Administrators

Samuel Hernandez, who has served as a campus administrator in Irving ISD for five years, will continue his work as principal for a second year. Hernandez began his career in Irving ISD as Dean of Students at Irving High School in 2017.

"It is an honor and a privilege to serve as principal of Irving High School,” he says. “I look forward to collaborating with ALL stakeholders to develop a strong culture and enhance systems that ensure students know we care, because if you capture a kid’s heart, you will have their mind.”

Hernandez most recently served as associate principal at Nimitz High School, where he developed and maintained the campus master schedule; helped establish and support a clear vision for the campus; served as attendance/truancy coordinator; handled crisis management response; led the campus improvement committee; and was administrator of the science, AVID, and world languages department.

In addition to serving as an associate principal and Dean of Students, he has also served as an assistant principal in Irving ISD. As assistant principal, he developed and implemented professional development, served as LPAC coordinator/ESL liaison, coordinated campus testing, oversaw facilities management, and managed student transportation.

Prior to joining Irving ISD, he taught science and was a coach in Dallas ISD, where he was named the Dallas Mavericks Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2014.

Hernandez earned a Master of Education in Education Leadership from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish for the University of Texas at Arlington. He holds teacher and principal certifications.  Mr. Hernandez is currently working on his Ph.D for Educational Leadership from TCU.

Batool Al-Abedredha began her career in education with Irving Independent School District as a substitute teacher, gaining valuable insights into the diverse needs of students and the dynamics of the classroom. Her passion for teaching led her to Manara Academy, where she taught math and science for two years. During her time there, she gained expertise in Expeditionary Learning and cross-curricular instruction, inspiring students to explore and excel in these critical subjects.

Following her time at Manara Academy, Batool joined Sam Houston Middle School as a math teacher and department chair, where she served for six years. In this role, she provided leadership and mentorship to fellow educators while fostering a collaborative environment that promoted student achievement in mathematics.

After six successful years at Sam Houston Middle School, Batool transitioned to Irving High School, serving as an academic specialist. In this capacity, she focused on enhancing academic support systems and ensuring that all students had access to the resources they needed to succeed.

With a strong foundation in teaching and a commitment to student success, Batool Al-Abedredha is excited to continue making a positive impact in her new role as an Assistant Principal at Irving High School.

Norma N. Aragon has worked as an educator for over 20 years.  She began her career as a Social Studies high school teacher.  She has proudly served in many roles at the campus level that include AVID elective teacher, athletic assistant soccer coach, LPAC coordinator, reading interventionist, department chair and instructional coach.  At the district level, she was a test writer and academic facilitator. She previously served as a middle school assistant principal in Dallas ISD.

Mrs. Aragon is grateful to all her teachers that motivated her to dream big.  One of her favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt is, “Perhaps the most important thing that has come out of my life is the discovery that if you prepare yourself at every point as well as you can, with whatever means you may have, however meager they may seem, you will be able to grasp opportunity for broader experience when it appears.” 

Mrs. Aragon earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Arlington and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University at Commerce.  When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her adult children, and grandsons.  She is excited to begin her second year at Irving High school family as an assistant principal.

Mr. Garcia has worked as an educator and as an administrator for over 20 years in New York and Texas. Mr. Garcia began his career in education as a Social Studies teacher and then later served as Dean of Students at Washington Irving High School in New York City.

 Mr. Garcia earned his Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University, a Master of Arts degree in Social Studies Education from New York University, and a Master of Science degree in Education Administration and Leadership from Baruch College.

 When Mr. Garcia is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy: hiking, traveling, and exploring new restaurants from mom and pop restaurants to Michelin rated restaurants. In July of 2012, Mr. Garcia did the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.  In June of 2024, the outdoor enthusiast hiked to the southernmost point of Continental Asia.

Mrs. Houston is entering her 19th year in education and her 3rd year at Irving High School. She has spent half of that time serving students and families at Sam Houston Middle School, where she taught 7th grade English, AVID, and worked in the role of Digital Learning Coach before becoming an Administrator. Prior to Irving ISD, Mrs. Houston taught elementary school, middle school, and was an Adjunct Instructor for Dallas College. Mrs. Houston loves inspiring students, and her favorite quote is “Be the change you want to see in the world,” something she encourages students to always strive to do.

Mrs. Houston earned a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Education in Administration from Stephen F. Austin University. When not working, Mrs. Houston enjoys reading, baking and spending time with her husband and three children.

Content coming soon!

Joel Salas brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for education to his role as Assistant Principal at Irving High School. His journey in education began at Hanes Elementary, where he made a significant impact as a 4th Grade Bilingual Math and Science Teacher. Mr. Salas' commitment to fostering student learning and growth was evident as he engaged with his students in a dynamic and supportive classroom environment and by coaching students in Destination Imagination.

Mr. Salas transitioned to Dallas ISD and expanded his expertise by teaching Business CTE Courses at Sunset High School, leading the Academy of Finance department and sponsoring the DECA Student Organization Club. While at Sunset HS, he continued to build on his skills, integrating real-world applications with classroom learning, and nurturing students' aspirations for their future careers. He also led the Academy of Finance team in obtaining the Distinguished Academy recognition in 2022.

As an Assistant Principal at C.M. Soto Elementary, Mr. Salas led the reading department and collaborated with teachers to help improve student achievement using data-driven metrics. His approach was centered on building meaningful relationships, creating a positive school culture and using data to drive instruction using the Bambrick model. Mr. Salas believes that strong connections with students and their families are key to unlocking their full potential.

With a steadfast commitment to student success and a genuine enthusiasm for educational growth, Joel Salas is dedicated to ensuring that every student at Irving High School thrives both academically and personally.