Originally from Bucaramanga, Colombia, Mr. Aponte brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of excellence, and a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives.

Mr. Aponte began his career as a bilingual third-grade teacher at Oaklawn Elementary in Fort Worth, where he was named Campus Teacher of the Year in two of his three years and achieved exceptional academic results—100% of his students passed both reading and math in 2008 and 2009. In 2013, he joined Dallas ISD as a principal and, in 2017, became part of the district’s nationally recognized ACE (Accelerated Campus Excellence) program. Under his leadership, Onésimo Hernandez Elementary made a dramatic turnaround, improving from a failing grade to meeting state standards in just one year.

Since 2018, Mr. Aponte has led Maple Lawn Elementary, a consolidated ACE campus, where his leadership has driven consistent academic achievement. The school has earned up to five TEA distinctions, ranked 8th in the district’s School Effectiveness Index, and obtained a “B” or “C” rating from the state. In recognition of his work, Mr. Aponte was named the 2024 Dallas ISD Region 3 Elementary Principal of the Year.

Mr. Aponte holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master of Music from Texas Christian University. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, traveling, playing the piano, and walking. He is guided by the belief that every child deserves a future full of opportunity grounded in academic excellence, strong values, and community.