Principal- Alexandra Tarpley
I’m honored to serve as the principal of Houston Elementary. As an educator, I am deeply passionate about building a strong, inclusive school community where every student feels valued and supported. My background includes experience as a bilingual classroom teacher, bilingual special education teacher , and assistant principal, and I believe that high expectations, teamwork, and strong relationships are the foundation for student success. I’m excited to work alongside our amazing staff and families to make this a year full of growth, joy, and achievement for all our Eagles!
Con cariño,
Alexandra Tarpley, M.Ed
alexandra.tarpley@austinisd.org
Assistant Principal
Welcome to a great school year at J. Houston Elementary. I am the proud Assistant Principal. J. Houston is home, so I am always invested in making it a great school year. It is an honor to serve the JHES community since 2016.
Each day at J. Houston is filled with new experiences, and on most days, the teachers and students teach me something that makes my day a little brighter! The primary goal in my role as AP is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students. I am grateful that I work with a dedicated team that sets high expectations for all learners while providing excellent opportunities for all students to be actively engaged in the learning process. This helps ensure students are showing growth in their academics.
Being at J. Houston brings me so much joy. I started my career by teaching 4th, 3rd, and 2nd grades at Sims Elementary and was also an Instructional Coach at Norman Elementary. I have a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Florida A & M University and Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Education from Texas State University.
My role as Assistant Principal affords me the opportunity to provide support to teachers, students, and families throughout the day and I look forward to working with you.
With love, respect, and gratitude,
Chaitra McGrew, PhD