✍️ A Message from Matias 

This past week, I had the privilege of visiting Mathews, Casis, and Graham elementary schools. It was inspiring to connect with our staff and witness firsthand the high-level teaching and learning taking place—work that was not only evident but deeply engaging and creative.

Three-photo collage from a school visit: a man in a suit talks with elementary students eating breakfast in a cafeteria; the same visitor poses with three staff members in a school library; and he kneels beside students working on laptops at round tables in a classroom.

One particular highlight was visiting Ms. Nicole Cortez’s ESL Kindergarten class at Mathews Elementary. I was incredibly impressed by the lesson: students were reading original stories aloud to their peers. I left these campuses feeling deeply inspired and grateful for the educators who make this kind of magic happen for our students every single day.

Elementary classroom circle-time scene with students seated on a colorful rug while a child sits in a chair at the front holding up a book or drawing; classroom walls display an alphabet strip, schedules, and learning charts, with a large colorful screen on the left.

Take care of yourselves and each other. We’re in this together!

📍Where I’ll Be & Who I’m Meeting

Monday, Feb 9, 2026: Strategic Alignment and Safety 

We’re kicking off Monday morning at Dobie Middle School for our senior leadership meeting. Starting this week, central office staff will be supporting Dobie, Webb, and Burnet. We’re doing this in efforts to increase instructional capacity.

Later in the day, I’ll be meeting with the Travis County Delegation in the Texas Legislature to provide an update on Austin ISD.  Later I’ll be transitioning into prep sessions for our upcoming Board Information Session. We’ll be focusing on our Goal Progress Measures (GPM) 1.1 -  2nd Grade Literacy and GPM 2.1 - 2nd Grade Numeracy. In addition, we will be presenting for the first time Constraint Progress Measure (CPM) 3.1 - Unacceptable Ratings. CPM 3.1  states, “The number of campuses receiving an “F” rating under Texas State academic accountability will decrease from 29 in 2024 to 0 in 2029.”

I’m also looking forward to connecting with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in the afternoon. We’ll wrap up the day with a virtual Ad Hoc Budget meeting to keep identifying  efficiencies across our operations.

Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026: Celebrating Our Educators 

Tuesday is going to be an awesome day because it’s all about our teachers! I’ll be starting with the Teacher of Promise breakfast, celebrating those outstanding first-year educators who bring so much passion and a growth mindset to our district. Following that, I’ll be breaking bread at the Teacher of the Year Luncheon to honor the excellence our amazing educators bring to their campuses every single day.

In the afternoon, I’ll join our Vertical Team Leader Plus engagement to hear directly from our principals, followed by remarks at the District Advisory Council. I’ll end my evening at Kealing Middle School for a community meeting with the Blackshear and Oak Springs families. 

Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026: Advocacy and Innovation 

Mid-week, I’ll be focusing on advocacy and strategic planning with fellow leaders. During this work day, I’ll be completing various tasks as well as participating in some important meetings. I’ll start with the TALAS (Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) board meeting to push forward our 5-year plan for Latino educational leadership. Then, I’m huddling with the Texas Urban Council to brainstorm how we can keep transforming large urban districts into places where every student thrives.

Thursday, Feb 12, 2026: Board Meeting Day 

Thursday I will be preparing  for our Board Meeting. After a SPED update with my communications team, I’ll be spending most of my hours finalizing materials for the Board Information Session. This evening, we’ll present our progress on 2nd Grade Literacy and Numeracy, as well as a budget update from our CFO, Katrina Montgomery.

Friday, Feb 13, 2026: Connection and Community 

I’ll be starting the day with a 1:1 with Chief of Staff, La Kesha Drinks, followed by a touchpoint with my direct reports. One highlight of the day will be the Communities in Schools (CIS) Principal Appreciation Lunch, where we get to honor the leadership that makes such a difference for our families.

I’ll also be checking in on our real estate transactions and meeting with YMCA leadership to further our partnership. As always, I’ll close out the week with my Principal Update—I love these Friday connections because when our campus leaders are informed and aligned, they are empowered to make the best decisions for our students.

Take care of yourselves and each other. We’re in this together! 

 

🗓️ Friendly Reminders

- February 16: Student Holiday / PLED Day / President's Day

- February 17: Parent Conferences (Elementary & Secondary) / Student Holiday / Lunar New Year

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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