Amanda Reyes has been named the inaugural principal of the new fifth elementary school in Highland Park ISD. Reyes will join HPISD this summer to begin planning and organizing for the August 2020 opening of the building as its own school. Throughout the 2019-20 school year, Reyes will begin hiring staff and building community support for the school.
Reyes is currently the principal of Olson Elementary in Allen ISD, a position she has held for the past four years. Previously, she was an Assistant Principal at Anderson Elementary from 2011-2015.
"We want our fifth elementary school to be just as successful as our other campuses and we believe Amanda Reyes is the right leader to make that happen," HPISD Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg said. "This is the first new school to open since Hyer opened in 1949, so her initial task will be building energy and excitement around our first new elementary school in more than 70 years."
HPISD's fifth elementary school, located at 8385 Durham, originally opened last school year as University Park Elementary while UP was being rebuilt. Both this school year and next, it is serving as the temporary home for Hyer Elementary.
Beginning this spring, a committee made up of community members and both current and former trustees will study where to draw new attendance boundaries for five elementary schools, up from the current four. The committee is expected to make its recommendations for new boundaries in October. The school will also be named in the fall.
"I am thrilled to join Highland Park ISD as the first principal of Elementary #5," Reyes said. "I am looking forward to collaborating with everyone to create an amazing school that exceeds expectations, provides outstanding experiences for children and continues Highland Park's tradition of excellence."
Reyes has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Concordia University-Texas. She began her teaching career in 1993 as a bilingual teacher for first and fourth-grade classrooms in Irving ISD. From 2002-2011, she taught kindergarten in Allen ISD.
Reyes and her husband Sergio, whom she met at UT, have been married for nearly 26 years and have three daughters. Their oldest, Zoe, is also a graduate of UT Austin and was recently married to Cullon, who is serving in the United States Marines. Their second daughter, Isabella, will graduate from Stephen F. Austin in May, and their youngest, Savana, is completing her sophomore year at UT Austin.