Leadership Changes at La Grange ISD

La Grange ISD announced this week that High School Assistant Principal Nathan Truex is being promoted to High School Principal. He replaces Dr. John Pineda, who departed earlier this year for a job in Pecos.

Additionally, Dr. Sarah Otto, middle school principal, is adding the title of Executive Principal for Campus Leadership and Accountability. In addition to continuing to lead LMS, Otto will also “mentor and support campus principals, lead principal accounta-bility efforts and provide leadership across all campuses.”

LGISD Superintendent Andy McHazlett applauded the expanded roles of Truex and Otto.

“They are excited and I am excited for them,” McHazlett said. “They both love kids and are passionate about their jobs.”

Truex’s promotion means LHS will now need to hire a new assistant high school principal.

“We posted that job opening yesterday,” McHazlett said.

Truex has been the LHS assistant principal for five years and essentially filled in for several months as interim principal when Pineda was sidelined by long-COVID back in 2021.

“Since I got here four years ago Mr. Truex has impressed me from day one,” McHazlett said. “He’s built great relationships with parents and it means a lot to him to be successful. He’s fired up.”

Six people applied for the high school principal vacancy, McHazlett said. Three were chosen to be interviewed (one of which dropped out at the last minute). Truex really impressed the selection committee amidst a “grueling” 45-question two-and-a-half hour interview, McHazlett said. The other candidate who was interviewed was from the Houston area.

Regarding Otto’s expanded duties, McHazlett said he approached her with the idea.

“Her campus has been performing higher than the others, and she’s been a principal for 16 years now,” McHazlett said. “Especially with Mr. Truex being a new principal, it was a great time to get someone to be a mentor.”