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El Paso ISD announces new principals at Chapin, Irvin, Douglass and Hillside
(El Paso Independent School District – June 14, 2022) – The Board of Trustees on Monday approved five leadership positions within the District including principalships at Chapin and Irvin high schools.
The appointments are:
- Ragen Chappell, the principal of Irvin since 2021, was named principal of Chapin High School where she had previously served as an assistant principal and magnet coordinator. Prior to becoming principal at Irvin, Chappell was principal at Richardson Middle School. She began her career in El Paso ISD in 2005 as a teacher. Chappell holds a bachelor of business administration from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. and both a master’s of education and masters of business administration from UTEP.
- Robert Stives, assistant principal for guidance and instruction at Coronado High School, was named principal of Irvin. Stives, who started his career in EPISD as a teacher and coach at Irvin, has been as an assistant principal for guidance and instruction at Andress and Austin. Stives has a bachelor of business administration in computer information systems and a masters in educational administration from UTEP.
- Michelle Corral, Clardy Elementary principal, was named principal of Douglass Elementary School. Corral, who has been principal at Clardy since 2019, previously served as an assistant principal at Moye, Mesita, Alta Vista and Hart elementary schools. Corral, who has been with El Paso ISD since 2008, holds both a bachelor of science degree in business management and master of business administration from the University of Phoenix.
- Alonzo Barraza, formerly principal of Douglass Elementary, is the new principal at Hillside Elementary School. Barraza, who also served as principal at Crosby Elementary, began his career with El Paso ISD as a teacher at Zach White Elementary. During his tenure in EPISD, Barraza was an assistant principal at Burnet, Moreno and Johnson elementary schools. He holds a bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree and a master in education from UTEP.
- Cynthia Blessing Washington, was named executive director of Budget and External Financial Management. Blessing Washington, who has been with El Paso ISD since 2014, has served the district as a director and assistant director of external financial management, a budget analyst and staff accountant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UTEP and a master of business administration from the University of Texas at Permian Basin.