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Volume 25 | Number 2 | August 22, 2024

Principal Zada Fowler and assistant principals Abel Hernandez and Jesus Solis all started at Will Rogers Academy in 2019-2020. Now on their sixth year in leadership together at the campus, the trio share the joy of the routines they have formed and in watching their students grow up together.

St. Philip’s Early College High School celebrated the completion of its first 10 years serving students Friday, Aug. 16 with a ribbon cutting on the newly remodeled Bowden Legacy Building. The event was part of the Legacy Day Celebration at St. Philip’s College, which celebrates the legacy of college founder Saint Artemisia Bowden. “St. Artemisia Bowden left a legacy — footprints, and we are to walk in her footprints at this time,” principal Ashlyn Barrientes said. “I am honored to be a part of this legacy and supporting the mission of Artemisia Bowden of educating underrepresented students in higher education.” 

It was a record year for the Beat the Heat college trip program, a partnership between SAISD Postsecondary Initiatives and the SAISD Foundation. Over the course of 13 trips to local colleges and universities this summer, 179 alumni from the Class of 2024 received assistance registering for their college courses this fall. The program, which builds upon momentum started with counselors and college bound advisors, allows college alumni advisors and SAISD Foundation-funded postsecondary navigators to provide on-site assistance to young alumni as they go through the often complicated process of college enrollment.

Fifteen San Antonio ISD juniors and seniors got the academic opportunity of a lifetime when they were selected for the inaugural Knowledge for Freedom: Migration, Democracy and the American Spirit program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The residential summer program at UTSA is one of 34 Knowledge for Freedom seminars nationwide, all funded by the Teagle Foundation with the aim to give traditionally underserved high school students access to college-level work in the humanities, as well as the opportunities to both build meaningful relationships with college faculty and students and develop civic skills with their peers.

San Antonio ISD is giving updates through a series of public meetings to explain the process and timeline for the repurposing of buildings, which became available after the board’s 2023 rightsizing decision. The first of these took place Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Jefferson High School. During the meetings, district staff emphasized the commitments to community, safety and responsible upkeep of buildings throughout the process. Staff also provided a general timeline on the repurposing process.  The next update is Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. at Edison High School.

San Antonio ISD honored five new inductees of the Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday, Aug. 10 at a ceremony at Alamo Convocation Center before a sellout crowd of 420. New members included Theresa Acosta (Fox Tech High School), Wade Key (Edison High School), Orlando Mendez-Valdez (Lanier High School), John Miles (Wheatley High School), and the 1979 Wheatley/Brackenridge football team (pictured). Each inductee received a plaque that is a replica of the one that will be installed in the newly renovated Wall of Fame at Alamo Stadium. Congratulations to all our class of 2024 inductees.

More than 30 students from high schools across the district ushered in the next phase of their lives as they graduated together at the district's summer graduation Aug. 8. The intimate ceremony was full of tears of pride and joy as these young alumni prepared for their next steps. "As I look out at the graduates sitting before me, I see a room of potential," graduation speaker Jonah Ramirez said. "Each of us has faced challenges, conquered fears, and made memories that will stay with us forever. Today we celebrate not just the end of our high school journey, but the start of something new."

The 2024 SAISD Foundation Employee Campaign is here — but only for one month (through Sept. 19). You can now donate directly to the SAISD Foundation through our online payroll deduction portal. This ensures that 100% of your donation goes straight to supporting students and educators, with no administrative fees.

We are honored by our dedicated employees who choose to give back to the SAISD Familia through the SAISD Foundation every year. With your investment, we can award nearly 800 educator grants, 250 scholarship and emergency gap awards, support thousands of students in field trips and so much more!

It takes just a minute to set up your monthly or one-time gift using your employee ID number. Plus, if you contribute $10 per month or $100 or more, you'll receive a special SAISD Foundation T-shirt and other thank-you gifts. We’re aiming to engage 1,000 employees this year in our campaign, and every bit of support helps. Thank you for considering a donation as we continue “Building Bright Futures Together!”

Looking for aspiring leaders! The Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD) Aspire I Path is looking for educators interested in becoming SAISD assistant principals and has extended the application deadline. The assistant principal role is critical to the success of our schools and with the support of the Wallace Foundation, SAISD is creating a two-year path designed specifically to support aspiring assistant principals.

We are asking for interested leaders to fill out the eForm providing the names of educators who meet the eligibility requirements and may be interested in pursuing this pathway. The LEAD team will subsequently reach out to the educators with an invitation to attend the EPIC Saturday LEAD Aspire I Path Informational Meeting and Application Workshop. The event will be held Sept. 7 at Edison High School from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please complete the eForm by Sept. 3, 2024.

Welcome back! On Aug. 13 we welcomed more than 43,000 students back to our district schools. We loved celebrating new opportunities with our teachers, students and families. Pictured are: Edison High School, Davis Middle School, Sarah King Elementary, and Green Elementary at Riverside Park. We wish all our schools a great year of learning.

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