Staff Report

Hays Consolidated Independent School District trustees approved Monday the selection of Jose Arturo Puga as the new principal for Simon Middle School. Puga’s career in education spans a quarter of a century. He began as a sixth grade language arts and bilingual teacher with the Los Fresnos Independent School District (ISD) in Los Fresnos, Texas. 

Aside from his tenure in Los Fresnos ISD and a brief period of service as an assistant principal at an early childhood center in Progreso ISD, Puga spent most of his career with Brownsville ISD. There, he served as a high school academic counselor, an assistant principal at all levels, and most recently a middle school principal. 

Puga describes himself as an innovative, forward thinking educator with a track record of success. 

“I am experienced in creating a stimulating and challenging learning environment conducive to the highest level of achievement,” he said.

He was selected, in part, based upon a customized principal profile developed after meetings with campus teachers. In addition to holding two bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, Puga earned his Doctorate in Education, with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction and bilingual education, from Texas A & M University in Kingsville. 

Puga is also a retired captain in the United States Army Reserve who served for more than 20 years, including time in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom.