice engagement. 
    • Objectives 
      • Grow and develop the leadership behaviors necessary to successfully lead a campus. 
      • Live into the Leader of Campus behaviors for all areas of Leadership Matters 
        • CONNECT: We value relationships 
        • INSPIRE: We believe in the growth of self and others 
        • IMPACT: We are responsible for student success 
  • Mentoring: 
    • Purpose: The mentorship provides Fellows with an opportunity to learn from an experienced campus leader in Aldine ISD through coaching, feedback, job shadowing, and consultations. 
    • Objectives 
      • Through coaching and feedback, mentors support Fellows growth and development in specific behaviors identified as areas of opportunity based on Aldine’s Lead Forward Survey. 
        • CONNECT: Cultivates relationships through empathy, social/cultural awareness 
        • INSPIRE: Supports growth in others through feedback, coaching, and equitable access to leadership opportunities 
        • INSPIRE: Explores new and impactful ways of working, takes actions to evolve, and encourages others to do the same 
        • IMPACT: Seeks feedback to improve performance 
  • Observations/Short Term In-Residence: 
    • Purpose: Observations and short-term in residence provide Fellows with the opportunity to visit campuses where exemplar practices aligned with Aldine’s Leadership Definition are being implemented. Internal observations may be assigned for two or three consecutive days. External observations are scheduled based on need and availability to provide Fellows with a broader perception of excellent school models. There may be an additional opportunity for select Fellows to serve as a substitute principal for short increments of time during the Fellowship year. 
    • Objectives 
      • Fellows can utilize exemplar practices to support the development of their own leadership skills and behaviors and implement some of the practices they see in their own role to support the improvement of student outcomes 
        • IMPACT: Seeks feedback to improve performance 
        • IMPACT: Establishes high expectations and believes all can meet them, regardless of identity or background 
  • Project-Based Learning: 
    • Purpose: The leadership behaviors, knowledge, and skills gained through the Fellowship year will be demonstrated through a series of projects, culminating in a Capstone Impact Project with the purpose of identifying and resolving a specific problem of practice within the school. Through this Capstone, Fellows will engage in observations and actions to improve school-wide practices that impact student learning and academic achievement. 
    • Objectives 
      • Through their learning and experiences in this program, Fellows will be able to lead various projects on their campus, including the identification and benchmarking progress towards a specific problem of practice. 
        • IMPACT: Makes student-driven decisions supported by relevant data 
        • IMPACT: Believes own work directly impacts student outcomes and takes ownership of initiatives with a sense of urgency and purpose 
        • INSPIRE: Creates an open environment that encourages risk-taking and candid communication

Meet our 2022-2023 Principal Fellows

Maritza Arcos

Coming soon

Lori Brooks

Coming soon

Cindy Buentello
Carter Academy

Coming soon

Sheryl Duncan
Greenspoint ES

Coming soon

Luther Dollar

Coming soon

Sonia Galvan
Griggs EC/PK/K

Coming soon

Esperanza Jones-Valsin
Eckert ES

Coming soon

LaKeshia Williams
Davis HS

Coming soon

Meet our 2021-2022 Principal Fellows

Elizabeth Arias-Robles
Thompson ES

Elizabeth Arias-Robles has served in Aldine Independent School District since 2008. Elizabeth began her teaching career as a student teacher at Thompson Elementary. She taught bilingual first and fourth grade levels. She has served as Response to Intervention Coordinator, Academic Assessment Data Specialist, and is currently the assistant principal at Thompson Elementary since 2015. Elizabeth earned her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with summa cum laude distinction from the University of Houston Downtown.

Elizabeth fosters a learning environment that influences growth and development by eliminating inequities and building strong relationships with all stakeholders. She connects and collaborates with students, parents, peers, and community members to create a school-wide culture where differences in perspectives and ways of working are valued and sought after. Elizabeth leverages coaching and feedback to build capacity and inspires a growth mindset to lead change by developing self and others. She believes that her own work directly impacts student outcomes and takes ownership of initiatives with a sense of urgency and purpose.

“Leadership is not about a title or designation,” Elizabeth said. “It’s about making a difference by connecting, inspiring and impacting others towards growth, excellence, and success.”

Aurelia Fernandez
Raymond ES

Aurelia Fernandez is an Assistant Principal who works with students, teachers, and district personnel to support an elementary campus in the implementation of instructional curriculums and district programs. One way she does this is by working directly with teachers in the school by providing classroom-based demonstrations, collaborative and one-on-one supports, as well as facilitating teacher inquiry and related professional development. Prior to being an Assistant Principal, Aurelia was a Bilingual Instructional Coach, and a sixth grade Bilingual Math teacher.

Aurelia has earned several awards in her 10 years in education. One of them being the Extra Miler award presented to her by Aldine ISD for always going the extra mile to help achieve student-learning growth. In 2014 she was also awarded campus Teacher of the Year due to her passionate work and dedication to not only her classroom but also the campus, staff, and community by helping sponsor several organizations such as student council and ladies of distinction. Aurelia has also presented at a state conference organized by TABE, where she had the opportunity to share her second language acquisitions expertise.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Bilingual Education from Sam Houston State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. She is currently working towards her doctoral degree in Ethical Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. Her aspiration as she grows in here career, is to demonstrate her full potential as an educator and leader. She is a strong believer that in order to have success on anything or to achieve a goal; there has to be a strong team and ahead of that team, there should be a strong leader.

Artisha Holmes
Calvert ES

“Education is the most powerful weapon”- Nelson Mandela 

Artisha Holmes is an Innovative Leader who believes Educating Our Youth isEMPOWERING Our Youth. As a leader, she believes it is my obligation to serve our youth by steadily seeking for innovative solutions to the challenges we are facing. Through POWERFUL collaboration and strategic planning of strong and effective curriculum, she will INSPIRE teachers to teach creatively and motivate scholars to engage deeply in learning. 

As an Assistant Principal in Aldine ISD, Artisha leads with the passion for coaching teachers, CONNECTing with families and the community, and bridging the academic and social gap for the scholars she IMPACT. 

Artisha is a three time graduate from The Prairie View A&M University with a bachelors in Early Childhood, Masters in Counseling, and Masters inEducation Administration. She is currently a doctoral candidate at St.Thomas University. Artisha has served the education field for 19 years as an elementary teacher, curriculum coach, and instructional specialist. She also works as the program coordinator for Lone Star College Leadership HighSchool-Northwest Harris County. 

Artisha Holmes is committed to the achievement of ALL scholars and providing scholars with unlimited opportunities. 

Kory Jessie
Jones EC/PK/K

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am a graduate of Dillard University where I worked for 4 years before relocating to Houston due to Hurricane Katrina. Since that time I have earned a Master’s in Education from Sam Houston State University. I’ve worked as a math teacher, a skills specialist, and as an assistant principal since 2012. It has been a pleasure for me to serve in the aforementioned roles at the following schools: Eckert Intermediate, Calvert Elementary, Rayford Intermediate, and now at AW Jones EC/PK/K. I live and lead by a simple philosophy: You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution.

LeAnnda Ashley
Gray ES

LeAnnda Chenier-Ashley has been an educator in Aldine ISD for 23 years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University. She earned a Master of Arts in School Counseling, as well as, a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Prairie View A & M University. She has taught 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade, as well as served as an elementary school counselor. She is currently serving as an assistant principal at Gray Elementary.

LeAnnda has been happily married to Tracy Ashley for 22 years. She has three wonderful daughters. LeAnnda enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, traveling, and learning new things.

LeAnnda chooses to lead by ensuring increasing student achievement is a top priority, promoting a positive school culture, as well as, building relationships with stakeholders in the school community. LeAnnda will always go above and beyond to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.

Lakesha Pollard
Griggs EC/PK/K

LaKesha Pollard began her career in education in 2001. Her love and desire to see academic gaps close is what ultimately propelled her to obtain a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007. In doing so, she was able to CONNECT with others in similar roles and collaborate while gaining more effective and efficient instructional practices. Seeing students face various levels of difficulty in reading and comprehension piqued her interest, and in 2013 she graduated with a second Master’s degree in Reading Literacy. Ms. Pollard was INSPIRED by the students she worked with and learned all she could about the art and science of teaching reading. As she continued to work in different schools, she found herself wanting to assist other teachers in developing strategies and techniques to use with whole and small group instruction. In 2015, she became an Academic Skills Specialist for K-4th grade. The following year, she became the Academic Assessment and Data Specialist. For the next three years, she served in this capacity. In August of 2019, Mrs. Pollard was selected to serve as an Assistant Principal at Merlin Griggs Primary School. Ms. Pollard firmly believes that every student can learn… they simply need someone who is willing to teach them in a manner that is going to meet their needs. It is her desire to positively IMPACT all those she comes in contact with.

Phoebe Pruitt
Hambrick MS

Phoebe Danelle Pruit has served in Aldine Independent School District for 23 years. She began her employment in Aldine ISD as a third grade teacher at Carmichael Elementary in the fall of 1998. She wanted to share her love of reading and knew there were students who struggled to read on the middle school level, so in fall of 2001, Aldine Middle School is where she began to focus on this need and continued to pursue her passion of develping young readers. While at Aldine Middle School, she quickly became team lead and then department chair. As an ELA teacher, she was highly effective in growing her EL and Special Education populations. Because of this, in the fall of 2006, she was invited to help open Plummer Middle School and serve as the ELA Skill Specialist where her focus was teacher development and student success. This opportunity then led her to Hambrick Middle School as assistant principal where she helps students succeed and guides teachers as they grow professionally. Phoebe is a proud member of the ASPIRE Academy where she continues to excel as a leader. She is determined to connect her campus with the feeder elementary and high schools. This desire has birthed Project Bridge in which the focus is developing leaders, mentoring students, and instructional alignment.

Phoebe is from Dallas, Texas where she attended the first Black owned and accredited school in the state of Texas, Lobias Murray Christian Academy. She was Valedictorian of her graduating class. Phoebe then obtained a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Prairie View A&M where she graduated at the top of her class and had the honor of being President of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for educators. Phoebe also became a member of the illustrious organization, Delta Sigma Theta, where she continued to focus on economic and educational development, international awareness, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. She earned a Masters Degree in Reading Education at Prairie View A&M in 1999. Phoebe had a strong desire to lead, so she followed this passion and obtained a Masters Degree in Administration from Prairie View A&M University in 2005 where she graduated at the top of her class.

Phoebe Danelle Pruitt is the proud mother of one, Micah Pruitt and loving wife of Marcus Pruitt.

Phoebe leans forward to drive initiatives that will Connect, Inspire, and Impact all stakeholders.