Criselda Chavez, Principal (2022 - current)

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Let me be the first to welcome you to Westwood Elementary School! I am very proud of our dedicated staff and enthusiastic scholars, and I’m pleased that you have chosen our school for your child’s education.

As demands of teaching increase, it becomes more evident that we all need to work together to ensure that our children reach their fullest potential. I believe that all of us– the school and the community- must work together as an extended family to ensure success for all our students. It’s our responsibility to empower children, and this year we will couple our curriculum with the Spring Branch ISD’s CORE CHARACTERISTICS.

These characteristics are skills that students need to master by high school graduation to ensure future success. These 6 Core Characteristics include that students are: Academically Prepared, Ethical and Service-Minded, Empathetic and Self-aware, Persistent and Adaptable, Resourceful Problem Solver, and lastly that students are a Communicator and Collaborator. We will develop new strategies and initiatives, as well as seeking out new opportunities to help Every Child achieve at Westwood Elementary.

With that in mind, you are invited to be an active participant at Westwood Elementary. Whether you are a classroom volunteer, a member of PTA, or a special event participant, you are encouraged to be involved! Increasing parent involvement in our school is a high priority for me. We want to establish and maintain positive relationships with our community, as family and community support makes our school even stronger. Educational research clearly demonstrates that when parents are more involved in their child’s education, the child’s likelihood for academic success greatly increases. 

One of our most important responsibilities to you is that we keep you informed of all that is taking place at school. One of the ways we will do this is regularly updating our school website where you can find the latest up-to-date district and school information, so I encourage you to visit our website as often as possible. Another critical communication tool that we will use to keep parents informed is Class Dojo.

You will receive a parent code to join on the Class Dojo app when you come in during the Meet the Teacher Event or during the first week of school. Class Dojo is a quick and effective tool to help keep the doors of communication open between home and school. In addition to the website and Class Dojo, we will be adding another layer of communication through utilizing REMIND which allows parents to receive a text about important events happening at Westwood. 

Academic learning and growth are our bottom line, and we are committed to grow and reimagine teaching and learning for generations to come. Please share any ideas or concerns with me at criselda.chavez@springbranchisd.com or call our office at 713-251-2100.

Visit our WESTWOOD TWITTER page and “follow” our school account @WestwoodSBISD if you have your own Twitter account. We update this page regularly with school-wide information. 

Westwood Elementary is a community school. We are a place of learning, belonging, growth, and support for students, families, and the community. Thank you for being a part of our community and school! I look forward to having a long and rewarding relationship with you and your family.

Sincerely,

Criselda Chavez, Principal

 

Thelma Flores, Assistant Principal (2023 - current)

Hola! My name is Thelma Flores and I am the Assistant Principal at Westwood Elementary.

I am so excited to support Westwood Lions in continuing to grow this fantastic school community. I look forward to working with you to support our learners by fostering positive relationships and pursuing academic excellence. 

I started my career in education in 2014. I was a Spanish teacher and a PBIS interventionist before starting my current admin role at Westwood. I am a proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Houston. 

I was born and raised in northern Mexico. I have seen firsthand what education can accomplish and doors it can open, so I am personally invested in each Westwood student. I want to help lead and ensure that all students have access to high-quality education so that they can effectively drive our future. 

I live in Rosenberg, Texas with my husband and two young children. I enjoy learning new things, crafting, and spending time with my family. I look forward to an awesome school year. Go lions!