Having served in a variety of administrative and director capacities, Andrea Moreno-Hewitt is now taking on the role of executive director of curriculum and instruction for Ector County ISD.
Moreno-Hewitt has been a campus principal at both high school and elementary, curriculum director, bilingual director and district testing coordinator, among other roles. She was at Natalia and Medina ISD in the San Antonio area for 15 years and before that in her hometown of Denton.
She is married to Max Hewitt.
Moreno-Hewitt earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s in educational leadership from Texas Woman’s University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Lamar University.
The good things she had heard about ECISD across the state helped draw her to the district.
“I’ve also heard that it has a lot of opportunities for students. There are systems that are in place to support students and staff. I’ve always been curious about it. I have a cousin who is a previous employee, and she told me about it. She worked with the AVID program. It kind of affirmed what I heard. I kind of was looking to get back into a central office position because I’ve been in campus leadership for a number of years. … And I’m really excited about living in a desert climate,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
At ECISD, she will be working with everything to do with literacy — reading, writing, advanced academics and early childhood.
Lisa Wills, also an executive director of curriculum and instruction, is involved in math and science.
“I’m looking forward to digging into the phonics together with early literacy or early childhood to support them,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
The majority of her experience has been at the high school level, but in recent years, she spent time as an elementary principal. But she also was principal at an early childhood and elementary campus at the same time, so she had to learn about early literacy.
“I think I’ll definitely take that experience forward to support them,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
Moreno-Hewitt has been in education for 27 years and always knew she wanted to go into the field.
“I had a little bit of a thought when I started college to be a nurse like my mom. But I think the calling to become a teacher was very strong,” she said.
She will miss being on a campus.
“But at the same time, I’ve been in a position like this … in central (office) with the curriculum department. You just have to avail yourself to be present on the campus and make connections with the staff and the students there so that you can still feel connected to the reason why we exist and that’s the students’ success,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
Being a campus principal is a neat, rewarding experience, but it’s a tough job.
“(With) teaching you have to be there. You have to be there; you have to be there to connect with your students. I’m so glad that I’ve done that and I want to take those experiences that I’ve had as a teacher, as a principal, with me, as I move forward to continue to support and not ever forget, and be connected to them. Like I said, that’s the whole reason why we exist is the kids,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
She added that she has enjoyed meeting everyone at ECISD.
“I have to say everyone has been so welcoming, kind and accommodating. It’s been a great experience meeting everyone so far, I still have a lot of people to meet. But everyone has been so welcoming and so kind. It’s been great,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
Wills said they are excited to have Moreno-Hewitt join the district.
“She has a vast knowledge and experience with curriculum and instruction,” Wills said.
Although this is the time of year when people are on vacation and the students are not in school, it’s still a good time to start getting adjusted and learn as much as she possibly can.
There are some things she can take from her previous experience to ECISD.
“There are a lot of similar type projects, I think. For example, I know that the teachers go through the Reading Academy and reading is in my area. I’ve gone through the Reading Academy myself as a principal. Those things that I learned, I think I’ll definitely be able to continue to support the reading coaches and specialists and the teachers really, having been through that experience myself with the teachers that I supported there as campus principal,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
Her most immediate goal is to learn about ECISD and form relationships with the people she’ll be working with.
“Other goals would be to continue to support and serve in this upper trajectory that we have — accountability scores going up and the opportunities available for students. I just want to become part of that and contribute as much as I possibly can,” Moreno-Hewitt said.
If scores are lower due to a redesigned STAAR test and changes to the state accountability system, “we’ll learn it and learn from it and see how we can adjust.”
