My story began as a student at Prairie View A&M University, where I developed my passion for education and serving others. After graduation, I began my career as a teacher at H.T. Jones Elementary in Waller ISD in 2012. I was honored to be named Rookie of the Year for two consecutive years and later recognized as Teacher of the Year. Throughout my teaching career, I was a Department Chair and Teacher.

Professional Development Leader, creating campus initiatives focused on strengthening family and community engagement. In 2019, I advanced into campus administration, serving as an Assistant Principal at both the elementary and secondary levels. I also had the privilege of being involved on numerous district committees to help guide and support decision making.

Within my years as Assistant Principal, I knew that this was not the end goal for me as a servant leader. I obtained my Superintendent certification to learn and grow my toolbelt of educational leadership and best practices. In 2025–2026, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as principal of Waller Junior High after previously serving three years as an Assistant Principal on the campus. As a first-year principal, I centered my leadership on culture, relationships, appreciation, and high expectations. Through our “Champion” themes, I have worked to create a campus where students feel known, staff feel valued, families feel welcomed, and excellence is expected. I was given the opportunity to serve on the Texas Strategic Leadership Committee that opened up many pathways of collaborating with educators and leaders to strengthen educational and district practices.

My commitment to serving others and building a championship culture was recognized when I was named Waller ISD Secondary Principal of the Year during my first year as principal. I am still very grateful for the recognition and humbled. The work that I do is who I am, and to see that recognized is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. My journey in education is more than a career; it is a calling rooted in service, relationships, and a deep belief in the potential of every student and educator. I believe leadership is not about a title; it is about impact, building capacity, and daily service. I do not believe I was called to simply lead a school. I believe I was called to elevate people. When we elevate people, we elevate schools, communities, and the future.

Elizabeth Arias-Robles is an accomplished educational leader and elementary school principal dedicated to advancing student achievement, developing educators, and creating inclusive, high-performing school communities. She currently serves as the Principal of Marcella Elementary in Aldine Independent School District, where she leads campus-wide efforts focused on instructional excellence, student success, family engagement, and continuous school improvement. Mrs. Arias-Robles began her teaching career in Aldine ISD. This year, she will be completing her 19th year as an educator.

Throughout her career in education, Mrs. Arias-Robles has demonstrated a strong commitment to instructional leadership, data-driven decision-making, professional learning, and teacher development. As a campus leader, she works collaboratively with educators to establish high expectations for teaching and learning, strengthen instructional practices, monitor student progress, and develop systems that support the academic and social-emotional needs of all students.

At Marcella Elementary, Mrs. Arias-Robles has led comprehensive campus improvement efforts that address student achievement, student mobility, instructional systems, school processes, and stakeholder perceptions. Her leadership emphasizes the use of student data and needs assessments to identify areas of opportunity, establish measurable goals, and develop targeted strategies to improve outcomes. She has also prioritized systems that support emergent bilingual students, students receiving special education services, economically disadvantaged students, and students experiencing frequent transitions.

A strong advocate for educator growth, Mrs. Arias-Robles provides teachers with meaningful feedback and coaching. Her instructional leadership includes classroom observations, evidence-based feedback, professional learning, coaching conversations, and the development of actionable next steps designed to strengthen classroom instruction and student engagement. She promotes a culture in which teachers are supported, challenged, and empowered to continuously refine their practice.

Mrs. Arias-Robles is also committed to building strong collaborative relationships and developing leadership capacity. Her leadership philosophy centers on valuing people, leading by example, and maintaining high expectations while creating a culture of trust, belonging, and accountability. She actively partners with staff, families, district leaders, and community stakeholders to create opportunities that enrich students' educational experiences.

Her commitment to professional growth extends beyond the campus. She has participated in Rice University Executive Leadership development and Holdsworth Executive Coaching, using feedback from leadership assessments and professional learning experiences to strengthen her effectiveness as an educational leader. Her continued focus on visionary leadership, accountability, collaborative relationships, and instructional excellence reflects her commitment to becoming an increasingly impactful leader.

Mrs. Arias-Robles has also demonstrated a commitment to recognizing and developing the talents of educators and community members. She regularly advocates for teachers and staff through professional recommendations, award nominations, and recognition initiatives, highlighting the contributions of educators who positively impact students and the school community.

Known for her student-centered leadership, commitment to excellence, and ability to lead by example, Elizabeth Arias-Robles continues to champion the belief that every student deserves access to rigorous instruction, meaningful opportunities, and a school community where they feel valued and empowered to succeed.

Her leadership is grounded in a simple but powerful philosophy: value people, lead by example, maintain high expectations, and create systems that allow both students and educators to thrive.

I began my career 25 years ago in 2001 as a biology teacher in Lufkin, TX after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University. My family relocated to Houston in 2006 where I began teaching in Pasadena ISD at Sam Rayburn High School. I was a science teacher for 10 years before moving into the role of Science campus content specialist in 2011. In this role is where I learned my passion for supporting teachers in their growth as I supported teachers throughout the district. In 2015, I became an Assistant principal over the Pasadena High School class of 2018, and I was able to support more teachers in their growth as well as lead students into their future. I was then given the opportunity to serve as campus Principal of Jackson Intermediate. This role came immediately following the pandemic in 2020, and I had the unique opportunity to support staff, students, and families during this global transition. And currently, I am honored to serve as Principal of South Houston High School. Here I have learned the true value of tradition and community and look forward to learning more as we continue to grow together as we help ALL TROJANS LEAD!

My story did not begin in a principal's office. It began in government housing in New Zealand. I was raised primarily by a single mother who worked hard to provide opportunities for our family despite limited resources. As a young man growing up half Samoan and half European, I learned early that life does not always provide equal starting points, but it does provide opportunities for those who are willing to persevere, work hard, and believe in something greater than themselves.

Basketball became my first vehicle for hope. At 15 years old, I became the youngest basketball player in New Zealand to represent my country. The following year, I left everything I knew behind and moved to the United States on a basketball scholarship. At just 16 years old, I found myself living on my own in a foreign country with very little money, few clothes, and no safety net. During the summers, I stayed on college campuses and worked to earn enough money to support myself throughout the school year.

While basketball opened doors for me, my true calling was education. For the last 33 years, I have had the privilege of serving students as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and educational leader. Every role has reinforced a lesson that continues to guide me today: every student matters.Throughout my career, I have learned that true leadership is not about titles, authority, or being the smartest person in the room. It is about listening, building trust, serving others, and empowering people to become the best versions of themselves. Schools are not systems to be managed. They are communities of people to be inspired.

That belief became the foundation of my leadership philosophy: Changemakers Lead People, Not Systems. Today, as Principal of La Porte Junior High School, I continue to be driven by the same purpose that brought me into education more than three decades ago: helping young people become the best versions of themselves. Every decision I make is filtered through one question: What is best for kids? From government housing in New Zealand to educational leadership in Texas, my journey has reinforced one simple truth: Your circumstances do not determine your destiny. When people believe in you, invest in you, and challenge you to grow, amazing things are possible. My mission is to be that person for students, educators, and communities every day.

2025 Principal of the Year

We received 663 nominations from 33 school districts across Texas for our 2025 Principal of the Year Award. From these nominations, our committee selected four outstanding finalists, and the public had the opportunity to vote for their favorite.

We’re thrilled to announce that Matt Cooper from Dickinson ISD has been named GCEFCU’s 2025 Principal of the Year, earning the $2,500 grand prize. Congratulations, Matt, and thank you to everyone who participated in honoring the incredible principals who lead and inspire our schools every day!