The Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees has named two new administrative appointments that will impact the district and a north Lubbock middle school.
During a special-called meeting on June 19, trustees named Jack Purkeypile as executive principal for the district and Vanessa Barboza-Silvas as principal of Cavazos Middle School.
According to LISD, Purkeypile will serve as a principal supervisor and coach. He began his career in Lubbock ISD in 1994 as a teacher at Irons Junior High School. During his tenure, Purkeypile has served in a variety of leadership roles over the past three decades at Irons and Evans Middle School, Coronado High School and Monterey High School.
Purkeypile holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education from Texas Tech University.
According to the district, Barboza-Silvas currently serves as the academic dean at Cavazos and brings more than a decade of experience in instructional leadership and student support.
Her prior roles include academic dean fellow at Wolffarth Elementary School, instructional coach and AVID coordinator at Dunbar College Preparatory Academy, and classroom teacher at several Lubbock ISD campuses.
Barboza-Silvas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University and is a graduate of the Texas Tech Principal Fellows Program and is currently participating in the Holdsworth Principal Leadership Program.
Rodriguez-Reyes named principal of Harwell Elementary School
At their meeting in May, Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees, Miranda Rodriguez-Reyes was named the new principal of Harwell Elementary School. She has been serving as the campus assistant principal and brings a strong background in instructional leadership and student support to the role.
Rodriguez-Reyes began her career in education in 2010 and has served in multiple leadership capacities across Lubbock ISD and neighboring districts. She joined Harwell Elementary School in 2024 after serving as assistant principal at Lamesa High School and Lamesa North Elementary. Her previous experience also includes roles as an instructional coach, campus academic leader, and math teacher at several Lubbock ISD campuses including Mackenzie Middle School, Smylie Wilson Middle School, and Dunbar College Preparatory Academy.
Rodriguez-Reyes holds two master’s degrees in education—one in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University and another in secondary education from Wayland Baptist University. She is certified as a principal (EC–12) and in ELAR and generalist education for grades 4–8.
“It’s a true privilege to continue serving the Harwell community as principal,” Rodriguez-Reyes said. “Our students, staff, and families make this campus a special place, and I’m committed to building on our strong foundation. I look forward to working together to help every Star shine bright—academically, socially, and emotionally.”
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock ISD announces new executive principal, Cavazos Middle School principal
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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