EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso Independent School District has appointed Dr. Elisa Aranda, previously the principal of Herrera Elementary School, as the new principal coach at Wally Hartley PK-8 School.
“I am honored to join the Coach Wally Hartley PK-8 community,” Dr. Aranda said. “I look forward to working alongside students, staff, and families to build on the school’s strengths and ensure every student is supported, challenged, and inspired to succeed.”
According to the district, Dr. Aranda’s leadership and dedication to education were recently recognized when she was named the 2026 Region 19 TEPSAN of the Year by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). This award is given annually to principals who exemplify excellence in PK-8 education.
Meanwhile, this change follows an incident at Herrera Elementary, where Dr. Aranda was the acting principal.
As KFOX14/CBS4 previously reported in December, Wendy Calderon, a mother of a child at Herrera, claimed her daughter was found alone in a dark classroom bathroom, unable to open the door, with feces on her hands and face, last August.
Calderon, who spoke to KFOX14/CBS4 about the incident, said she reported it to EPISD, Child Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency, seeking disciplinary action against the teacher involved and a review of the school’s camera footage.
Calderon, who was able to review the footage on Dec. 5, said it showed the teaching assistant leaving with Faith’s classmates, followed by the teacher leaving without Faith.
The district previously informed Calderon that the situation was resolved administratively, but did not specify the actions taken.
Previously speaking to KFOX14/CBS4, Calderon said her daughter remains affected by the incident, stating, “But to date, she doesn’t like using the bathroom door, the bathroom with the door closed. If anybody tries to leave her, she starts crying right away.”
When previously reached for comment on the incident, EPISD said in a statement, “El Paso ISD is aware of the concerns raised regarding an incident earlier this school year at Herrera Elementary. While we cannot discuss individual student matters, we can share that the situation was reviewed promptly and thoroughly by campus staff and district administrators. After review, appropriate administrative actions were taken in accordance with district procedures. Student safety and well-being remain our highest priorities, and we will continue to partner with families and relevant agencies to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students.”
At that time, EPISD did not respond to questions about what administrative actions were taken.
While district officials have not yet confirmed if Aranda’s reassignment is related to the incident, KFOX14/CBS4 has reached out to EPISD for comment.
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