Eileen Puente, Principal 
Phone: 713-556-9550
Email: Eileen.Puente@houstonisd.org

Mrs. Eileen Puente has been selected as the new principal of DeAnda Elementary School. In her 17 years with Houston ISD, Mrs. Puente has served as teacher and reading interventionist at Golfcrest Elementary, magnet coordinator and assistant principal at Patterson Literature Magnet & IB School, and, most recently, principal of Rucker Elementary. During her five years as the principal of Rucker Elementary, she led her team to transform the campus from being an F-rated, TEA-Improvement Required campus in 2019 to earning B-ratings for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023 and an A in 2024. This accomplishment was achieved while navigating the challenges brought forth to education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.  During her time with HISD, she has earned recognition as Teacher of the Year, ESL Teacher of the Year, and East Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year. Mrs. 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.  During her free time, she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two children.