Michael Niggli named new principal of Houston ISD's Bellaire High School

Waltrip High School Principal Michael Niggli has been named the new principal of Bellaire High School less than two weeks after officials with Houston ISD hosted an Oct. 17 community meeting to gather feedback amid a search process.

The announcement was first made on Instagram and Twitter accounts run by Bellaire High School, and Niggli also attended a meet and greet with the community Oct. 28.

Niggli first joined HISD as an English teacher at Austin High School in 1997. He later became an associate principal at the district's Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center before joining as Waltrip's principal in 2018. His time with HISD has also included stints as a debate coach and basketball coach, according to an HISD profile.

Niggli has earned a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University and a master's in educational administration from Grand Canyon University.

Niggli will take the place of Bellaire High School Principal Michael McDonough, who resigned in October and has announced his intent to retire in January. McDonough was temporarily reassigned in May after the district opened an ongoing investigation at the school.

At the Oct. 17 community meeting, community members sought more details about McDonough's retirement and the investigation, which officials declined to provide, citing district policy.

Prior to being named principal at Bellaire High School, Niggli went through an interview process that included interviews with the district's area superintendent, a community interview panel and Superintendent Millard House II, according to a presentation on the search process made at the Oct. 17 meeting. A start date for Niggli has not been announced.