School Administration

Dr. Marlene Blandon-Ohaka, Principal

Dr. Marlene Blandon-Ohaka proudly serves as the principal of Atherton Elementary School. Now entering her third year leading the Atherton communicty and her 20th year in public education, she has served as a teacher, instructional leader, assistant principal, and principal. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to ensuring that every student has access to high-quality instruction and opportunities to succeed.

Now entering her third year as principal of Atherton Elementary, Dr. Blandon-Ohaka is dedicated to fostering a culture of academic excellence, high expectations, and meaningful relationships. She believes that strong partnerships between families, staff, and the community are the foundation of student success and works to create a learning environment where every child feels supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

This year, Atherton's theme, Game On: Level Up!, reflects the school's commitment to continuous growth, perseverance, and celebrating student achievement. Dr. Blandon-Ohaka looks forward to partnering with families as the Atherton community continues to learn, grow, and level up together.

Dr. Blandon-Ohaka earned her bachelor's degree in English from Georgia State University and completed her graduate studies at Texas Southern University, where she also earned her Doctor of Education degree.

Contact: marlene.blandonohaka@houstonisd.org

Ashleigh Thompson, Assistant Principal

Ashleigh Thompson serves as Assistant Principal and is passionate about fostering a positive, student-centered learning environment where every child can succeed. She earned her bachelor's degree in Education from Midwestern State University and her master's degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University. Now entering her 10th year in education, Ms. Thompson spent eight years as a fifth-grade math teacher and one year as a special education inclusion teacher before transitioning into school leadership. She is committed to building strong relationships with students, families, and staff while supporting high-quality instruction and helping every learner reach their full potential.

Contact: ashleigh.thompson@houstonisd.org

Shunda Webber, Assistant Principal

Ms. Shunda Webber is honored to serve as Assistant Principal at Atherton Elementary School. Since beginning her career in education in 2005, she has been dedicated to helping students succeed while supporting the growth of teachers and school communities. Her experience spans the classroom, instructional coaching, early childhood education, literacy leadership, and nine years in campus administration.

At Atherton, Ms. Webber believes that meaningful leadership is measured by the growth of others. She is passionate about partnering with teachers, students, and families to build a culture of high expectations, strong relationships, and continuous learning. She works alongside educators to strengthen instruction and ensure every child has access to engaging, high-quality learning experiences.

With a deep passion for instructional leadership and educator development, Ms. Webber believes the greatest impact on student success comes from investing in the people who serve students every day. She is committed to leading with purpose, serving with integrity, and helping create a school where students, staff, and families feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. She considers it a privilege to serve the Atherton community and looks forward to partnering with families to help every student learn, grow, and thrive.

Contact: shunda.webber@houstonisd.org