Celebrating National Principals Month #theNEISDway
Johnson High School Principal Gary Comalander cares about this community because it’s his community. Years before he became a principal in North East ISD, Comalander was a student here. He attended Colonial Hills Elementary School and Jackson Middle School and graduated from Churchill High School.
As a Churchill Charger, he played football, basketball and track. For him, extracurricular activities are vital to the high school experience. He still fondly remembers his coaches and pep rallies.
“Pep rallies were out of this world back in those days when we would gather the last 45 minutes of the school day in the courtyard with the place packed and people cheering out the windows. Great memories,” said Comalander.
Since those pep rallies in the eighties, Comalander has dedicated his life to helping students grow and connect. He’s served our District as a teacher, coach and now principal—working at Johnson, Churchill, Bush Middle School and LEE High School.
“It is a path that I have been fortunate to get on and have great opportunities to work at some of the best schools in the area and NEISD,” said Comalander. “The best part of the job is the connections I have made with so many students over the years and the people I have gotten to work with daily at Johnson and Bush as a Principal. The people are what makes this ‘job’ not a job, but a career that keeps me going every year.”
October is National Principals Month. It is a time to celebrate our administrators who work tirelessly to run our schools and support our students, staff, and families. For so many of them, their work is even more important because this isn’t just a job; it is their community.
If you want to thank your principal, we’ve made it easy. Give them a Staff Shout Out, and they will be notified how much they mean to you.