Dallas ISD celebrates teaching excellence by recognizing outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of students every day. Meet 2021-2022 Principal of the Year finalist Theresa Fernandez Sigurdson.
Theresa Fernandez Sigurdson is the principal of Francisco “Pancho” Medrano Junior High School. As the school’s principal for the past 12 years, Sigurdson has been an advocate for Medrano’s students. Her focus is not only on individualized support for the students’ academic needs, but also on maximizing their social, emotional, and cultural growth. She maintains high expectations for all students, which is exemplified through the school’s core values of excellence, effort, and esteem.
During Sigurdson’s tenure, Medrano Junior High successfully merged with Cary Middle School after a tornado destroyed Cary’s campus. The school was a recipient of a grant from the Dallas Education Foundation and the Laura Bush Foundation to expand, update, and diversify its library book collections. Additionally, Sigurdson applied for, earned, and implemented a Verizon Innovative Learning Grant, ensuring that every student had an iPad, to push learning into the 21st century.
She secured a partnership with Momentous Institute and City Year to implement research-based social emotional practices to support students in and out of the classroom. Furthermore, Medrano was one of six schools to pilot restorative discipline, which continues today and adds to the positive, welcoming, and productive school environment on campus. Sigurdson has been previously selected for the Superintendent’s Principal Group with Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa.
In addition to her principal certificate from the University of North Texas, Sigurdson holds a Master of Education degree concentrating on curriculum and instruction, from the University of New Orleans, and a Bachelor of Science in education from Loyola University.
Theresa Fernandez Sigurdson is one of the 2021-2022 Secondary Principal of the Year finalists. From the finalists, one principal will be selected from each category to represent Dallas ISD as Principal of the Year. Winners will be announced at the inaugural 2021-2022 Dallas ISD Educator of the Year Awards, in partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation, presented by Reliant at the Statler Hotel on May 10, 2022.
View the full list of the 2021-2022 Principal of the Year finalists here.
