School Leadership & Staff

Our Leadership

Principal: Lupita Narvaez

Lupita Narvaez was recently the Associate Principal of Lockhart High School in the Lockhart Independent School District. She previously served as the Director of Bilingual & Federal Programs in Georgetown ISD, prior to that she was an Administrative Supervisor of Compliance for the Multilingual Education Team in Austin ISD. Ms. Narvaez earned a Bachelor of Arts at Angelo State University and Masters of Educational Administration from Texas State University. Ms. Narvaez is student-centered and action-oriented. She passionately believes that all students can and will learn. Ms. Narvaez has a proven track record as a relational, servant leader who is collaborative and has an open-door policy. She believes in a team approach to leadership and is a strong proponent of building trust and community by using clear, consistent expectations and communication, as well as through welcoming parents and community to be an integral part of the school.

Academy Director: Christina Almaraz Ortiz

Christina Almaraz Ortiz has spent the last 24 years serving school communities. Born and raised in San Antonio, her educational pathway began with San Antonio ISD, where she served as a math and Spanish teacher. She earned her master’s degree and began her administrative career with Austin ISD. After serving the International High School, the Early College program, and a single-gender environment, she brings in a sense of community, service, and progress. She values education and the many opportunities it provides individuals, families, and communities. Therefore, her values align with the mission of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. She is ready to support our STARS and families through their educational journey. Christina is married to her fun-loving husband and they have one daughter, who currently is working and attending college. They spend quality time with family, friends, and their fur baby, Ripley.

Assistant Principal, 11th & 12th: Luzvic Backstrom

Luzvic Backstrom is beyond thrilled to be a part of the Stars family. She is from Valencia, Venezuela and came to the United States in 2007 to learn English and go to school. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She comes from a rich background in music, management, and community building. She began her career in Hattiesburg, Mississippi before moving to Texas. Luzvic was an orchestra director at LBJ Early College and LASA High schools and has over 9 years of classroom experience. Luzvic pursued a Master’s degree at the University of Texas at Arlington in School Administration and became a National Board Certified teacher while teaching at LBJ ECHS and LASA HS. Luzvic served many leadership roles and considers herself a life-long learner. She is passionate about community building and making strong connections between the families and the school. She has been a TMEA region chair for orchestras, mentor for National Board teachers and new teachers to the district, and a curriculum writer among other roles. Her favorite hobbies are watching Netflix with her husband, and playing games with her baby Melinda and her 19-pound calico cat named “Kitty”.

Assistant Principal, 6th & 7th: Shelly Hopson

Shelly Hopson is honored to join the Star family! Ms. Hopson earned her Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Texas State University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Meredith College (an all women’s school). Ms. Hopson’s teaching career began in Raleigh, NC at Washington GT Magnet Elementary. Her family moved to the Austin area in 2011, providing Ms. Hopson an opportunity to teach, learn, and grow in the International Baccalaureate curriculum in both Leander ISD at Grandview Hills Elementary and Meridian World School in Round Rock, Texas. She was active in leadership roles that promoted student voice and student leadership, inclusivity through equitable practices, and ensuring that every student has access to a quality education. Ms Hopson joins Ann Richards from a middle school in Leander ISD where she recently served as an Assistant Principal, Section 504 and Testing Coordinator. Ms. Hopson is grateful for the opportunity to serve at Ann Richards and strongly believes her entire career in education has been motivated by the goals of supporting and empowering others to be impactful in public education. She is excited to build relationships and partner with Star students and their families. She wants the community to know that she sees her young self in many of the young women that walk the Ann Richards halls. Ms. Hopson is committed to upholding the school’s five tenets, as well as providing a safe and joyful learning environment in which we all can bravely strive and thrive with positivity, respect, integrity, determination and excelling students to be their best self. Ms. Hopson is also a proud member of the esteemed Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. In her free time, Ms. Hopson enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, spending time with family and playing with her two Labrador Retrievers, Sadie and Ivy.

2022-2023 Faculty & Staff Contacts