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New Principals
Canutillo ISD announces new principals at two campuses
Posted on 07/08/2019
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The Canutillo Independent School District recently announced new principals at Northwest Early College High School and Gonzalo and Sofia Garcia Elementary.

Jesica Arellano was serving as the Principal at Garcia Elementary when she was appointed to return to Northwest as Principal. She has about 17 years’ experience as an educator and also worked nearly 7 years in the private sector as a Facilities Environmental and Manufacturing Engineer.

Arellano began her educational career as a Trade and Industrial teacher at Canutillo High School in 2002. She has held different positions within CISD that include math teacher and Instructional Coach at Northwest Early College High School, Instructional Coordinator of Social Studies and Advanced Academics with the Curriculum and Instruction Division, and Math and Science Instructional Coach, then Assistant Principal at Canutillo High School.

“I plan to continue the hard work of supporting the people who have already achieved the accolades of this past year and be a part of that excellence,” Arellano said. “I want to keep cultivating that welcoming culture at Northwest where students, parents, staff, and community feel welcome and supported so they can focus on academics and learning.”

Mrs. Arellano has served as an External Instructional Coach for Educate Texas, a nationally recognized reform program with the goal of enabling all students, particularly those from traditionally underserved populations, to attain a college degree. She is a graduate of Ysleta High School and earned a Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso. Mrs. Arellano also holds an Administrator Certificate from the Region 19 Principal Alternative Certification Program.

Leading Garcia Elementary School will be Teresa Heimer. Ms. Heimer was selected to succeed Arellano as Principal. She most recently served as Assistant Principal at Loma Terrace Elementary in the Ysleta Independent School District. She has also served as assistant principal at Valley View Middle school and Hulbert Elementary.

Heimer believes that the key to leadership is to be a good follower and that a true leader empowers others.

“We need to build self-efficacy in our kiddos,” Heimer said. “Success is the knowledge that ‘I did that,’ and the belief that ‘I can do it again.’ Then, they can monitor their own growth. We need to be people that propel them and that belief. I’m here because of my love for kids.”

Heimer holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Bilingual Education and a Master of Education Instructional Specialist from The University of Texas at El Paso. She began her career in education as a 2nd grade dual language teacher, became a 6th grade language arts teacher, and also a dyslexia reading teacher all in YISD. Heimer also served our country in the United States Navy Reserves.