In a sense, Ruth Rabago is heading back “home” as the newly appointed principal of Pomeroy Elementary.

Rabago served as an assistant principal at Pomeroy from 2000-2003 under the guidance of then-principal Susan Blalock. She said she has always held a special place in her heart for the campus.

“It was my first administrative job and the relationships with the students, parents and teachers created a huge family atmosphere,” she said. “As principal, it will be just like coming home again.”

In Rabago’s new position, she will replace Liz Ortiz, who was recently named principal of North Central Middle School, which will open next fall.

Since 2004, Rabago has served with Blalock once again as assistant principal at Morris Fifth Grade Center. Rabago credits Blalock for helping prepare her to lead her own campus. “Susan is my mentor and a great principal,” she said. “I owe so much to her. I will never forget her.”

Rabago began her teaching career in 1996 in the Lufkin-Nacogdoches area, before coming to Garfield Elementary as a peer facilitator in 1998. She was then promoted as assistant principal at Pomeroy in 2000 and left the district in 2003 and served a short stint as a bilingual teacher in Nacogdoches ISD. She returned to the district in November 2003 as an assistant principal at Jessup Elementary. Rabago received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Rabago and her husband Joe (assistant principal at Miller Intermediate) have three children, Emmah, 5, Ellie, 2, and Tre, 7 months.