Austin ISD Trustees appoints Edmund Oropez as chief officer for teaching and learning for the district.

The newly created Chief Officer of Teaching and Learning consolidated previously existing responsibilities and positions in an effort to enhance fiscal and operational effectiveness.

"My vision is to serve our campus staff efficiently and effectively, while streamlining the organization so that it does not duplicate programs and services," saidSuperintendent Paul Cruz. "I also want to increase collaboration and integration between departments to fill needs that are unaddressed and/or unmet. 

Since April 29, 2014, Oropez has served as interim chief schools officer for the district, filling Cruz's former role. In this role, Oropez was charged with leading, managing and supporting AISD's 129 schools.

Prior to his appointment, Oropez provided leadership and support to 11 comprehensive high schools, three schools of choice and three specialized high schools as associate superintendent for high schools since 2010. He also oversaw AISD's athletic programs, which includes the district's participation in Special Olympics.

Oropez earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Texas Pan-American. He has completed his coursework toward a doctoral degree in educational administration at the University of Texas at Austin.

Principal appointments

The board also appointed two principals--Kenisha Coburn at Kealing Middle School and Brian Hill at Pillow Elementary School.

Kealing Middle School

Coburn most recently served as academy director at LASA, where she has worked since 2012. Prior to LASA, she was assistant principal at Canyon Ridge Middle School in Leander ISD. She has also taught math at Canyon Ridge Middle School and Reagan High School.

She has a master's degree in educational administration from Texas State University and a bachelor's degree in sociology and policy studies from Rice University. She earned her Texas principal certification in 2010.

Pillow Elementary School

Hill most recently served as Administrative Supervisor for Area 2 Elementary Schools in Austin ISD. In this role, he supported and supervised campus administrators and supervisors of 43 elementary schools.

Last summer, he served as interim principal at Blanton Elementary School and last spring served as interim assistant principal at Gus Garcia Middle School.

Hill has served as assistant principal at Zilker Elementary, Pearce Middle and Reilly Elementary schools. Prior to his administration service, he served as a fourth-grade English as a second language teacher at Overton Elementary School.

Hill has a master's degree in education administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor's degree in theology from East Texas Baptist University. He is currently working on a doctorate in the cooperative superintendency program at the University of Texas at Austin.