This e-newsletter highlights important news from the June 18 regular meeting of the STISD Board of Directors and other recent and upcoming district and campus happenings.
STISD Board of Directors + Administration recognize all four high schools for ranking among the best in the state and nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best U.S. High Schools
Click here to read more about this achievement
Board and Administration recognize Natividad Sosa for years of service on STISD Board of Directors
The STISD Board of Directors and administration recognized and thanked Natividad "Nati" Sosa for her service to the district during the June 18 board meeting. A member of the board since Nov. 2020, Sosa has dedicated herself to building and strengthening STISD and educational opportunities in the RGV.
Thank you, Mrs. Sosa, for all you've done for STISD!
Board and Administration recognize retirees with 25+ years of service with the district
Congratulations, STISD retirees, and thank you for all you've done for our STISD community!
Michelle Cabrera
Health Professions Teacher
26 years with STISD
Jose Antonio Montenegro
Bus Driver/Custodian with Rising Scholars Academy
30 years with STISD
STISD to partner with other RGV school districts in support of students with special needs
Board approves Shared Services Agreement for new Special Education Cooperative
The STISD Board of Directors approved an updated Shared Services Agreement for a new Special Education Cooperative to begin in 2024-2025. Through this Co-op, STISD will provide needed Special Education support and services for students and staff of member districts, which currently include La Villa ISD and Rio Hondo ISD. As the fiscal agent, South Texas ISD will provide the following services:
- Speech Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- VI Services
- DHH Services
- Adaptive PE Services
- Counseling (LSSP)
- ARD Planning
- ARD Attendance
- Parent Training and Consultation
- Teacher Consultation
- Observations
- Evaluations
STISD looks forward to being of service to these districts and others throughout the RGV who may decide to join the Co-op in the future.
Board receives report on preliminary 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) scores
Dr. Nereyda Trevino, Chief Academic Officer for STISD, presented to the Board of Directors on the preliminary 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) EOC Scores district wide. Included in the report was a comparison of STISD's results in relation to Region One and the state. STISD's scores surpassed the region and state in all areas, including Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.
(STAAR®) is a standardized academic achievement test designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) at each tested grade, subject, and course. Every STAAR question is directly aligned to the TEKS currently in effect for the grade and subject or course being assessed. STAAR helps to ensure that Texas students are competitive with other students both nationally and internationally. Another important function of STAAR is gauging how well schools and teachers prepare their students academically. In addition, STAAR fulfills the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires that all students be assessed in specific grades and subjects throughout their academic careers.
STISD will continue working to move more students from the meets level to mastery in the coming year. Updated scores will be released in July.
Parents/Guardians: You can view your child's STAAR/EOC test scores online now. Click here to learn how to access your child's report
Other Board actions
- The STISD Board of Directors went through the first reading of the 2024-2025 District Improvement Plan (DIP) and Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs). Dr. Nereyda Trevino, STISD Chief Academic Officer, explained the process the district went through to ensure its District Improvement Plan is aligned with the district's new Strategic Plan and the Campus Improvement Plans are aligned with the District Improvement Plan. She presented a side-by-side comparison of the goals within each plan demonstrating the alignment. The DIP and CIPs will come back to the board for approval in July.
- Marla Knaub, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations, reported to the Board that STISD submits applications annually for federal funds to assist with supplementing the purchases for the district. It is a requirement to inform the public of the district’s intent to apply for federal funds, and to provide the document for public review. She shared the Public Notice to Apply for 2024-2025 ESSA Federal Grant Funding, which was posted within the Federal Programs section of the district website following the meeting and which will run in The Monitor, The Valley Morning Star, and The Brownsville Herald. The grant application will be available for public review after it is submitted.
- The Board voted to hire ETHOS to provide commissioning services for the Health Professions Gymnasium project. The commissioning engineer will monitor the mechanical portion of the project, a required service for all new buildings.
- The Board approved hiring Captain Steven Cortez as STISD's first-ever Chief of Police.
- Amanda Odom, STISD Administrator for Public Relations & Marketing, reported to the Board on the plans underway for the STISD 60-Year Anniversary celebration, which is coming up in November of 2024. Additional information is forthcoming.
All STISD students will receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2024-2025 School Year
South Texas ISD is approved to participate in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) during the 2024-2025 School Year, which will allow all STISD students to eat both breakfast and lunch for free.
Parents/guardians will still need to complete an Income Survey as part of their electronic registration packet in Skyward; however, all STISD students will qualify for free meals.
For additional information on STISD Child Nutrition, visit the Nutrition page of the STISD website or call 956.514.4230.
Kudos: STISD + four STISD campuses make the Educational Results Partnership 2023 Honor Roll
Educational Results Partnership (ERP), a non-profit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, recently released its annual “Honor Roll” list of top performing school districts and schools in Texas, which includes South Texas Independent School District (STISD) and four of its campuses.
STISD earned a spot on this year’s Texas Honor Roll Districts list, while four STISD campuses earned spots on the Honor Roll Schools list, including STISD Health Professions in Mercedes, STISD Preparatory Academy in Edinburg, STISD Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito, and STISD World Scholars in Edinburg.
Click here to read the full story
Tell your friends + family: STISD is hiring for 2024-2025
Work with the best school district in the RGV and #2 in Texas! Positions are available across the RGV.
STISD is hiring for:
- Career and Technical Education Coordinator
- Special Education Counselor Lead
- School Nurse (Preparatory Academy in Edinburg)
- Assistant Principals (Health Professions in Mercedes and World Scholars in Edinburg)
- CTE Teacher - Computer Science (Science Academy in Mercedes)
- CTE Teacher - Engineering (Science Academy in Mercedes)
- CTE Teacher - Welding (Science Academy in Mercedes)
- and more
👉🏻 Apply now and join the best team: https://www.stisd.net/employment
Inside STISD Video Highlights
STISD 2024 Spring Sports Highlight
June 2024 Summer Camps Highlight
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Erica Perez, Health Professions Class of 1994
Dr. Erica Perez graduated from South Texas ISD Health Professions in 1994. She is a Licensed Psychologist who has been practicing psychology since 2012. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas- Pan American. She completed her formal education from Texas A&M University by earning a fellowship to study the bilingual/bicultural child. Dr. Perez is a well-respected voice on mental health, often invited to speak at seminars, panels, and conferences to offer her insight on her area of expertise. She has served children and families for over 20 years and remains dedicated to helping patients across the Rio Grande Valley confront and recover from their mental health struggles.
Three Science Academy students selected for competitive STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Summer High School Intern Program
Three students from STISD Science Academy were selected to participate in this year's STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program in collaboration with The University of Texas Center for Space Research (UT/CSR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
According to the program website, the NASA and UT/CSR Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program for high school students, which provides selected students with exposure to Earth and space research.
Click here to read the full story
Reminder: Required student registration for 2024-2025 now open through Skyward Family Access
Student registration is required each year for all new and returning students. For your convenience, this year’s STISD student registration process will be completed electronically through Skyward, our student information system. Electronic registration packets are now available for parents/guardians to complete through Skyward Family Access. Please log in and complete your child’s electronic registration packet at your earliest convenience.
Please note that you must complete your child’s electronic registration packet in its entirety before your child’s schedule for the 2024-2025 school year will be released to you.
Click here for instructions on how to complete your child’s electronic registration packet within the Skyward Family Access.
Parents will receive an email from "Skyward Qmlativ" sharing with them the credentials to use to log into the site. If you already have an active account, please disregard. If you have never logged into Skyward Family Access, please complete the process.
If you have any questions, you may reach out to your child's campus for assistance.
Reminders: Upcoming Holidays and District Events
The district will beclosedfor Summer Break/non-contract vacation days July 1-12. Offices will reopen on Monday, July 15.
- Schedule Pick-up for 2024-2025 School Year
- Tuesday, August 6: Schedule Pick-up for 6th, 9th, and 10th grade levels
- Wednesday, August 7: Schedule Pick-up for 7th, 11th, and 12th grade levels
- Thursday, August 8: Schedule Pick-up for 8th grade and those unable to attend scheduled date
These dates apply to all campuses. Campuses will share event times and other important information in the coming weeks.
- First Day of Instruction for the 2024-2025 School Year: Monday, August 19, 2024
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