Roel Gonzalez Roel Gonzalez, H.M. King High School principal, has accepted another administrative position in a nearby school district. Gonzalez will become the curriculum director with the Brooks Independent School District in Falfurrias. During his three-year tenure at the high school Gonzalez implemented innovative programs catering to students’ educational needs.

“I have always wanted to become a curriculum director, and the opportunity came up,” said Gonzalez who begins his new post in mid-July.

“I will try to leave everything in place for a smooth transition,” said Gonzalez.

As a principal, he said his goal has been “for students to graduate from high school prepared for college or career ready and to move on to bigger and greater successes.”

He has worked with the Kingsville Independent School District for 16 years and has been in the educational profession for 26 years. He has been an administrator 16 of those years. He has also been a principal at Harvey Elementary School, Gillett Intermediate School and Memorial Middle School.

Roel Gonzalez will assume an administrative position with the Brooks County Independent School District. “H.M. King High School has made great strides this year as a direct result of Roel Gonzalez’ leadership,” said Jennifer Kent, KISD Chief Academic Officer. “I wish him all the best in the future and feel certain he will excel in his new position.”

Gonzalez implemented innovative programs that assisted students with academic and life skills training. First of all, the master schedule was restructured extending it to eight class periods. This new schedule provided more class flexibility and opportunities for the students and also allowed the teachers to meet together during a specific time to work together as a professional community.

Gonzalez also implemented the optional flexible school day that allowed the students to take more courses at Coastal Bend College and Texas A&M University Kingsville.

“We worked closely to meet their needs so they could also go to college,” Gonzalez said.

Under Gonzalez’s instructional leadership, students were able to recover high school credits as soon as possible instead of failing at the end of the year. If the students did not pass at the end of the six weeks, then they were retaught and could get credit recovery instead of waiting at the end of the year.

Credit recovery classes were taught after school, at night, and on Saturday.

Another successful academic story was the partnership with the Crafts Training Center of the Coastal Bend. H.M. King High students had the opportunity to take courses in welding, pipe fitting, instrumentation, electrical helpers, certified nurses aides.

“The students were provided with life skills and articulated college work,” Gonzalez said.

“For example, if they finished welding courses and if they attended either Del Mar and Coastal Bend Colleges they could be half way with an associate degree.,” he said.

Dick Messbarger, executive director of the greater Kingsville Economic Development Council, praised Gonzalez for implementing the flexible schedule so that the students could get craft training classes. Messbarger has always stated that this area needs more skilled workers.

“We need to be globally competitive and need good skilled workers such as welders and others,” Messbarger said.

“These are high paying jobs.”

“Roel became a champion in resurrecting the craft trade at the high school,” Messbarger said.

Gonzalez assisted in building up the UIL Academic Team, which is one of the strongest in the area and he also worked hard to build up the advanced placement course.

He credited everyone involved in these high school successes because this was a team effort. “This is about ‘we’-not ‘I,’ he said.

“I’ve been treated very well and am leaving for a position I want to do,” Gonzalez said.

“My heart will always be in Kingsville, and I will continue to be involved as much as I can, and I look forward to being involved as a parent for my two children who are enrolled here,” he said.