Trustees appointed Carmen Correa to fill Position 6 and Natasha McDaniel to fill Position 7. Both Correa and McDaniel will serve on the board through the Nov. 2 election, where they will each be on the ballot for their respective positions.
Following the announcement that Davis and Gonzales were retiring, the district put out an official call for applications from qualified candidates to fill the two unexpired terms. The district and the board reviewed applications and met with potential candidates before voting on the appointments.
“Change on a local school board – including saying goodbye to former members – isn’t always easy, but we were fortunate to receive some wonderful applications from candidates who share our board’s passion for Spring ISD and the students and families who live here,” SISD Board President Rhonda Newhouse said during the Aug. 10 meeting. “On behalf of my fellow school board members, I extend a warm Spring ISD welcome to both Trustee Correa and Trustee McDaniel. We’re excited to have them on the team.”
Correa is coming to the board as a 22-year resident of the district and longtime SISD volunteer where she served as parent co-chair of the SISD Student Health Advisory Committee. Correa also served as a member of the SISD Parent Advisory Council, the Ponderosa Elementary School Parent Advisory Council and as vice president and membership chair of the Ponderosa Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
With a bachelor’s degree in global business management from the University of Phoenix, Correa also brings private-sector experience from previous jobs in the mortgage, financial services and business consulting industries. She has also been active in recent years as a volunteer math and English tutor and as an area youth sports league coach.
“I have a true passion for helping others,” Correa said. “I feel that I can bring a unique perspective to the board, along with a desire to be a part of positive change for the students and families of the district. I’m honored and excited to be a part of the board’s work.”
McDaniel has lived in the district for almost 10 years after moving to the Spring area in 2011. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Bowling Green State University and earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Sam Houston State University.
McDaniel has worked as an elementary school teacher, a language arts specialist and a district literacy coach in Aldine ISD. Most recently, she served as a classroom management coach with a local educational nonprofit and worked with area teachers as a cohort leader for House Bill 3 Reading Academies.
“When I was a new teacher living in a new community far from home, Spring welcomed me with open arms,” McDaniel said. “While most of my early classroom experiences were in Aldine ISD, many of my kids transferred to and from Spring ISD during those years. I like to say, ‘All kids are our kids.’”
