Haley Simonton-Bonilla
School Leader
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” - Lilla Watson
Haley Simonton Bonilla started her career in Education in 2003 before joining KIPP in 2007. She graduated from the University of Texas with a BA in Anthropology, and then joined Americorps as a Bilingual Literacy tutor for first graders in Austin.
She taught bilingual Pre-K in Austin Independent School District and Houston Independent School District before joining KIPP in 2007, teaching Pre-K at KIPP SHINE, then second and third grade before moving to KIPP Dream. At Dream, she was a founding third and fourth -grade teacher and grade-level chair.
Haley moved into the role of literacy instructional coach and upper school interventionist. For two years, she served as Dean of Early Childhood at KIPP Dream and then as assistant principal. She has three KIPPsters – Adelaide, Bailynn and Ezra. She is married to a KIPPster from the founding class in Houston, who is also a teacher at KIPP Houston. She enjoys daily yoga, hiking, cooking, traveling, gardening, and hanging out with friends and family.