The Yakima School District is proud to announce that beginning July 1, 2024, Andrew Espindola will serve as Principal of Franklin Middle School (pending school board approval).
Andrew has expressed his gratitude for the privilege of serving the staff, students, and community of the Yakima School District and Franklin Middle School as an assistant principal for the past three years. He is excited to continue contributing to the district's success by taking on the role of Principal at Franklin Middle School.
Throughout his tenure at Franklin, Andrew has amassed significant experience cultivating meaningful relationships with students and staff. Recognizing these connections' crucial role in advancing the school's mission, he highlights his experience as the interim principal for five months during the 2022-23 school year. This period reinforced his belief in the significance of trust and relationships within a school environment, and he was humbled by the trust placed in him by Ms. Anderson, the staff, and the district administration to lead the building.
Andrew draws inspiration from his friend and mentor, Ms. Sherry Anderson, pledging to honor her teachings in academic excellence, inclusion, and success for all students as the next principal of Franklin Middle School. He emphasizes his commitment to bringing a data-driven, innovative approach to the role of instructional leader.
In outlining his vision for the future, Andrew aims to create educational experiences that not only align with students' diverse cultural backgrounds but also effectively bridge the opportunity gap, preparing students to navigate the challenges of the modern world.
With eight years of administrative experience, Andrew holds a deep belief in the potential of every student. He aspires to create an educational environment where all students feel heard, safe, and welcomed. Reflecting on his leadership philosophy, he desires to be the leader he needed as a student, inspiring staff and students to believe in their ability to learn, achieve, and positively contribute to the community.
Andrew resonates with the Yakima School District’s promise of equity, emphasizing a commitment to ensuring a safe, equitable, inclusive, and quality learning environment for every student to thrive and succeed. He sees this promise as a reflection of the district's dedication to the principle that "ALL means ALL," and it is this commitment that fuels his enthusiasm for taking on the role of lead learner at Franklin Middle School.
Andrew, a graduate of White Swan High School, has lived in the Yakima Valley his entire life. After high school, he earned his bachelor's degree in English/Language Arts teaching, his Master’s in Instructional Leadership, and his administrative certification from Central Washington University.
Andrew has extensive school improvement knowledge, as he was part of a committed staff and administrative team that helped White Swan High School transition out of improvement status by raising graduation rates. Andrew also assisted with implementing Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) through collaborative work with the Washington State Leadership Academy. He directed the implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in his building.
Andrew is excited to continue serving the Yakima School District team and the community of Yakima.
Andrew and his wife live in Yakima and have three boys: a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a newborn. He loves building Legos with his sons, even if they’re destroyed 5 minutes after he has finished building them. When Andrew and his wife are not working, they enjoy spending time outside in their backyard with their five pets, going on hikes, and spending time with friends and their large extended families. Andrew also enjoys watching and playing basketball and tennis.
