Lamar CISD Names Elementary and Secondary Principals of the YearÂ
Lamar CISD is pleased to announce this year’s award winners for Elementary and Secondary Principal of the Year. Lindsey Elementary School Principal Heather Williams was selected as the Elementary Principal of the Year. Reading Junior High Principal Dr. Sonya Sanzo was selected as Secondary Principal of the Year.
“To say I am honored is an understatement,” Williams said. “I feel so blessed to serve our community alongside my colleagues, who are the most innovative, passionate, kid-centered educators I have had the pleasure of working with in more than two decades."
Principal Williams has 26 years of educational experience. In 2000, she was a part of the inaugural staff of Frost Elementary as a teacher for grades 4 and 5. She continued to serve as a gifted and talented teacher and campus instructional technology specialist throughout the district. In 2017, she was on the inaugural team at Lindsey Elementary, where she continues to serve as principal.
Pictured left to right: Area Superintendent Dr. Andree Osagie, Area Superintendent Diane Parks, Chief Learning Officer Christi Cottongame, Reading Junior High Principal Dr. Sonya Sanzo, Lindsey Elementary Principal Heather Williams, Area Superintendent Dr. Shannon Hood, Area Superintendent Dr. Marlon Waites, Area Superintendent Wayne Morren
“I am beyond grateful and humbled to be named by my colleagues and fellow principals, who are some of the most dedicated and passionate administrators you will ever find,” Dr. Sanzo shared. “This group of leaders goes beyond the call of duty daily to raise the bar in education, culture on their campus, and community connections. They are the best of the best! The secondary principals have a heart of gold and a standard of steel for excellence. I am so proud to be part of this family and could not be more thankful to each of them for choosing me and creating schools where every student is seen and valued.”
Dr. Sanzo has been with the district for 23 years and 30 years total in education. She began her Lamar CISD tenure as a counselor at Huggins Elementary, later working at Briscoe Junior High, and Wertheimer Middle. Later, she became an assistant principal when Reading Junior High opened in 2010, and became a principal at Wessendorff Middle in 2015, before returning to Reading as a principal in 2018. She is also a part of the Holdsworth Leadership Program and assists in leading the Be the One Leadership Academy for aspiring administrators.
Source: Lamar CISD
