New Braunfels ISD is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Laura Ancira as the district’s new Director of Human Resources. Dr. Ancira will officially join NBISD following the retirement of Shannon Bermel.

“It’s a great honor to join the NBISD team,” Ancira said. “I am looking forward to working to support our district staff and continuing to build an environment where educators and staff thrive.”

Dr. Ancira brings more than 25 years of experience in public education. Her background includes extensive leadership in human resources, campus administration, instructional leadership, and strategic staffing initiatives focused on supporting student achievement and organizational excellence.

“Dr. Ancira’s experience, leadership, and commitment to serving others make her an outstanding addition to NBISD,” said NBISD Chief of Human Resources Max Flores. 

She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Human Resources for North East ISD, where she supports a district serving approximately 55,000 students and 4,500 employees across 70 campuses. In that role, Dr. Ancira has helped implement effective hiring practices, develop teacher pipelines, and partner with universities to align human resources initiatives with instructional priorities and student learning outcomes.

Prior to her district-level work, Dr. Ancira served as both a principal and assistant principal in Alamo Heights ISD and North East ISD from 2011 to 2022. She led efforts to improve student achievement, strengthen teacher development systems, and build collaborative partnerships with families and community stakeholders.

Dr. Ancira began her career in education as a bilingual and Spanish immersion classroom teacher, serving students for 12 years in both Alamo Heights ISD and United ISD. Throughout her teaching career, she was recognized for her commitment to student success, instructional innovation, and strong family engagement.

She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2024. She also holds a Master of Education in School Administration from UTSA and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Texas A&M International University.

Dr. Ancira holds certifications as a Superintendent EC-12, Principal EC-12, and multiple bilingual and elementary education certifications.

She resides with her husband, Chendo and their miniature schnauzer, Dutchess. Dr. Ancira will begin her new role in NBISD after Memorial Day.