Hello Austin ISD Staff,

January is School Board Recognition Month! 🎉 Thank you to our school board members for their time and dedication to Austin ISD! Learn more about our members through the Austin ISD Board of Trustees page. 

Monday, Jan. 19 is a student and staff holiday in honor and recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Students return to school Jan. 20. 

Enrollment season is here! Applications for Round 1 are officially open. Explore your options and get the full list of admissions-based schools, magnet programs, and campus changes at austinisd.org/enroll. 

Let’s get started!

Austin ISD will retake ownership of Mendez Middle School starting in the 2026-27 school after the campus earned a B rating through Third Future Schools. This milestone marks an important step as the district co-creates the future vision of Mendez with the community. 

Background: Mendez has been operated by an 1882 charter partner since the 2014-15 school year due to multiple unacceptable ratings. The current partner, Third Future Schools, has operated the school since 2022 and committed to lift the school rating to a B by the 2024-25 school year. That milestone was met this year and district leader believe it’s the right time to take this next step.

The Mendez campus is also home to the Alternative Learning Center. District leaders are currently exploring alternative locations to ensure the ALC can relocate to a permanent location and will engage with the community prior to finalizing a new site. 

What’s next: For the rest of this school year, Third Future will continue operating Mendez as planned. Starting in August 2026, Austin ISD will take responsibility for Mendez’s academics, operations, staffing, and campus leadership with the goal of sustaining and accelerating the progress Mendez has made.

Get involved: Families zoned to Mendez received direct communication regarding the change and a survey to determine the future vision of Mendez. The district will host a series of community engagement meetings to plan for the academic vision and offerings at Mendez, including extracurricular activities and special academic programming.

Two amazing Austin ISD teachers received a big surprise on Jan. 13 as they learned they are finalists for the prestigious 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. 

Joslin Elementary School Special Education Teacher Alasin DeVeny and Becker Elementary School Physical Education Teacher Megan Vasquez were surprised in their classrooms by H-E-B and district representatives.

The details: Each year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program awards cash prizes to honor outstanding public school professionals, and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. 

DeVeny is a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement Elementary category and received $1,000.

Vasquez is a finalist in the Leadership Elementary category and received $1,000.

What’s next: Over the next two months, H-E-B will recognize 50 finalists across Texas, awarding $120,000 to educators and schools. Winners, who will receive cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, will be announced on May 3 at a ceremony in Houston, TX.

Happy January, y’all! Monday, Jan. 19, is a Campus Staff Development/Student Holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The Austin American-Statesman has a rundown of celebrations and volunteer opportunities honoring the day. Check out the website for more information. 

Here’s a look at the districtwide events happening this month! 

Join the Austin ISD Special Education Transition Team for an informative in-person session reviewing Texas Education Agency’s Texas Transition and Employment Guide. It’s a resource designed to help students with disabilities and their families navigate life after high school. This event will cover key sections of the guide, offering practical tips and resources for planning education, employment, and independent living goals. The Special Education Team Presents: Texas Transition & Employment Guide is happening from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 17 at LBJ Early College High School. 

Get engaged with our next Family Empower Hour: Understanding MTSS & Supporting Your Student in Austin ISD. The session focuses on building an understanding of Austin ISD Multi-Tiered Systems of Support also known as MTSS. This event is happening at Noon and 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 through the following link: bit.ly/SPEDsessions. 

Our next Family Empower Hour on Jan. 28 focuses on Child Find. Learn about Child Find, the process that ensures all children who may need special education services are identified and supported. This session will help you understand your rights, the school’s responsibilities and how to get the help your child needs. This event is happening at noon and 6 p.m., Jan. 28, online through the following link: bit.ly/SPEDsessions. 

Families of newly identified Gifted & Talented students as well as Talent Explore students are invited to attend our virtual Newly Identified GT Information Session. The two sessions are happening from 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 28 and noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 29. Please join online using this link. This session will explain the district’s service model at the elementary and secondary levels. The session also provides information on what it means to be identified for GT services or the Talent Explore program in Austin ISD.

For more calendar events visit Austin ISD Calendar of Events.

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Big Congratulations to Wooten Elementary School! Students and Staff celebrated the school’s grand opening Friday. The new school was made possible by the 2022 Bond Program! 

This week Austin ISD celebrated the opening of a new campus food pantry at Perez Elementary School! The pantry is one of six locations opening this year with the Central Texas Food Bank, alongside pantries at Jordan, Cook, Ortega, Padron and Walnut Creek Elementary Schools. Check out the Austin ISD social media pages for pictures and videos.

Have a great weekend!

JJ

Have a story idea?

Got a great story about an Austin ISD student, staff, parent, or community member? Share it with us! It could be featured on our website, in our newsletters, on social media, or even on the news!

For questions or comments please email me at jorge.maldonado@austinisd.org

For languages other than English and Spanish, we use an AI-powered translation tool. As a result, there may be some contextual inaccuracies or other errors. We apologize for this. Please email translation@austinisd.org if you are in need of clarification. To change your preferred correspondence language, contact your school's front office. 

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