Carranza picks HISD insider to be his deputy

Houston school district Superintendent Richard Carranza tapped a longtime insider to serve as his deputy, as he continues to fill out his leadership team.

Samuel “Sam” Sarabia, a chief officer over schools in the district’s south region, was promoted to deputy superintendent, the school district announced Tuesday.

Sarabia has worked in the Houston Independent School District for 29 years, starting as a bilingual teacher at Cage Elementary and later serving as principal of Port Houston and Roberts elementary schools.

Carranza, hired in mid-August, previously promoted another chief school officer, Grenita Lathan, to serve as his chief academic officer. Lathan, formerly a superintendent in Peoria, Ill., has worked in the Houston district for about a year.