Stallings, Lacamu named principals of the year
Angela Stallings and Jill Lacamu have a lot in common.
They graduated from Dobie High School and have been making a positive impact in the lives of Pasadena ISD students ever since they became educators 23 years ago.
And now they can add being named Pasadena ISD’s principals of the year to the list.
They were recognized by school district administrators at an Administrative Council meeting and the annual Region 4 Principals of the Year ceremony in Houston.
Lacamu, the elementary principal of the year, has served as the principal of Moore Elementary School for seven years.
She wanted to teach for as long as she could remember and stayed true to that dream. She was a teacher for 11 years, then moved into an administrative position as an assistant principal at Fisher, Richey and Frazier Elementary School.
“There was nothing else I wanted to do with my life,” Lacamu said. “I had a little chalkboard in my room when I was three years old and I knew then that I would one day have a classroom of my own.”
Lacamu has made it her mission to be an effective leader by building trust and fostering positive working relationships with the school community, students, staff and administrators to deliver the best opportunities for students.
“Integrity, honesty, putting the needs of students first and never forgetting what it is like to be a parent or teacher are some of the most important aspects of this position,” Lacamu said. “I try to build a network of trust with the entire community because it takes all of us to build a strong learning environment for our children.”
When asked what she loved most about being a principal, she summed it up in two words: the kids.
“After working with the district for so long, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of watching them grow up and become productive members of society – it’s the best gift an educator can receive from a student.”
Stallings, the secondary principal of the year, has served her position at Pasadena Memorial High School for five years. In that time, she said she has “never experienced a dull moment.”
“That’s the best part about working in a high school,” Stallings said. “Every year, there’s a new set of challenges and a new story to tell. That cycle will never get old.”
Before taking her current position, Stallings began her educational journey at Dobie High School as an English teacher, counselor then an assistant principal. She was principal for two years at Thompson Intermediate.
Throughout her career, she has cultivated strong positive relationships with her work family, students and the community through empowerment, support and guidance.
“You must build a strong team around,” she said. “I operate in a culture of collaboration and I try to make all decisions based on the interests of students and what’s best for the school.”
Pursuing a career in education was her way of giving back to those who inspired her when she was a student.
“I had a great teacher and role model at Dobie High School,” Stallings said. “Her name was Ann Brennan. She was my journalism teacher and she helped me discover my dreams.”
As principal, Stallings has created a recipe for success that has helped students and teachers at Pasadena Memorial reach their full potential.
“I like to see the big picture. I think it is important to create a climate and culture that encourages students and teachers to set goals and achieve them. Our teachers are our number one priority. If we take care of teachers, teachers will ensure the very best care for our kids.”