School Leaders

John Hilliard

Harris Middle School
John K. Hilliard is an experienced educator, who most recently served as assistant principal at Sidney Lanier High School. Hilliard began his career as a high school science teacher at Highlands High School and recently completed his 16th year in education, all in SAISD. He has worked in various roles, including teacher, implementation specialist, instructional coach, and assistant principal. “My goal has been to improve educational outcomes for students by utilizing strong leadership skills and dedication to the success of all students,” Hilliard said. As principal of Harris Middle School, Hilliard said he will continue to provide an equitable and accessible education for all students and will work relentlessly to remove barriers and assist students in reaching their full potential.

Dr. Cassie McClung

Fenwick Academy
Dr. Cassie McClung received her Bachelor and Master degrees from Wayland Baptist University and completed her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University – Kingsville in 2015. She is originally from the small, southern town of Carrizo Springs, Texas, but has lived in San Antonio for the past seventeen years with my husband, Kelly, and two adult daughters, Jeanneh and Sunni.She has been an employee of SAISD for the several years and have served the students of our district in many roles: teacher at Woodlawn Elementary, Success for All Facilitator and Assistant Principal. She has had 5 years’ experience as a principal and now she the honor of being the Head of School for Fenwick Academy. She looks forward to working alongside the talented staff to guide our students in becoming strong, lifelong learners.

Shameika Allen

Longview High School
Shameika Allen is a proud graduate of Jefferson High School, located near Longview, TX. Her daughter, Kennedi Allen, is a bright and ambitious 8th grader attending Judson Middle School. As a parent, Shameika deeply values education and recognizes its transformative power in shaping children's lives. She is a passionate advocate for fostering community connections within the education system, believing that the hopes and dreams of families rest not only on leadership decisions but also on empathy, compassion, and the empowerment of every child.

Jennifer Emerson

Briscoe Elementary School
Jennifer Emerson is the Head of School at Andrew Briscoe Elementary School, an International Baccalaureate® World School in San Antonio, Texas. Her focus is teacher development and efficacy. She is committed to the improvement of student outcomes. She works to ensure students grow to be internationally minded contributors and advocates for their communities and the world. Mrs. Emerson believes in bringing community together to share leadership and in working with others to develop them as leaders. Mrs. Emerson has worked in the San Antonio Independent School District for 10 years, starting as a student teacher at Briscoe. In 2014, she received her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Trinity University.

Dr. Derrick Estes

Clarence Bailey Elementary
Dr. Estes started his career with Houston ISD in 2008 as a third-grade self-contained teacher and served as the principal at James H. Law Elementary for the last 6 years. During his tenure, he led an under-performing campus to a TEA A rating with 5 distinctions. Dr. Estes holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston Downtown in Interdisciplinary Studies, a masters in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Doctorate of Education degree in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Luis De La Garza

Woodlawn Academy
It is with great excitement that I write this letter of introduction to you as the new interim principal of Woodlawn Academy. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with such capable and bright students, an extremely dedicated staff, and a supportive school community. I feel very fortunate to be part of this school and to support its staff, students, and families. I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than 17 years. I have worked with students ranging from grades 7th to 12th in a variety of roles. For the last 6 years, I have worked as an assistant head of school at Thomas Jefferson IB World School in San Antonio ISD. I hope to develop a strong connection between these two campuses to provide our students with pipeline to the life changing benefits of an International Baccalaureate education. I will work diligently with all stakeholders in the community to provide our students with strong academic and social emotional foundations. I am thrilled to bring my skills as an educational leader, parent, and veteran to Woodlawn Academy and to work with you as a partner in education to ensure each child's success.

Tabitha Acevedo

Woodlawn Hills Elementary
Tabitha Acevedo is the Head of School at Woodlawn Hills Elementary, marking her 18th year as an educator. Ms. Acevedo began her career as a 5th-grade teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, before returning home to San Antonio. Since then, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including teacher, assistant principal, and principal. A proud alumna of San Antonio ISD and Thomas Jefferson High School, Ms. Acevedo holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Smith College and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University Texas. As a lifelong learner, she is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Ms. Acevedo is deeply passionate about providing educational equity for all students. She believes every child deserves access to a high-quality education and treats each student as if they were her own, viewing their success as her personal responsibility.

Dorcas Dunlap

Ned E. Williams
I received my Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and my Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. I have taught in Longview ISD for twenty-four years. During these twenty-four years, I have worn many hats and proudly continue to wear them. In 2018, I eagerly joined Ned E. Williams Magnet STEAM Academy as the Curricular Program Specialist and soon after became the Head of School in 2022. I am educationally committed!

Danny Stanley

Judson STEAM Academy
Mr. Danny Stanley, an East Texas native and Hallsville High School graduate, has been named interim principal of Judson Middle School. Mr. Stanley has spent more than 15 years in education, including the last six-and-a-half years as an assistant principal at Judson STEAM Academy. Mr. Stanley holds a bachelor’s degree from East Texas Baptist University, a Master of Arts from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Education from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. His previous experience includes teaching and coaching at Longview High School and teaching at Kilgore High School. “Mr. Stanley’s dedication to students and his deep roots in this community position him perfectly to lead Judson Middle School at this time,” said Dr. Sheppard. “We look forward to seeing his continued impact on the campus and its culture of learning.”

Greg Rivers

Thomas Jefferson High School
Gregory Rivers has served this community as a teacher, instructional coach, and now as a campus principal. "I’ve been an educator for more than 20 years and I bring a wealth of experience in curriculum and leadership," said Rivers. "I’m committed to ensuring that our students received the best education possible so that the doors of opportunity are wide open for them." Rivers believes in being a servant leader who will listen to all stakeholders and will seek to understand the needs of parents, students, and staff. He said, "I believe in innovation and will make every effort possible to prepare students for the jobs that will require critical thinking and cooperation. Also, I feel that our most important stakeholders are our parents. Their input and support are vital and I welcome their voice and expertise as we move our campus forward."

Mary Taylor

Foster Middle School
Mary Taylor is the Head of School at Foster Middle School, bringing years of experience and a passion for education. She earned her undergraduate degrees in English and Secondary Education from Wiley College and two Master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration from LeTourneau University. Mary’s career began at Longview High School, where she taught English and served as a lead teacher, mentoring colleagues and shaping curriculum. She then became the LISD Secondary ELA Instructional Specialist, supporting educators district-wide. As Assistant Principal at Judson STEAM Academy, she focused on academic excellence and building teacher capacity. A proud community advocate, Mary is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and empowering students to excel.

Christi Scott

Hudson PEP Elementary
Christy Scott is a dedicated educator with 16 years of experience in elementary education. She has taught kindergarten, second, third, and fourth grades before moving into roles as an IB PYP Coordinator and Academic Dean for five years before moving into the principal role. Currently, she is in her serving as principal of Hudson PEP Elementary, a distinguished National Blue Ribbon IB PYP campus. Christy is a proud wife to Kyle Scott and mother to three-year-old Alexander. Together, they are committed to serving the Lord and impacting their community through their lives.

Dr. Mario Duran

Roy Cisneros Leadership School for Boys
Dr. Mario Duran is the Head of School at Roy Cisneros Leadership School in Edgewood ISD. He was reared on the westside of San Antonio where he attended and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of History, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Duran brings ten years of leadership experience serving as assistant principal/Academic Dean and a total of seventeen years in education. His passion for the success of all students is evident and his success in innovative campus programs will lead Roy Cisneros Leadership School for Boys to new heights.

Dr. Monica Munoz

Las Palmas Leadership School for Girls
Monica Muñoz currently serves as the principal of Las Palmas Leadership School for Girls K-3 and Las Palmas Elementary 4-5. She is entering her 25th year as as a public school educator, where she has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, academic coordinator, and elementary principal. She holds a B.A. from St. Mary's University, her M.E. from Our Lady of the Lake University, and is currently in her 4th year as a doctoral student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a true servant leader that establishes and maintains positive and productive relationships with parents, students, administrators, and the community. She is an advocate for all students and works to build systems that foster equity in our schools. It is her purpose and mission to create a learning space for young girls to thrive and be empowered to change the world.

Irene Talamantes

Luther Burbank High School
Irene Talamantes is honored to be the principal for Luther Burbank High School. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where she graduated from Coronado High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree at University of Texas at El Paso and earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Concordia University. Ms. Talamantes has been serving the SAISD community as an educator and later as an administrator since 1998. She began her teaching career at Wheatley Middle School and then transitioned into the role of an assistant principal first at Whittier Middle School and then Burbank High School. Most recently, Ms. Talamantes served as the principal at Whittier Middle School, where she led the school to earn and maintain a B rating and several TEA distinctions. Ms. Talamantes believes that building relationships with students and parents is the foundation of student achievement.