We have six weeks left in the spring semester! For families of graduating seniors, here’s the link again for the schedule of graduations. If you have an eighth-grader, please check in with your campus for when and where the bridging ceremony will take place.

This Thursday, the Texas Education Agency will release the 2023 A-F accountability information for our schools and the district. Families will be able to access the information by visiting TXSchools.gov. You should be hearing from your principal regarding your campus’s overall numerical and letter grade, as well as the grade for each domain.

Last week, I attended the Latino Academic Achievement Awards, and it was such a blast! I was blown away by the talent of our students from Hart Elementary School, Bedichek Middle School, and Akins Early College High School, who performed. It was awesome to see the proud faces of so many family members who were there to celebrate their students’ accomplishments. This year, we had 76 seniors honored with a special stole for achieving the Dual Language Seal of Biliteracy. This seal is only given to seniors who have demonstrated excellence in bilingualism, biliteracy, biculturalism, academic achievement and sociocultural competence through completion of a rigorous course of study in both English and Spanish and by presenting a bilingual portfolio at our annual Muestra de Proyectos event.

Students in colorful traditional folklórico dresses perform a cultural dance on stage during the Latino Academic Achievement Awards. Small flags representing Latin American countries are displayed along the front of the stage.

A speaker stands at a podium decorated with colorful flowers, addressing the audience at the Latino Academic Achievement Awards. A banner beside him reads "¡Excelencia!" and "Latino Academic Achievement Awards – Premios Latinos de Aprovechamiento Académico." Medals and trophies are visible in the background.

A group of students dressed in vibrant traditional folklórico attire sit smiling in the audience at the Latino Academic Achievement Awards ceremony. The auditorium is filled with attendees, creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere.

Three high school students smile and pose for a photo at the Latino Academic Achievement Awards ceremony. They are dressed in semi-formal attire and standing against a neutral wall inside the venue.

Finally, we have a lot to celebrate in Austin ISD this week. It’s Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week, School Volunteer Appreciation Week and Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week. Y’all, behind the amazing work our teachers are doing day in and day out, there are hundreds of staff and over 17,000 volunteers that are supporting our students. And only as we all work together can we ensure our students receive the best education possible here in Austin ISD. So, thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our administrative professionals, community volunteers, and afterschool staff for your labor of love!

Where I’ll be and who I’m Meeting

Monday, April 21

I’ll start off the day meeting with my senior staff to discuss anything that may have occurred over the weekend that requires immediate attention. We’ll also be discussing the budget, implications of legislative decisions, and support plans for schools. This afternoon, I’ll be meeting with my district and campus accountability team and a few principals. Together, we’ll do a deep dive on accountability data and ensure alignment of projections, which will inform support plans for the next school year. In the evening, I’ll be hosting a community conversation with Lamar Middle School families and staff. As a response to the requirement to develop a Turnaround Plan, one of the possibilities we are considering is for Dobie Middle School students to attend Lamar starting in the 2025–26 school year. I want to hear what the Lamar community feels is most important for us to consider if we move forward with this option.

Tuesday, April 22

Happy Earth Day! In Austin ISD, we embrace sustainability not only as a way to help our planet, but also as an educational tool to provide challenging and inspiring learning experiences to our students.

This morning, I’ll be at the CapMetro + Creative Action’s Art on the Bus Unveiling. When I get back to the office, I have a one-on-one meeting with Board President Boswell, followed by some staffing meetings. In the afternoon, I have a one-on-one meeting with Interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery. Then, I’ll spend some time with my staff preparing for this Thursday’s board meeting. This evening, I have a one-on-one meeting with Trustee Kauffman, then a meeting with a couple of community members.

Wednesday, April 23

This morning, I have a one-on-one meeting with Trustee Hunter. Afterward, I have a meeting with Sherwynn Patton, Executive Director of Life Anew. I’ll then have a working lunch with Ali Ghilarducci, Chief of Communications and Community Engagement regarding communication strategies. Then, I’ll meet with my team to progress our work on the Dobie Middle School support plan. Later in the afternoon, I have a legislative check-in meeting with a couple of trustees and Dr. Jacob Reach, Chief of Governmental Relations and Board Services, followed by a one-on-one meeting with Trustee de Urioste. This evening, I’ll be wearing my dad hat and attending a sports banquet with one of my daughters. If time allows, I hope to attend this evening’s AVID Cording Ceremony at the Austin ISD PAC.

Thursday, April 24

I’ll have my second set of principal meetings by vertical teams to get their feedback regarding the 2026-27 school year consolidation process/timeline. My first meeting is with principals from the McCallum High School and Navarro Early College High School vertical teams, then with Anderson High School and Austin High School vertical teams, and finally with the Akins Early College High School and Bowie High School vertical teams. This afternoon, I’ll spend some time preparing for this evening’s Board Public Hearing and Board Regular Voting Meeting. A big thing on this evening’s agenda is the FY 2025-26 Budget Preview.

Friday, April 25

I’ll start the day meeting with my senior staff. In the afternoon, I have a lunch meeting with Travis County superintendents. When I get back to the office, I’ll jump on a call with principals to communicate the latest district and legislative updates.

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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.