After six years of serving the Westwood community as principal, Dr. Mario Acosta announced his resignation on Tuesday, May 17.

“Please know that the decision to leave was not made lightly, as I have great respect and passion for our school,” Dr. Acosta said in a letter to the community. “The staff and I have worked hard to help our students recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. I am proud of the work that we have done and I am confident that I leave our school in a great position for continued success. Our staff stands ready to continue providing our students with the best educational experience in the country.”

Dr. Acosta was appointed in July of 2016, following Dr. Laurelyn Arterbury’s departure. His final year at Westwood marks his twentieth year in the public education sector, as he previously served as the principal of Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock and academic director at the LBJ Early College High School in Austin ISD, among other teaching jobs. Though he did not include details in his resignation letter regarding his future plans, he remains committed to the Westwood community and its future success.

“My heart will remain at Westwood,” Dr. Acosta said. “I would like to thank you for your partnership and for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your community. I have never worked for more amazing students, caring parents and hardworking staff members. Dr. Azaiez and the district leadership team are working to ensure a smooth transition for the Westwood principal position. It is a priority to ensure that we have a successful end to the current school year and a smooth start to the next.”