Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra announced the appointment of Dr. Charlotte Parker as principal at Kashmere in August.

Dr. Saavedra has announced a year-long campaign to save Kashmere from closing at the end of this school year. The school has received the state’s lowest performance rating for four straight years.

Dr. Parker is a 28-year veteran of HISD and a product of the school system, having attended J. Will Jones Elementary, Turner Elementary, Ryan Junior High, and Yates High Schools.

Her teaching career began at Pleasantville Elementary School and then moved to Will Rogers Elementary School. She also served as the assistant principal at Braeburn Elementary School for four years.

In 1992, Dr. Parker was named principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. Her visionary leadership there helped Roosevelt achieve the state’s “Exemplary” school status for five consecutive years. In 2001, she was promoted again and became principal of Burbank Middle School. Burbank was rated as a “Recognized” campus by the state for two years.

Dr. Parker's leadership skills have been recognized at the national and local levels. She was named Principal of the Year in 1999 by the National Alliance of Black School Educators. The Texas Education Agency recognized her as a Texas Reading Leader in 1999, and the North Central District of HISD honored her as 2005 Principal of the Year.

“I am confident that Dr. Parker can help lead Kashmere High School back to strong academic performance,” Dr. Saavedra said. “Working with the fine teaching staff at Kashmere and with a concerned and involved community, Dr. Parker will help to get the job done.”

from HISD:    http://www.houstonisd.org/HISD/portal/article/front/0,2731,20856_142973398_181223955,00.html