Houston ISD area superintendent selected to lead Socorro District
The Board of Trustees for the Socorro Independent School District has named Dr. Joe Espinoza as the sole superintendent finalist for the District. The Board of Trustees announced its decision during a special board meeting on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. Dr. Espinoza is from Houston ISD, where he has been a school improvement officer (area superintendent) since 2010.
“After the deliberate and thorough selection process, we are excited to name Dr. Espinoza as the superintendent finalist,” said Board President Michael Najera. “He is an excellent educator and demonstrates a high standard of leadership that will take Socorro ISD to the next level of student achievement. We are confident that his commitment to student success and belief in team collaboration will make a positive and significant impact on our community.”
Dr. Espinoza has 16 years of experience ranging from teacher to counselor, assistant principal, principal and district administrator. In his role as School Improvement Officer in Houston ISD, he has supervised and counseled principals to meet district goals and focus on student academic growth. He has assisted principals to lead their schools to excel academically, comply with federal and state regulations, develop instructional staff, execute comprehensive strategic plans that meet the needs of students and he has planned, developed and implemented successful, research-based instructional programs.
As a middle school principal in Houston ISD, he led his school to a TEA Exemplary rating after earning Recognized status for three years in a row. Throughout his educational career he has built strong relationships, communicated and collaborated with key stakeholders in the various school district communities he has served.
Dr. Espinoza earned a doctorate of educational leadership from Sam Houston State University, and a master’s in counseling and guidance as well as a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Texas – Pan American.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Espinoza and working with him to continue our tradition of success,” Najera said. “He has demonstrated he is an open communicator, approachable, supportive and an achievement-oriented educator. These are among the many qualities that make him the right person to lead the Socorro District.”
