Conroe High School’s ninth grade campus has a new principal, Bryan Gorka, following approval by the board of trustees during the June 16 meeting.

Gorka will assume his role for the 2015-16 school year. He said meeting and understanding staff members is among his top priorities.

“I think the first thing you must do when you take on a position like this is to get to know the people, get to know the teachers and understand their desire[s],” Gorka said.

Gorka worked as an assistant principal at Oak Ridge High School for the past two school years prior to assuming his new role and previously worked as an assistant principal at Klein Forest High School. He said he made the transition to CISD from Klein ISD to work in close proximity to his family.

“I came to this district because my wife has been here for 10 years and the great things that she always shared—I want to be a part of that,” Gorka said. “My daughter goes to school in the district as well, and in a sense I wanted to come home to that.”

During the May 19 meeting the board of trustees named Christina Upshaw as principal of Sam Houston Elementary School. Upshaw previously worked as assistant principal of Sam Houston Elementary School. Melissa Hammond was named principal of Giesinger Elementary School during that meeting. Hammond previously worked as assistant principal of the school.