Faculty / Staff
Tonya Miller, B. S., M. Ed.
Interim Principal
Ms. Miller earned a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from Prairie View A & M and a Master of Education Degree in Administration and Supervision from Texas Southern University. Before serving as an educator, she was a Engineering Consultant with Accenture, LLP. As an educator, Ms. Miller has been a math instructor at Westbury High School and a Content Specialist for secondary schools in the Washington and Davis Feeder Patterns of HISD.
Courtney Cherry, B.A.
Social Sciences
Courtney Cherry is the World Geography and Contemporary Issues teacher at North Houston Early College High School. She came to NHEC from Coop Elementary where she taught first and second graders through the national program, Teach for America. Courtney graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Environmental Science. Courtney also played collegiate volleyball and sang in an all-girls acapella group. She has traveled and studied abroad in the United Kingdom, France, Turkey and China. She married her husband Chris Hause in November 2008 and lives outside downtown Houston with her two dogs, Jack and Sophie.
Nicholas Clayton, B.A., M.A.
English
Mr. Clayton earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Truman State University (Kirksville, Missouri), a Master of Arts in English from the University of Kentucky. Currently Mr. Clayton is in the final stages of completing his doctorate from the University of Houston in Teacher Education. Mr. Clayton has been teaching for nine years at all levels of secondary education in addition to teaching various classes with the University of Houston and Houston Community College.
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.
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.
Natalie King, B. A., M. A. (2009)
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 2009. 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.
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.
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.
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 –Victoria. Mr. Ta started his educational career after receiving management
experience in the industries of hospitality, retail, and financial services. Past
employers include Walgreen’s, Washington Mutual Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and the
Westin Oaks and Galleria Hotel.
Yulia Turchaninova, B.S., M. S., Ph.D.
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.
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.
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.
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.
