My name is Jonathan Espinoza, and it is my honor to serve as the 6th Grade Assistant Principal here at Lanier Middle School. This is my fourth year as an educational leader in Houston ISD, and every day I am reminded of the sacred responsibility of shaping lives. I believe in educating the “whole child” - not only igniting academic achievement, but also nurturing curiosity, wonder, and the joy of learning.

I am the proud son of Salvadoran immigrants who fled war and hardship in search of a better life. Their resilience is the foundation of my leadership. I hold our students to the highest standards, while also providing them with the tools, encouragement, and opportunities they need to rise to every challenge. I lead with the heart of a servant, faithful to the promise of giving back to the country that has given me so much.

My journey into education began with Teach For America after graduating from the University of Texas. What started as a two-year commitment transformed into a life-long calling. Along the way, I earned a Master’s degree in Education from the number one educational program in the nation at Johns Hopkins University and my principal certification through Rice University. Each step of my journey has been guided by a simple but powerful conviction: education has the power to change lives, families, and generations.

As the first in my family to graduate from college, I carry forward a legacy of hard work that began when I was 13 years old, when I got my first job. My grandparents, and even my parents in their childhood, were indentured servants in Central America. Today, I stand in classrooms filled with promise, imagining how proud they would be to see the doors of possibility open for their grandson, and now for their great-grandchildren’s generation.

Here at Lanier, I also lead our Literacy & Language and Design departments. My vision is that our students not only thrive in the 21st century, but reach new heights - equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide for themselves, care for their families, and leave behind a legacy that will make future generations proud.

I believe the future is bright because of our remarkable Pups. Every day, I commit myself to pushing them as high and as far as they can go. Together, we are shaping a future filled with hope, resilience, and limitless possibility.

My name is Meredith Bolen and I am so excited to be back at Lanier Middle School as a Teacher Specialist. As a former Purple Pup myself, I have a deep respect for the high-quality instruction that takes place on our campus every single day and look forward to seeing it take place in your classrooms this year. To give you a general understanding of my role at Lanier, I will be supporting as a 6^th Grade Instructional Coach, supporting with project/rubric-based activities, and supporting LOTE and math department. I am so grateful to be a part of this team! 

I have always wanted to be a teacher and am so lucky to have the opportunity to support other teachers at a larger level in HISD where I went to school. Last year, I completed my seventh year of teaching. I graduated in 2016 from Westminster College as a quadruple major in Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Secondary Education, and General History with an independent study in Geoscience Research. For my first two years of teaching, I worked at Rwamagana Leader’s School (RLS) in Rwamagana, Rwanda. While at RLS, I taught English, Information Communications and Technology (ICT), a bridged class of English and ICT, Subsidiary History, World History, and Crew. After returning to the United States of America, I graduated in 2020 with my Ed.M. in Specialized Studies focused on policy and technology barriers in the classroom from Harvard. For the last five years, I taught AP English Language and Composition, Prep English III, AP Human Geography, and Project-Based Learning Skills. I am currently enrolled at Rice University in the Principal Certification Program as my next career goal is to be an Assistant Principal. In my spare time, I work virtually and in-person with teachers in East Africa to train them on lesson planning, spend time helping build a Technology Learning Center in Tanzania, spend time helping build a library in Rwanda, and do paleontology mentoring for undergraduate students with Westminster College.

Lanier is filled with so much “magic” brought by the students, teachers, and staff. I am grateful to have the opportunity to support teachers, students, and staff on a team that will "provide a relevant and rigorous academic curriculum, fostering self-directed, innovative, and career lifelong learners" for every single student.