Texas Education Agency Campus Rating:
2009 (Exemplary), 2010 (Exemplary), 2011 (Exemplary)

Faculty / Staff

Angela Lundy-Jackson, B. S., M.P.A.
Principal

Ms. Lundy-Jackson began her career in education via Teach for America as a corps member in 1991. She has served Houston ISD as a new teacher mentor, English Department Chairperson, Instructional Coordinator, Magnet Coordinator, and Dean of Instruction / Assistant Principal. Before the principalship, she served Houston ISD's South Region schools as an Education Program Manager. Ms. Lundy-Jackson was born and raised in Memphis, TN, and attended Grambling State University in Grambling, LA, where she first received her undergraduate degree in Communications with an emphasis in radio and television news. She also received a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from Grambling. She completed principal certification requirements at Prairie View A & M University.

Lucille Dew, B.S., M.S., M.Ed.
Registrar / English

Ms. Dew is the registrar at North Houston Early College High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in English from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She Earned a Master's of Science in English at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, and a Master's of Educational Administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She has worked as an Honors and AP English teacher in North Forest and Aldine Independent School Districts. She united with HISD 8 years ago where she served as an Education Program Manager for the Acres Homes Coalition Administrative District and a Pre AP English teacher for M. C. Williams Middle School.

Ramiro Contreras, A. A., B. A.
Social Sciences

Mr. Contreras earned an Associate of Arts from Houston Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Houston. Before serving his childhood community as an educator, Mr. Contreras served his country in the US Army Reserves as a sergeant. A local product of HISD, he has worked as a Teaching Assistant at Port Houston Elementary and Stevens Elementary. He plans to pursue an advanced degree in History.

Leon Pitts II, B.A., M.A.T.
Social Sciences

Mr. Pitts graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fayetteville State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. While at Fayetteville State University he also volunteered for the Upward Bound program. After realizing that the business world was not where he belonged, he returned to school and received his Master's Degree from the University of South Carolina in Secondary Social Studies. Mr. Pitts has taught Government, United States History, World History and Psychology.

Anne Miller Powell, B.S., M.Ed.
Social Sciences

Mrs. Anne Powell is a graduate of Southern University A. and M. College in Baton Rouge, LA in Secondary Education. She completed her graduate studies in History Education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She presented a paper on the Concentric Zone Theory in Urban Geography as part of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Summer Program at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has taught in the states of Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. She is ceritified in several states as a Principal/Supervisor for Early Childhood - Grade 12. As an educator, Mrs. Powell has served as a Clinical Professor in the Professional Development School at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, LA, where she also served as a Student-Teacher Mentor. Mrs. Powell has taught: American, Government Economics, U.S. History, World History, Geography, Journalism, and English. She has also been an Instructional Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Title 1 Coordinator, Testing Coordinator, and a Teacher Mentor. Her hobbies are reading 3-4 novels at one time, and reading children's stories.

Yulia Turchaninova, B.S., M. S., Ph.D.
Dr. T's Course Website
Science

Dr. Turchaninova graduated from Moscow State Pedagogical University with a Bachelor of Science (Physics). She completed her graduate studies in Physics as well as doctorate and post-doctorate studies in Teacher Education at the same University. As an educator, Dr. Turchaninova has taught all levels of Physical Science in both secondary and higher education. As an educational researcher, she has published 5 books and over 70 articles. Dr. Turchaninova is also a professional English / Russian translator. In co-authorship with her husband, Professor. Ernst Gussinski, she has translated and published 15 books on philosophy, psychology, history and education.

Richard Galian, B. S., M.S.
Science

Mr. Galian earned a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med Physics and Master of Science in Chemistry from De La Salle University where he worked as an Assistant Professor. He has also received graduate coursework at the University of Houston where he worked as a Teaching Assistant. Prior to his career in education, Mr. Galian worked in computer sales and as a marketing assistant for a fitness facility. He has also worked as a musical director, vocal coach, and a producer / performer for musical concerts. His current professional development for the school year 2009-2010 includes his second year as a teacher-participant in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) GK-12 program with Baylor College of Medicine.

Ida Carter, B. S.
Science

Ms. Ida Carter is the Biology teacher at North Houston Early College High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the Prairie View A & M University. Prior to her career in education, Ms. Carter worked in bioinformatics at Baylor College of Medicine. She also managed an oligonucleotide production lab at Sigma Genosys Biotechnologies. As an educator, Ms. Carter has taught Aerospace Science, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology. She plans to pursue an advanced degree in Environmental Toxicology.

Natalie King, B. A., M. A. (2010)
English

Ms. King graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She is a member of the Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy), Theta Alpha Kappa (Theology) and Sigma Tau Delta (English) International Honor Societies, as well as the St. Thomas Aquinas Honor Society. She has completed graduate studies at both the University of St. Thomas and Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She will receive her Master of Arts in Education through Pepperdine in 2010. As an educator, Ms. King has taught both regular and Pre-AP English for the past four years at Scarborough High School. Additionally, she spent two years teaching English at an alternative charter high school in South Central Los Angeles. Ms. King is currently writing her first novel. Also, she is the department chairperson of the English Department at North Houston Early College High School.

Rebecca Kingman, B.A.
English

Ms. Kingman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and English from Trinity University. She then joined the national organization, Teach for America, and spent three years teaching at Patrick Henry Middle School. During those three years, Ms. Kingman taught Pre-AP and regular reading and English. Ms. Kingman will complete a Master of Arts in Education through The University of St. Thomas in December of 2010.

Richard Sjoquist, B.A., M.A., PH.D.
English

Dr. Sjoquist began teaching in 1985 and has taught English and supervised pre-service English teachers at the high school, junior college, and university levels in Wisconsin, Texas, California, and Hawaii. He has also taught English as a Foreign Language in China, including Hong and Beijing, and South Korea. Dr. Sjoquist was born in Madison, Wisconsin and attended public and military dependent schools in the U.S. and abroad. He doubled majored in History and English at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, earned a master's degree at The University of Texas at Austin, and a doctorate in Curriculum Studies and Secondary English Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He currently teachers A.P. English III American Literature, Creative Writing and Senior Research Project. He will serve as the campus coordinator for Academic UIL this spring and coach Academic WorldQuest.

Fabiola Stroud M.S.
Mathematics

Ms. Stroud was born in Bogota, Colombia and math has always been her favorite subject. Ms. Stroud attended National Pedagogic University of Colombia where she graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Math Education. Ms. Stroud later attended Libre University of Brussels in Belgium where she graduated with another Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science (Applied to Education). She has been a math teacher since 1984 and has worked with students from 4th through 12th grade as well as university students. Ms. Stroud was the head of the math department for the National Pedagogic Institute for 10 years. She came to the United States in 2005 and started teaching for HISD at Jane Long Middle School and transferred to Burbank Middle School in 2006.

Kamil Safin B.S., M.S.
Mathematics

Mr. Safin earned his Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics and a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University, Russia. He has taught Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Physics for 18 years in middle and high school. Mr. Safin worked as an assistant principal, and a principal of a magnet high school in Russia. In 2002 through 2009 he taught Math, Thinking Skills, and Algebra 1 at Fonville middle school in Houston.

Andre Shackelford, B.S.
Mathematics

Mr. Shackelford was born in Miami, Florida. Mr. Shackelford attended Texas Southern University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Math and eighteen hours in graduate math courses math courses. He has taught mathematics at Madison High School in 1998, Texas Southern University in 2002, and Houston Community College in 2000.

Manika Arora, M.A., M.Ed.
Mathematics

Ms Arora earned her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Master's degree in Mathematical Statistics from Delhi University, India. Later she completed her Bachelor and Master degree in Education. She taught math to the high school students in India before moving to Canada in 2002. She earned her Advance Diploma in Business Administration -Accounting and worked as Accountant in Canada. Later she moved to US in 2007 along with her family and taught Algebra at CLC High school for 2 years before joining NHECHS.

Kenneth Ta, B. S., M. B. A.
Business Education

Mr. Ta is a proud product of Houston Independent School District where he attended Ed White Elementary, Sharpstown Middle and Sharpstown High School. After high school, Mr. Ta earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston at Victoria. Mr. Ta started his educational career after receiving management experience in the industries of hospitality, retail, and financial services. Past employers include Walgreens, Washington Mutual Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Westin Oaks and Galleria Hotel.

Santiago Ugalde, A. A., B. A.
Spanish

Mr. Ugalde earned his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Houston-Downtown. He studied law at University Pan Americana Law School and Supreme Court of Costa Rica Judicial School. He studied English in California-Berkeley. As a native Spanish speaker, his internship was at Wharton Elementary to help in the non-native Spanish speakers dual language program. He has worked as a tutor in the University of Houston-Downtown Language Lab, a semester at Westfield High School and he is one of the founders of North Houston Early College High School.

Kenneth Dorsey, B.A.
PE

Coach Kenneth "Tyrone" Dorsey began his career in education in January 2011 as the NHECHS' first physical education instructor. A proud graduate of Southern University of New Orleans, Dorsey played basketball, earned his BA in Print Journalism and was commissioned in the US Army. Dorsey served on active duty for four years attaining the rank of Captain. He worked twenty years in corporate America with two fortune 200 organizations. Coach served in various production, warehouse and sales management level positions before transitioning to become an educator. Dorsey has over 15 years experience with youth sports programs across the greater Houston area, is a UIL and TASO certified football, basketball and volleyball official as well as an active volunteer at his church and front line leader of a youth basketball organization in southwest Houston.

Matthew Weaver, B.S.
Music

Mr. Weaver was born in Spring, Texas and earned his Bachelor's of Music Education from Sam Houston State University. He spent two years teaching English and Music in South Korea. He taught in an inner city public school outside of Seoul. Mr. Weaver has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia absorbing the culture and teaching techniques. He has won numerous musical awards/contest and is an active member of the Texas Music Educator Association. Mr. Weaver has been teaching private voice for  the past 4 years.

Cindy Luera, C. M. T.
School Secretary

Mrs. Luera earned her Certificate of Completion from Texas State Technical College as a Medical Information Specialist/ Transcriptionist. She has previously served as the School Secretary at Piney Point Elementary and Deady Middle School. Other positions in HISD include Senior Secretary with Board Services; Senior Secretary with Charter Schools Initiatives; Financial Clerk with the Rice School; Secretary with Alternative Education; and Word Processor II with Research and Accountability.

Nidia Flores, A.A.
School Receptionist

Ms. Flores began working with The Houston Independent School District in 2003 as the magnet clerk and transportation coordinator for The Rice School / La Escuela Rice. She received her Associate Degree in Arts from Houston Community College. Ms. Flores currently attends the University of Houston Downtown and is working towards her Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education.

Gilda Torres, SIMS Certfication
Student Information Managements System

Mrs. Torres is a graduate of Jeff Davis High School where she was a member of the Hotel Management Magnet Program and Lt. Cornel on the dance team. She has undertaken coursework at the University of Houston-Downtown and the University of Phoenix-Online to add to her extensive experience with the HISD Student Information Managements System (SIMS). After working as a Store Manager at Subway, Mrs. Torres began a career with HISD that has included positions at Sam Houston High School, Harvard Elementary, and Marshall Middle School.