Dr. Gina Christenson

Director of
Professional Learning & Curriculum Development

Dr. Gina Christenson

Drive and lead district priorities in the development, alignment, and continuous improvement of district curriculum, instructional programs, and professional learning to ensure they are innovative, research-based, and aligned with student achievement goals and priorities.

Supervise, coach, and evaluate curriculum specialists and instructional staff while building leadership capacity and ensuring effective implementation of curriculum and instructional improvement initiatives.

Design and oversee professional development systems for administrators, teachers and district auxiliary staff that are data-driven, compliant with state/federal mandates, and tailored to strengthen teaching practices, instructional leadership, student outcomes, and safety.

Manage budgets, grants, instructional resources, policies, and community engagement efforts to ensure programs are cost-effective, compliant, and responsive to the needs of students, staff, and the broader community.

NBISD District Seal

Coordinator of
Federal Programs

Kip Werner

Oversee and manage federal and state-funded programs, including Title I (support for students in poverty), Title II (professional development for teachers and leaders), and Title IV (student support and academic enrichment), to ensure compliance with regulations and alignment with district goals.

Develop and administer budgets and grants to maximize resources that support student learning, staff development, and district/campus goals.

Provide guidance and training to campuses and departments on program implementation, reporting, and accountability requirements, particularly Title I campuses and participating private non-profits.

Collaborate with district leadership and community partners through the District’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) to design initiatives that promote equity, access, and student success.

Nina Houston

Executive Director of
Special Education

Nina Houston

Design, implement, and evaluate high quality special education programs that meet state and federal accountability and compliance measures and align with NBISD’s Profile of a Learner, ensuring students with disabilities have full access to academic, behavioral, and emotional supports.

Guide curriculum and instructional practices across all special education settings, while coordinating targeted professional development so teachers and staff deliver specially designed instruction that drives student growth and closes achievement gaps.

Direct the effective use of departmental budgets, personnel, and resources while pursuing grants, partnerships, and innovative solutions that expand services and create consistent, future-ready learning experiences for all students receiving special education services.

Develop partnerships with local organizations and employers that create pathways for students with disabilities to explore careers, gain authentic job experience, and participate in transition programs that strengthen independence and readiness for life after high school.

Rachel Behnke

Director of Career &
Technical Education

Rachel Behnke

Lead the district’s vision for Career & Technical Education (CTE) by designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality programs of study aligned with NBISD’s Profile of a Learner and state/federal accountability and compliance measures.

Oversee curriculum, instruction, teacher professional development, work-based learning, and industry certifications across all CTE pathways to ensure students gain college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) skills through relevant, future-ready learning experiences.

Manage CTE budgets, equipment, and facilities while securing resources, partnerships, and innovative opportunities that expand student access to high-quality workforce development experiences.

Build and sustain strong relationships with business, industry, and community partners to expand work-based learning, internships, and advisory input into program design.

Director of
Multilingual Programs

Nayane Olivas

Provide leadership for the district’s programs serving Emergent Bilingual (EB), Dual Language, Languages Other Than English (LOTE), and Migrant students, ensuring that all services comply with state and federal requirements.

Oversee the design, revision, and implementation of ESL/Dual Language/LOTE curricula in collaboration with instructional specialists, providing ongoing professional development and coaching to teachers to strengthen instruction and learning strategies. Coordinate evaluation of program effectiveness, including monitoring student progress, interpreting assessment data, and implementing improvement strategies to enhance student outcomes.

Manage departmental budgets and resources, including Title III and state bilingual funds, ensuring efficient and cost-effective program operations. Lead efforts to secure additional program support through grants, partnerships, and supplemental resources.

Facilitate parent engagement and advisory meetings. Represent the district in professional development and Multilingual leadership meetings. Collaborate with campus staff, district personnel, and community partners to implement systems that identify EB students, support newcomer and migrant learners, and maintain accurate program data and student records.

Director of
Fine Arts

Marty Lenard, Ph.D.

Lead the district’s vision for Fine Arts (visual arts, music, theatre, dance) by desiging, implementing, and evaluating high-quality programs of study aligned with NBISD’s Profile of a Learner.

Mange Fine Art budgets, equipment, and facilities while securing resources, partnerships, and innovative opportunities that expand student access to Arts and Culture in the New Braunfels area.

Build and sustain strong relationships with our local community partnerships by collaborating on projects, field trips and innovative programing offered on our campuses.

Oversee curriculum, instruction and teacher professional development for all Fine Arts to make sure our teachers have high quality materials and training in order to provide superior teaching for our students.

Seal of New Braunfels Independent School District: white five-point star inside a blue circle with surrounding text and EST. 1845, plus laurel accents.

Director of
Assessment, Accountability, & Compliance

Keli Taylor

Ensuring accurate testing by overseeing reliable and consistent assessment practices across NBISD.

Monitor progress by tracking student achievement and academic growth to evaluate performance over time.

Maintain compliance by verifying district adherence to state and federal educational mandates and standards.

Empowering educators by delivering data, guidance, and campus support to translate assessment results into targeted instruction and student success.

Smiling woman with short dark hair wearing a pink dress outdoors, with greenery in the background.

Director of
Human Resources

Dr. Laura Ancira

Direct the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources department, overseeing processes related to hiring, resignations, employee certifications, leave coordination, and the implementation of departmental goals and objectives.

Manage the district’s compensation program, including development and maintenance of job descriptions, conducting salary surveys, and processing position reclassifications to ensure equity and competitiveness

Works with principals and other administrators to forecast staffing needs and develop staffing plans. Collaborate with principals and district administrators to forecast staffing needs and develop strategic staffing plans aligned with enrollment trends, program needs, and budget constraints.

Oversee personnel records management, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with state records management requirements and retention policies.

Director of
Financial Services

Jose Betancourt

Provide managerial coordination of the financial and business affairs of the district including accounting, accounts payable, payroll, risk management and budget.

Ensure that financial operations of the school district are supportive of the District’s instructional goals and the attainment of the campus performance objectives.

Evaluate accounting procedures, systems, and controls in all district departments and recommend improvements in their design, implementation, and maintenance.

Ensure that business operations support the district’s goals and objectives and provide leadership to achieve cost-effective practices throughout the district.

Plan and conduct needs-assessments for improvement of district business operations.

Ginger Reiland

Director of
Purchasing

Ginger Reiland

Develop and implement purchasing procedures that ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing school district purchases of goods and services.

Oversee purchase of materials and equipment for the district by following established district criteria and in compliance with state purchasing rules.

Supervise the preparation of bid specifications and recommends bid awards in accordance with board policy and legal requirements.

Establish fair and impartial vendor relations regarding supply and equipment availability, purchase orders and contracts.

NBISD District Seal

Director of
Transportation

Vacant

Direct and manage the district’s student transportation system and vehicle maintenance program.

Ensure the District’s student transportation system provides safe and secure transportation of all students, staff and property.

Develop training options and improvement plans to ensure exemplary operation of transportation department.

Prepare and update bus routes and schedules for all schools in district and develop plan to meet future transportation needs.

Joe Alexandre

Director of
Planning & Construction

Joe Alexandre

Direct the activities of the planning and construction department project team consisting of project managers, financial and operational personnel.

Oversee and direct architects, engineers, construction managers, and other contractors engaged on NBISD’s Capital Improvement Bond Program Projects.

Accountable for design and construction standards dissemination and verification, budget compliance, and construction project schedules on all voter authorized bond construction projects.

Serve as liaison between campus principals, architects, engineers, consultants and department to develop, review and finalize project plans, drawings, schematics and specifications.

PEIMS
Coordinator

Francie Novander

Direct, manage and coordinate the district-wide collection and reporting of all data required for input into the Public Education Information Management Systems (PEIMS).

Coordinate the collection, integration, and formatting of all data required for PEIMS submission according to PEIMS Data Standards.

Provide training and support to campuses and to business and personnel office staff responsible for processing PEIMS data.

Submit complete and accurate PEIMS data in Texas Education Agency (TEA) prescribed format to education service center (ESC) for processing using computer terminal or personal computer.

Seal of New Braunfels Independent School District: white five-point star inside a blue circle with surrounding text and EST. 1845, plus laurel accents.

Director of
Facilities

Vacant

Direct and manage the maintenance of district facilities to ensure the physical school plant, building envelope, and school infrastructure is in a state of operating excellence.

Provide students with a physical learning environment that is safe, clean, attractive, and functional.

Administer the maintenance budget and ensure that programs are cost-effective and funds are managed prudently.

Manage and coordinate activities with outsourced custodial and landscape maintenance companies.

Jill Balderas

Manager of
Child Nutrition

Jill Balderas

Manage the food service program and supervise the district’s contract for food service operations.

Establish processes for free and reduced lunch applications following United States Department of Agriculture and Texas Education Agency (TEA) guideline for meal eligibility and reimbursement of federal funds.

Ensure compliance with federal and state law, State board of Education rule, and board policy in food service area.

Monitor the contractor’s food service budget and ensure that programs are cost effective and funds are managed prudently.

Director of
Athletics

Richard Mendoza

Manage and facilitate day to day operations of NBISD Athletic Department including but not limited to: Budget, Personnel, UIL Eligibility, Athletic Facilities, Event Logistics and management and Community Relations.

Manage and guide Athletic Department personnel including but limited to: professional development, staff evaluations, student discipline and point of contact for stakeholders pertaining to NBISD Athletics.

Collaborate with administrators and department leaders to implement supportive measures that enhance student success and maximize outcomes. Maintain open communication and actively build partnerships with parents and community stakeholders to support student development.

Araceli De La Cruz

Executive Director of
Student Services

Araceli De La Cruz

Ensure all student services programs and activities are in compliance with federal, state, and local board policies.

Collaborate with administrators and department leaders to implement supportive measures that enhance student success and maximize outcomes.

 Maintain open communication and actively build partnerships with parents and community stakeholders to support student development.

Director of
Counseling Services

Kellye Shipman

Provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for all counseling programs across campuses, including district-wide crisis response.

Ensures compliance with state mandates such as the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, while also supporting the social-emotional, academic, and career development of students.

Manages professional development, program evaluation, and resources to strengthen counseling services and promote student well-being throughout the district.

Oversee personnel records management, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with state records management requirements and retention policies.

Mary Coronado

Director of
Health Services

Mary Coronado, BSN, RN

Plan, implement, and evaluate the district health services program to promote student health, safety, and readiness to learn. Provide leadership for school nurses and health staff to ensure high standards of care.

Ensure the district complies with policy, laws, state and local health regulations, including immunizations, state-mandated screenings and reporting. Coordinate the district emergency preparedness program, which includes CPR, Stop the Bleed, AEDs, Stock Epinephrine, Narcan, and Albuterol.

Act as a liaison between the district medical director, school, students, families, and the broader healthcare community. Coordinate the district School Health Advisory Council.

Prepare, manage, and oversee the budget for the health services department. Evaluate and recommend the purchase of necessary health services supplies, and equipment, based on documented program needs, such as health screenings, emergency supplies, and staffing requirements for school nurses and other health personnel.

NBISD Stephen Brown

Director of
Safety & Security

Stephen Brown

Serve as liaison between local law enforcement and NBISD. Develop, maintain, and train a Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan for the District. Monitor and train emergency drills for campuses, ensuring their quality and compliance. Collaborate with various NBISD Departments to evaluate and ensure the multiple safety and security measures taken are executed and applied properly. Ensure compliance of multiple TEA audits and assessments of the school district.

Leah Gomez

Comms & Tech
Project Coordinator

Leah Gomez

Help oversee and coordinate the Communications and Technology budget, planning, purchasing, and receiving, including new construction projects.

Collaborate with department staff to regularly assess project needs, address challenges as they arise, and coordinate resources and communication to ensure successful and timely project completion.

Coordinate and support district events, including employee celebrations, ribbon cutting, convocations, and other special activities, ensuring they are well planned, organized, and aligned with district goals.

Coordinate and support projects from the office of the Superintendent as well as Business Office.

Carrie Hyland

Director of
Instructional Technology

Carrie Hyland

Organize and Lead district wide professional development on instructional technology integration to enhance teaching and learning.

Manage and Support the Instructional Technology team ensuring effective coaching, training, and professional development for educators.

Oversee the district’s 1:1 mobile device program, including provisioning, deployment, and management of devices.

Collaborate with Curriculum & Instruction leaders to align digital tools, platforms, and instructional practices with district goals.

Director of
IT Operations

Roger Luna

Provide strategic direction and oversight of enterprise network, server, cloud, and security systems to ensure budgeting, reliability, scalability, and compliance.

Manage and develop a diverse team including network, systems, desktop, AV, and help desk staff, fostering collaboration and professional growth.

Establish, communicate, and maintain operational standards that ensure secure, efficient, and consistent technology practices across the organization.

Coordinate response and resolution efforts (Work Orders) across support tiers, and implementing long-term stability improvements.

Design, maintain, and regularly test continuity and recovery plans to minimize downtime and safeguard critical services.

Michelle Harwood

Director of
Communications

Michelle Harwood

Lead district-wide communications strategy to ensure timely, accurate, and transparent information sharing with students, staff, families, and the broader community.

Manage and strengthen the district’s brand identity by creating and promoting consistent content that builds trust and pride through various communication channels.

Oversee all media platforms—including the district website, social media channels and press releases—to engage stakeholders and highlight district successes.

Direct crisis communications efforts by coordinating messaging, ensuring rapid response, and maintaining public confidence during emergencies or sensitive situations.

Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external communications by collaborating with leadership, schools, and community partners to promote NBISD’s mission and initiatives.