Called to the Principal’s Office: Marc Escareno, Coronado High School Class of 1979
(CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL – Oct. 24, 2022) – When Marc Escareno became principal at his alma mater, it was game, set, match.
“I always told myself that Coronado was the No. 1 place I wanted to be before I retired,” the former Coronado tennis standout said. “I can’t tell you how happy I am. It is a dream come true.”
The 1979 graduate remembers his Coronado days fondly, especially his time on the tennis court. He wasn’t necessarily the best student academically, joking that he was in the top half of his class.
“I was kind of a nerdy, athletic kid,” he said. “I was really devoted to tennis. That was my big thing. That's what kept me eligible and playing because I wanted to be on the tennis court.”
Escareno had been an assistant principal at rival Franklin before returning to lead his high school. Before that, he’d been a principal at Kohlberg Elementary and interim principal of Bowie High School. He joined El Paso ISD as a special education teacher at Burges High School in 1995 after serving in the U.S. Air Force.
“When I came back to El Paso, I met my wife whom I used to know in high school. I kind of had a crush on her but she never knew I existed,” he said. “She was a teacher and I always liked being around kids, so I became a teacher.”
Now Escareno, who grew up attending Morehead Middle and Putnam Elementary, is all about Coronado. His office is decorated with T-Bird mementos displaying his passion for the school. He keeps his original letter jacket in his office and he proudly wears it around campus much like his students.
“To me, Coronado is about legacy,” he said. “We have a proud history. We are the pride of the West Side. For a long time, we were the only ones here. I want those memories to translate to this new generation and they learn what this legacy is about.”
Escareno enjoyed pep rallies, football and basketball games – the all-encompassing Coronado spirit. He played in the band his freshman year and participated in Student Council as a class representative.
“When I became principal here, I wanted to bring those experiences I had to the students here,” he said. “They were some of the best years of my life.”
As principal, Escareno tries to emulate his high school principal – the legendary Charles Q. Murphree whose name now graces Coronado’s newest PK-8 feeder school. Escareno recalls the long-time Coronado principal as a caring man who knew students by name and seemed to be everywhere on campus. Murphree was one of the first in line to congratulate Escareno when he got the job.
“He’s my hero. I love Mr. Murphree and honestly, he was one of my role models when I became a principal. I wanted to be just like him,” Escareno said. “He would tell me great stories about Coronado. His memory is amazing. He devoted everything to his kids. He knew everything about the kids and that’s what I love about him.”
Like Murphree, Escareno can be seen visiting classrooms and talking to students.
“To me, being an educator is about the relationships with the kids,” he said. “That’s the most important part. My biggest thing is to help kids as much as possible.”
As the current Coronado principal, Escareno also has the unique challenge of leading the campus through the 2016 Bond construction. The modernization project has him balancing the old with the new Coronado.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “I love the new buildings. They’re state-of-the-art. They’re incredible. They’re beautiful. But I miss the old building. I really do. I saved a brick to kind of remember.”
He became nostalgic thinking about the old buildings especially when he remembered walking out of his Building A classes for afternoon tennis practice. It wasn’t just the game that reminded him of his days at Coronado.
“I’d come out of the classroom and see the T-Bird on the mountain,” he said. “I have this vivid memory. I’ve had it all these years – all these decades.”
Watch a video here.
Photos by Leonel Monroy, Jr.