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Mahalet Negussie Named as New Principal of Sharpstown's Neff Elementary

Mahalet Negussie. Image credit: HISD

After ousting former principal Amanda Wingard in a controversial move, HISD named Mahalet Negussie as the new principal of Neff Elementary in Sharpstown. Negussie worked as a 6th-grade HISD English teacher before recently serving as a principal apprentice at Mark White Elementary.

Neff announced Negussie's leadership in a Twitter post on Friday morning. The new principal also posted an intro message on Neff's home page. The full text is below:

Dear Neff Family,

I am honored and delighted to serve as the principal of Neff Elementary.

My name is Mahalet Negussie, a proud Houston native dedicated to education for the past 12 years. I earned my bachelor's degree in education from the University of Houston-Downtown and pursued a master's degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.

My journey in education began as a 6th grade ELAR teacher in Houston ISD. I've since served as an instructional coach at a PK-8 campus and progressed to the role of assistant principal. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with community stakeholders, providing coaching, and offering instructional support to enhance student achievement.

As a passionate advocate for students, I prioritize strengthening tier I instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners. Our campus at Neff Elementary is deeply rooted in community involvement. We warmly invite parents and the community to volunteer, attend our events, and join our PTO. Together, we can build partnerships that uphold our school's 60-year tradition of excellence.