EPISD names new principal for Austin High School

El Paso Independent School District Superintendent Juan Cabrera has announced the appointment of Craig Kehrwald as the new principal of Austin High School

Kehrwald, who has more than 28 years experience in education, was promoted from director of College and Career Readiness. He has been a teacher, counselor, at-risk coordinator and assistant principal.

Austin’s previous Principal John Tanner and Assistant Principal Diane Thomas were recommended for termination or the non-renewal of their contract by El Paso Independent School District Board of Managers in mid-December. As of March 7, they had not been terminated, according to an EPISD official.

Tanner has been with EPISD since 2004 and was Austin’s principal from 2008 until August 2013 when he was placed on leave. District officials wouldn’t say why, saying it was a private, personnel issue.

Tanner was named in a district audit in April 2013, and accused of violating the way students were able to obtain credit. Read EPISD’s audit of Austin High, including Tanner, athttp://bit.ly/19wmqPt.

But he was reinstated within days after a crowd of supporters showed up at a school board meeting to support him.

He was put on leave again in August.