About

As the Academic Dean of Harlan High School, Mrs. Tapia is responsible for overseeing all of the academic programs for the campus.

Mrs. Tapia joined Northside ISD in 2007 as the Graduation Coach at John Jay High School. She was appointed Assistant Principal at Marshall High School in the Fall of 2012 where she served until she was appointed Academic Dean at Stevens High School in the Fall of 2015. Mrs. Tapia was appointed Academic Dean at Harlan High School and assisted in opening the campus in 2017.

Mrs. Tapia earned her Bachelor's degree from The University of the Incarnate Word and her Master's Degree from Lamar University. She has three children who have all attended Northside Schools.

Manuel Ayala serves as an Assistant Principal at Harlan High School in Northside ISD. Since joining the Harlan leadership team in the fall of 2023, he has been passionate about fostering a supportive, high-achieving environment for all students and staff. He is dedicated to building strong, collaborative relationships with parents and promoting positive community involvement to help every Hawk succeed.

With over 20 years of dedicated experience in education, his career began as a teacher and coach in Crystal City, Texas. Over two decades, he has proudly served students and athletes across Uvalde CISD, Comal ISD, and NISD’s Clark High School before transitioning into administrative leadership.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree from Sul Ross State University.

When he isn’t leading on campus, Manuel Ayala prioritizes quality family time with his wife and two sons. Outside of school and family activities, he stays active by hitting Gold’s Gym to lift weights.

My name is Rachel Deleon, and I am incredibly proud to be entering my sixth year as an assistant principal here at Harlan High School, serving students with last names G–L.

With 27 rewarding years in education—including 21 years spent in the classroom as an English teacher and on the sidelines as a cheer coach—my passion for supporting students and educators has only grown. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas Pan American and my Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University.

I had the distinct honor of being part of the original team that opened Harlan High School in 2017 and building the Soaring Pride Spirit Organization from the ground up. There is truly nothing I love more than working alongside our amazing Hawks every single day.  I take immense pride in everything I do to support our school community, and I look forward to another fantastic year of helping our students soar!

As an Assistant Principal at Harlan High School, Mr. Escobedo supports students in the M-R alpha group. He is dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where all students can achieve their academic and personal goals. His leadership approach focuses on building strong relationships with students, staff, and the community to ensure every student has the guidance and resources they need to succeed.

Mr. Escobedo brings nearly 20 years of experience in education to the Harlan campus. He began his career serving the students of San Antonio ISD for a decade before continuing his journey in educational leadership. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a Master's degree in Urban School Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

When he is not at Harlan, Mr. Escobedo enjoys spending time with his family. He also likes to relax by taking on hands-on home projects, listening to music, and doing outdoor cooking on the grill.

A San Antonio native, Shae Huntington brings three decades of experience to her role as Assistant Principal at Harlan High School. After earning her undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s University—where she played for the Rattlers women’s soccer team—she completed her Master’s in Educational Administration at Concordia University Texas.

Huntington is a foundational staff member who helped open Harlan High School in 2017, initially serving as a teacher and head soccer coach for the Hawks. She later transitioned into administration to further support the campus community.

She is committed to leading with empathy, integrity, and daily advocacy for every student. Viewing education as the cultivation of character, resilience, and curiosity, she is honored to serve the students, staff, and community of Harlan High School with passion and purpose.