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Welcome back, everyone, and hello, April! I have to say, this school year is absolutely flying by, but I hope you all found some time to truly relax and recharge over the weekend.
As we move further into the spring and approach our upcoming assessment windows, I’ve been thinking a lot about the incredible dedication of our team. I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for everything our staff does to impact the classroom. Ultimately, your hard work is what drives student outcomes, and it’s a joy to see that mission in action every day. Let’s keep our eye on the prize—we are here to support you every step of the way!
Speaking of support, April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and I am so excited to celebrate the amazing individuals who show up for our students and campuses across Austin ISD. Volunteers are such vital partners in our mission, contributing to student success in countless ways. While we celebrate them all month long, please mark your calendars for Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 19–25. For those campuses that submitted their Volunteers of the Year, be on the lookout—certificates will be arriving soon so you can personally recognize these community heroes.
Looking further ahead, we are already planning for the future of our district. We’ve launched the 2026 AISD District Calendar Task Force, which is charged with developing instructionally sound calendars for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years. This group will focus squarely on our academic mission and Strategic Plan, always placing the needs of our students first while balancing the needs of our parents, staff, and community. If you’re interested in helping shape the years to come, please fill out the application by April 9, 2026. Selected committee members will be notified via email by Tuesday, April 14.
We also have some special recognitions happening right now:
Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (April 6-10): This week, we recognize the incredible job our assistant principals do. They are the backbone of our campus operations, often working behind the scenes to ensure a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for everyone. Their leadership and heart are what keep our schools running strong, and we couldn't do this without them!
Gifted and Talented Students Week (April 6-10): Every year during the first full week of April, we work to increase awareness and support for gifted education in Texas. It’s a wonderful time for parents, educators, and advocates to come together and celebrate the unique ways our students see the world. As our friends at the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented believe, these young minds—from every cultural background—are developing the innovative answers needed for the most challenging questions of their generation.
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I can hardly believe that graduations are next month and my daughter will be walking the stage to become an Austin ISD alumna! One of the coolest parts of being an Austin ISD employee is getting the opportunity to be a guest diploma presenter for a graduating senior in your family. We’ve extended the deadline to serve as diploma presenter, so if you have a graduating senior in your family — no matter what you do in Austin ISD — please be sure to submit your name and be part of the ceremony.
We’re also looking for some outstanding senior success stories! We love sharing news about our seniors on our social media, in our graduation speeches and even with the media. If you know a senior that deserves some kudos, please submit their information to us!
I am beyond grateful to do this work alongside such a dedicated team. Let's keep that amazing energy going as we head into a productive week!
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📍Where I’ll Be & Who I’m Meeting |
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Monday, Apr 6, 2026
We’re hitting the ground running on Monday morning with senior leadership to debrief on pending items and ensure we’re fully aligned for the week ahead. From there, I’ll be diving into the numbers as I join a meeting to prepare for the Budget Work Session. I’ll then transition into a discussion regarding our Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) audit staffing and budget. To wrap up a productive day, I’ll be joining two QA/QC meetings for transition planning & monitoring and enrollment.
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026
I’m kicking off Tuesday with an important meeting with Shalom Austin. Afterward, I’ll shift gears to a budget planning session with the Board. Finding the right leaders for our schools remains a top priority, so I’ll be conducting a principal interview before heading into a QA/QC meeting for our three middle school Restarts: Burnet, Dobie, and Webb. In the afternoon, I’m looking forward to connecting with our campus leaders at AAPSA, and I’ll close out the day with a Board Budget Work Session.
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026
Wednesday morning starts with the Texas Urban Council (TUC) for a vital session on legislative updates alongside other state superintendents. From there, I’ll join the Texas School Alliance (TSA) to collaborate with fellow superintendents and strategic staff. I’ll then transition into my regular check-in with Trustee Hunter. The afternoon will be busy as I join an academic planning work session with the Board, followed by my regular touchpoints with Trustee Foster and Trustee Whitley Chu to close the day.
Thursday, Apr 9, 2026
Thursday kicks off with a real estate check-in before I move into my weekly touchpoint with Chief of Staff La Kesha Drinks. Afterward, I’ll meet with my direct reports to debrief on the week and plan for what’s coming next. I’ll also be connecting with our Officers to get the latest updates on the business operations side of the house, including Finance, Operations, Technology, and Talent Strategy. I’ll spend most of my afternoon in "prep mode" for our Board meeting, and we’ll finish the day at the Board Information Session. We’ll be presenting some key items, including Scorecard Goal 3 (CCMR/College Credit), Scorecard Constraint 1 (Exclusionary Discipline Actions), and our Special Education Strategic Plan Quarterly Update.
Friday, Apr 10, 2026
We’re finishing the week strong on Friday, starting with the Texas Urban Council (TUC) April meeting. From there, I’ll connect with our principals for our regular weekly update. In the afternoon, I’ll be meeting with leaders from Operations and Athletics to discuss access protocols for our tracks, fields, open spaces, and playgrounds. I will finish the week by attending a supporters' celebration for the Austin Rally—it’s going to be a great way to close out the day!
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