Beloved first principal of Cypress Ridge High School dies

Claudio Garcia, who led Cypress Ridge High School as its first principal in 2001 until his retirement in 2013, died this week.

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District announced his death Thursday. School officials did not cite a cause or list any planned funeral or visitation services.

As news of the longtime principal’s death spread across social media, former students and co-workers expressed shock at his passing and gratitude for his work.

“He was such a good man. A real mentor to me and so many other principals,” Cypress Falls High Principal Becky Denton wrote on Twitter.

Ray Zepeda, the school district’s athletic director, tweeted: “This was a great man. Shocked and saddened to see this. He made our community better through his positive influence.” Garcia came to Houston to help open Cypress Ridge High School in December 2001. Before that, he worked as a teacher and a coach in Odem, Texas, in 1973 and soon transferred to Brownsville Porter and Orange Grove high schools.

He took his first leadership position as assistant principal of Orange Grove High in 1988, becoming that school’s principal in 1992. He later led Flour Bluff Junior High School in Corpus Christi in 1998 and Corpus Christi Calallen High in 2000.

Garcia was so popular locally that the state of Texas recognized him in 2013 with a proclamation declaring Dec. 11 as “Claudio Garcia Day,” honoring his four decades in education. He told the district’s communications office that the recognition and outpouring of love before his retirement were “totally unexpected.”

“I suppose that it goes to show that we just never know how far our influence as educators will go,” Garcia said at the time.

Educators who worked with Garcia called him a gift to the community.

Stephanie Meshell, current principal of Cypress Ridge and an associate principal under Garcia, said in 2013 that Garcia still had the heart of a teacher.

“His belief that we are here to help all students and staff be successful has made Cypress Ridge the family we are today. His servant attitude stands out the most,” Meshell told the district communications office. “He would not ask of others, unless he was willing to do it himself.”

Garcia still worked in the district as a substitute principal after retiring, including a stint at Cypress Creek High. His wife and daughter also work for the district, a spokeswoman said.