Mr. Manuel De La Cruz, originally from San Antonio, Texas, is a seasoned educator and leader with a deep commitment to student success. After moving to Fort Worth as a teenager with his family, he graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1996. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie in 2000, and later completed his Master’s in Education at Texas Christian University in 2019.

He began his teaching career in August 2000 and served in the classroom for two decades before transitioning into administration. In 2020, he became Assistant Principal at North Side High School, where he served until March 2024. He was then promoted to Principal of Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School, where his leadership has already led to notable gains in student academic achievement and overall school growth. After only an 18 month absence, Mr. De La Cruz was appointed Principal of North Side High School in the Summer of 2025. He is very excited to be back in Steer Country!

Mr. De La Cruz married  Carla Jimenez, a North Side High School alumna (Class of 1997), on February 3, 2001. Together they have three children: Mackenzie, Alexandria (married to Brendan Spires), and Javan.