Education in Canutillo is seeing a new chapter with Janeth Plaza stepping up as the principal of Gonzalo and Sofia Garcia Elementary School, beginning July 7. After spending the majority of her educational career within the Canutillo Independent School District (ISD), Plaza is moving forward from her position as the assistant principal, a position she has held at Garcia Elementary.
Superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz spoke highly of Plaza's potential for the school, saying, “I have every confidence she will take Garcia Elementary to the next level of academic excellence,” as per Canutillo ISD. The sentiment reflects a belief in homegrown leadership, with Dr. Galaviz asserting, "Ms. Plaza is proof that Canutillo grows its own leaders and prepares them for great success."
The journey for Plaza began in 2005 as a classroom teacher at Jose Damian Elementary School, where she left an impact until 2021, save for a year when she taught abroad with the Department of Defense Education Activity in Germany. Her roles expanded over the years as she took on responsibilities as an instructional coach and later, as an assistant principal at Damian from 2021 to 2024.
Plaza's educational background is solid, with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Texas at El Paso, where she graduated with honours, and a master's degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University. As she prepares to succeed the retiring principal, Maria Alarcon, one can see the district's investment in her growth from a teacher to a leader. While Alarcon's tenure comes to an end this June, Plaza's legacy in Canutillo education seems poised to write its next chapter.
