Isabel Lozano is stepping down after eight years as Kendrick Elementary School principal, to be replaced by a former Rapoport Academy Public School administrator.
Barbara Page will take over as principal this summer, Waco ISD announced Tuesday.
Lozano, who is also the District 2 Waco City Council member for South Waco, announced her retirement on Facebook on Monday. She thanked the community for its support and noted the bond-funded reconstruction that wrapped up last year for the campus of 800 students.
“This was not an easy decision,” Lozano said in the post. “But through it all, I have complete peace about it. Sometimes God calls you to move before He reveals the next chapter. I leave feeling nothing but blessed.
“To the South Waco community, thank you for trusting me with your most prized possessions, your children. That trust was never something I took lightly. Serving our students, families, and staff has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Lozano was attending a City Council meeting Tuesday and was not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, Page has more than 10 years of experience in public education. She served as the assistant principal and former dean of students at Rapoport Academy, Waco’s oldest public charter school.
Before that, Page served as a classroom teacher at Midway ISD, where she mentored student teachers and navigated hybrid learning environments.
Within Waco ISD she has served as a member of a team that helped turn around a school that had been flagged as “Improvement Required” because of standardized test results.
District officials used a survey in the selection process to replace Lozano. The survey found that people wanted a teacher who could thrive in a bilingual environment, advocate and care for staff and show a heart for students and the neighborhood.
“Dr. Page is a proven instructional leader who leads from the heart with a deep commitment to
improving student outcomes and strengthening teacher effectiveness,” Waco ISD Superintendent Tiffany Spicer said in an announcement Tuesday. “Her extensive experience in leading staff, guiding a positive campus culture, and using data-driven decision-making to advance bilingual education makes her the ideal fit to lead Kendrick Elementary as a devoted advocate for our students, our staff, and our community.”
As Rapoport assistant principal, Page focused on systems to reduce discipline referrals, improve student attendance and increase community involvement.
Page has contributed to statewide education as a Texas Education Agency reviewer for “High-Quality Instructional Materials” in math.
“I am incredibly excited to lead Kendrick Elementary and to focus on fostering a campus culture where every student and staff member continues to feel a deep sense of belonging and empowerment,” Page said in the release. “My goal is to lead systems that are deeply aligned to student needs and campus improvement goals, while partnering with families and community
stakeholders to strengthen trust and ensure a safe, supportive learning environment where every child can excel.”
Page earned her education doctorate in K-12 educational leadership from Baylor University. She also holds a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Texas at El Paso and a bachelor degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
