Welcome back, y'all! The first week of 2026 at Austin ISD was awesome, and I’m super excited for the work ahead. I had the opportunity to visit the newly-opened Harris Elementary School and spent time with our amazing teachers and campus support staff. It was a treat to experience the joy in the building and see our students enjoying a space made just for them. 

Four adults pose together indoors in a school entry area, smiling and holding up “Austin ISD Alumnus” stickers; one person wears a navy suit, another a bright pink “Scotties” shirt, with a front desk, wall-mounted screen, and a large painting in the background.

I absolutely love to visit schools and experience teaching and learning in action. If there’s one thing that excites me even more, it's meeting and celebrating Austin ISD Alumni! Highland Park Elementary School has a whole bunch of staff who are also products of Austin ISD, many of which actually went to Highland Park Elementary!  

An adult in a navy suit sits at a cafeteria table talking with several elementary-aged students as they eat lunch from trays with milk cartons and snacks; other students are seated and walking in the bright, open lunch area in the background.
 

Where I’ll be and who I’m Meeting:

 
  • Monday, Jan 12, 2026
    • I’m kicking off the week by meeting with senior leadership to align on priorities for the week. After lunch, I’ll be connecting with Executive Director of Innovation & Development Michelle Wallis, followed by a check-in with our Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery. To close out the day, I’ll head out for a campus visit to Webb Middle School.
  • Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026
    • I’ll start the day at Perez Elementary School with the Central Texas Food Bank  to celebrate the Austin ISD School Pantry Opening. This is a vital resource for our families. I’ll then go on a few school visits.   In the afternoon, I’m joining the Vertical Team Leaders Plus meeting with principals to support their work and reinforce alignment. I’ll end the day meeting with Trustee Kathryn Whitley-Chu.
  • Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026
    • Today is ATX Bridge! I truly appreciate our intentionality to bridge teaching and learning with school operations. This work is critical in reducing silos and enhancing communication within our organization. During that time, and before lunch, I’ll connect with Assistant Superintendents and Executive Directors. In the afternoon, I have a one-on-one with Dr. Angel Vales, Special Assistant to the Superintendent. I’ll wrap up the day by meeting first with Trustee Candance Hunter and soon after with Trustee Kevin Foster.
  • Thursday, Jan 15, 2026
    • Today is a board meeting day and January is Board Appreciation Month! The 2026 theme for Board Appreciation Month, Our Future Is Public, emphasizes the critical role school board members play in shaping the future of our state. We are very lucky to have an amazing school board that works hard for our students and loves Austin and our schools. Don’t forget to share the love with our trustees this month as we celebrate School Board Recognition Month at Austin ISD.
    • I’ll spend most of the day preparing for the evening’s Information Session. I’ll also be joining a TEA Superintendent call in the early afternoon to stay updated on state-level developments. There will be several board presentations including updates on the TEA agreed order, Scorecard Goal 1.2 Exclusionary Discipline Actions, and Constraint Progress Measure 1.1 Special Education Evaluations. We are excited to share the progress and the milestones we have met ensuring our students receive the services they need to thrive.
  • Friday, Jan 16, 2026
    • I’ll kick off the morning with my direct reports to debrief on the week and dive into strategic planning for the weeks ahead. Then, I’ll connect with our amazing school principals for a Principal Update. The highlight of the afternoon will be traveling to Wooten Elementary School for the campus' Grand Opening Celebration. I can't wait to see the community there and celebrate this milestone together! 
 

I hope everyone has a great, long weekend. As a reminder, Austin ISD schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Check out our Austin ISD calendar for more details on what’s happening in the district. And if there’s anything that needs to be on my radar, let me know.

 

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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