Search for Irvin High School principal underway

Parents, teachers and students got a chance to let El Paso Independent School District officials know exactly what they want out of the next principal of Irvin High School in northeast El Paso.

They want someone who is accountable, excited to be at Irvin and committed to education. EPISD reassigned the former principal, Laron Sharp as principal earlier this year for personnel reasons.

The meeting was held in the school’s cafeteria to create a profile of the future permanent principal. People said they would like to see someone who wants to be at Irvin, has an open door policy, committed to education and keeping students safe while on campus.

They also want a strong principal who will enforce policies on student conduct.

“I have a 9th-grader here so, I’m a little worried about him. So, I am one of the parents that you are going to see a lot here,” said one parent.

Others, like parent Salvadore Alaniz, came with concerns about the district’s commitment to Irvin.

“Is the principal that is going to be hired here going to be supported by central office? And is Mr. Cabrera (superintendent) just going to give us lip service or is he really going to stand behind what he intends to say and the policies that he is going to institute to support the new principal at Irvin?,” Alaniz questioned.

For Domita Clark, both a parent and educator at Irvin, she hopes finding a permanent principal will provide an old school with a new beginning.

“I believe Irvin can be better and it’s looking like it’s going to be better this year because of all the changes that have been going around. the campus, the school and the new tech. Everything I have seen, Irvin is going to move forward. It’s going to come back with its rocket pride for the northeast,” Clark said.

The hiring process for a new Irvin principal is underway, but EPISD officals did not say how long that process will last. The interim principal, Mary Anna Giba, is a candidate for the permanent position.