Eileen Puente

Background

About Eileen Puente

Eileen Puente is the proud principal of DeAnda Elementary, a high-performing dual language school, in Houston ISD. Starting with the urban school district in 2008, Puente has served as a teacher, interventionist, magnet coordinator, assistant principal, and principal. She is passionate about holding herself and others to high expectations and providing appropriate support and coaching to improve outcomes for all students. Prior to serving as principal of DeAnda Elementary, Puente served as the principal of Rucker Elementary from June 2019 to June 2024. One of her proudest accomplishments is working in collaboration with her team of leaders, teachers, and staff to transform Rucker from being an F-rated, Texas Education Agency Improvement Required campus in 2019 to earning B-ratings for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023 and, finally, an A-rating in 2024. This accomplishment was achieved while navigating the challenges brought forth to education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Puente is a native Houstonian with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston, and an MBAE from the University of St. Thomas.