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Principal's Message

Principal Eileen Puente

Eileen Puente, Principal 
Phone: 713-556-9550
Email: Eileen.Puente@houstonisd.org

Mrs. Eileen Puente is entering her second year as principal of DeAnda Elementary School. In her 18 years with Houston ISD, Mrs. Puente has served as teacher and reading interventionist at Golfcrest Elementary, magnet coordinator and assistant principal at Patterson Literature Magnet & IB School, and, most recently, principal of Rucker Elementary. During her five years as the principal of Rucker Elementary, she led her team to transform the campus from being an F-rated, TEA-Improvement Required campus in 2019 to earning B-ratings for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023 and an A in 2024. This accomplishment was achieved while navigating the challenges brought forth to education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.  During her time with HISD, she has earned recognition as Teacher of the Year, ESL Teacher of the Year, and East Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year. Mrs. Puente is a native Houstonian with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston, and an MBAE from the University of St. Thomas.  During her free time, she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two children.

 

From Ms. Puente:

Dear DeAnda Elementary Community,

Welcome to a new school year at James DeAnda Elementary—a place where excellence, collaboration, and leadership are valued and set the foundation for all we do!

At DeAnda, our mission is to empower scholars to become global leaders—critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible citizens. As a proud Pre-K through 5th grade global, dual language school in the Houston Independent School District, we are committed to providing a rich, inclusive, and rigorous educational experience for every student who walks through our doors.

In recent years, we’ve made remarkable progress in academic achievement and school culture. We’ve been honored as a Gold Ribbon School by Children at Risk, received a B+ rating in the Houston Chronicle School Report Card, and earned Platinum Status in Family and Community Engagement (FACE) for three consecutive years. These recognitions reflect our collective effort—and our belief that success is possible when we work together.

Our vision, “Working together to change our world,” guides our every step. We are not just preparing students for the next grade level—we are shaping the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.

At DeAnda, we:

  • Strive for Excellence in all that we do.

  • Collaborate as one team with one mission.

  • Lead with purpose, compassion, and integrity.

As Jiddu Krishnamurti once said, “There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life… is a process of learning.”
At DeAnda, that journey of lifelong learning begins here—and we are honored to walk it with you.

Thank you for being a part of our school family. Let’s grow, lead, and achieve—together.

Warmly,
Eileen Puente
Principal
James DeAnda Elementary School