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Good evening, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and found some time to do something that truly brings you joy and was relaxing. We have another big, productive week ahead of us, so let’s dive right in. |
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Latino Academic Achievement Awards (LAAA)
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Last week was one for the books. I had the pleasure of spending time at our Performing Arts Center (PAC) for the Latino Academic Achievement Awards (LAAA). This annual tradition is such a powerful way to recognize our incredible Latino students in grades 7–12 who are excelling academically. Beyond the grades, it’s a beautiful celebration of the students and community members who go above and beyond to support our schools and keep the vibrant Latino culture at the heart of Austin ISD. |
The momentum of the week continued as I returned to the PAC for the AVID Cording Ceremony. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate two major milestones for our students. First, we recognized our 21 Dell Scholar finalists, who are moving forward in the selection process; we look forward to the final results in June!
Additionally, we celebrated our Equitable Scholars. I am proud to share that 10 of the 13 district-wide Equitable Scholars are Austin ISD AVID students. These scholars are awarded a $20,000 scholarship, an iPad, and consistent coaching and mentorship throughout their college journey. In a wonderful show of appreciation, these students also selected an educator to receive a $500 Amazon gift card. I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have demonstrated.
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Looking ahead, we’re getting ready to go green because Earth Week 2026 kicks off on April 20! At Austin ISD, we like to say every day is Earth Day, but from April 20 through May 1, we’re asking everyone in our community to take an extra moment to think about how we can make our planet a little better. Whether it’s a small action at home or a project at school, our Earth Week website is packed with fun ways to get involved.
Finally, April gives us so many reasons to say "thank you" to the people who keep our district running:
School Librarian Appreciation Week: Our librarians are the heart of our campuses, fostering a love of discovery and ensuring every student has the tools to explore new worlds through reading.
Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week: We simply couldn't do this work without our administrative teams; they are the ultimate problem-solvers who keep our front offices and departments moving forward every single day.
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week: These dedicated individuals provide a safe, engaging space for our students to grow long after the final bell rings, making a lasting impact on our families.
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Keeping Our Students Safe, Together |
As we work every day to ensure our campuses are safe havens for learning, we also want to support safety in our homes. Per House Bill 121, I want to share a quick reminder about the importance of safe gun storage. We know that practicing safe storage—keeping firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition—is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidents and keep our children safe.
Under Texas law, it is a legal responsibility to ensure that firearms are not accessible to children. Making a firearm accessible to a minor can result in significant legal consequences, but more importantly, it can lead to preventable tragedies. I encourage everyone to take a moment this week to review your storage habits at home. For free resources, including tips on how to talk to your kids about gun safety or where to find free gun locks, please visit SafeGunStorageTexas.com. Let’s keep looking out for one another!
I am beyond grateful to do this work alongside such a dedicated team. Let’s keep that collaborative spirit going as we head into a great week!
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📍Where I’ll Be & Who I’m Meeting |
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Monday, Apr 20, 2026
We’re hitting the ground running on Monday morning with senior leadership to debrief on the latest and greatest and ensure we’re fully aligned for the week ahead. After lunch, I’ll transition into my 1:1 with CFO Katrina Montgomery to review the numbers and I’ll connect with President Boswell for our monthly touchpoint. In the afternoon, I’m diving into the details with the QA/QC Transition Planning & Monitoring team as we continue to refine our processes to ensure school consolidation transitions run smoothly this summer. To wrap up a productive day, I’ll be meeting with our Technology Officer, Dr. Rodriguez, for a check-in.
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2026
I’m kicking off Tuesday with a Budget Planning meeting with the Board, keeping our efforts squarely focused on our fiscal priorities. After lunch, I’ll join the AAPSA for a budget work session. I’ll then pivot to a 1:1 with Trustee Quintana, followed shortly by a meeting with Dr. Angel Vales, Special Assistant. I’ll close out the day by connecting with Trustee Whitley Chu for our ongoing one-on-one conversation.
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2026
Wednesday starts with a budget review with the Talent Strategy Team. Following that, I’ll shift gears to join a Salute Run Through; we want everything to be perfect as we prepare to celebrate the immense talent and dedication of our staff. After lunch, I’m excited to attend the Art on the Bus Unveiling event alongside CapMetro and Creative Action to celebrate the amazing student artwork dedicated to preserving our planet. I’ll finish the day with a QA/QC meeting focused on our three middle school Restarts: Burnet, Dobie, and Webb, and a budget review meeting with our Operations Team.
Thursday, Apr 23, 2026
Thursday starts with some fantastic news from the Mayor’s Office! Mayor Kirk Watson is officially proclaiming today "Austin ISD Volunteer Program Appreciation Day." This is a huge milestone that recognizes the massive impact of our volunteers who dedicate their time to our students, day in and day out.
I’ll start my morning at the PAC working with students to continue planning for Salute, then transition to an Austin Ed Fund Board meeting. After lunch I’ll move into two budget review meetings, the first with our Legal team and the second with our School Leadership team. I’ll close the day with the Board Regular Voting Meeting, where we will present updates on the Bond budget, the current FY2025-26 budget, and the preliminary budget for FY2026-27.
Friday, Apr 24, 2026
I’m kicking off Friday by conducting two principal interviews; ensuring we have the right leadership in place for our campuses is one of the most important things I do to support our students’ long-term success. From there, I’ll shift gears and transition to a budget meeting with our Technology team to ensure we’re making smart, future-focused investments for our district.
After lunch, I’ll be joining the graduation team to dive into the logistics for the upcoming 2026 graduation ceremonies—it’s always a privilege to help celebrate our seniors and ensure their send-off is exactly what they deserve. Next, I’ll connect with our principals for our weekly update to hear what’s happening on the ground in our schools. I’ll then take some time to review the upcoming Board meeting agenda, ensuring we’re fully prepared for our public discussions. I’ll close out the week with my regular check-in with Chief of Staff La Kesha Drinks to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished.
Have a great weekend, and please, take care of yourselves. The work is oftentimes heavy, but we will get through it and succeed if we do it together.
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