Zaira Gomez honored as HISD Star Educator

Zaira Gomez, a dedicated employee and graduate of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), has been recognized as this week's HISD Star Educator. Gomez has served in various roles within the district since graduating from Worthing High School 21 years ago.

Cornelius Elementary, where Gomez began her career, had already implemented several techniques from HISD’s New Education System (NES) before officially adopting the program. Gomez attributes the school's culture of high expectations to how quickly students and staff adapted to changes in their school day and curriculum.

Gomez started at Cornelius Elementary as a front desk clerk while earning a degree in Psychology from the University of Houston. She progressed through roles including teacher, literacy coach, assistant principal, and eventually became principal in 2019. She also holds a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of St. Thomas and a principal certification from Lamar University.

Currently, Gomez is the Executive Director of Feeder for HISD’s South Division, where she supports campus leaders.

Reflecting on her educational journey, Gomez shared that math was her favorite subject because it transcended language barriers: "Unlike other subjects, math didn’t rely heavily on language," she said. This helped her feel successful despite challenges with learning English.

One standout memory for Gomez is transitioning directly from student to employee after high school: "That moment marked the beginning of my professional journey," she remarked.

Gomez also expressed appreciation for Houston's diversity: "The city’s multicultural environment allows me to connect with people from all over the world."