Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was full of joy and you’re feeling refreshed for the week ahead. With May just around the corner and graduations following right behind, I can’t wait to see our students walk the stage and be recognized for all their hard work. 

We are so excited to host our high school graduations at the Burger Arena, Burger Stadium, and the Rosedale School for the Class of 2026. These commencement ceremonies will take place from May 27 through June 3. It is always a privilege to help celebrate our seniors and ensure their send-off is exactly what they deserve. Please be sure to click the link for the full schedule of specific dates and times.

I’m still feeling so inspired after spending time at CapMetro last week for our 'Art on the Bus' unveiling. In a fantastic partnership with Creative Action, we got to see some stunning student artwork focused on protecting our planet—perfectly timed for Earth Day! There is nothing like seeing the beauty of our world through the eyes of our talented young artists. A huge congratulations to our Martin Middle School students: Johana Garcia, Genesis Hernandez-Acosta, Seren Lopez, Rubi Trevino-Lopez, Ximena Lopez-Briseno, Audrey Nunez, Benita Solis, and Miracle Fagan. I also want to give a special shout-out to Art Teacher Billie Jo Elbom and Principal Edna Cortinas for their incredible support in helping these artists shine!

As we head into May, we are also turning our focus toward Mental Health Awareness Month. Our theme for 2026 is "You Matter Here," a message we want every student, staff member, and family to feel deeply. Our Mental Health & Counseling Department is committed to supporting the well-being of our students and staff by providing valuable resources. I encourage everyone to participate in the Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit activities as a way to promote wellness and connection across Austin ISD. You can find more information and resources in the Leadership Weekly.

I’m so thankful to be part of a team that cares as much as y’all do. Let’s keep leaning on one another and working together as we dive into the productive week ahead.

Monday, Apr 27, 2026

We’re hitting the ground running on Monday morning with senior leadership to debrief on any pending items and ensure we’re fully aligned for the week ahead. I’ll then transition into a Budget Workshop with our central office staff. After lunch, I’ll be sitting down with CFO Katrina Montgomery to review the FY26-27 budget numbers. Following that, I’ll join Trustee De Urioste and senior leadership for an important update on Special Education. To wrap up a productive day, I’ll be meeting with our Special Education leadership for a focused budget review.

Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026

I’m kicking off Tuesday morning with a budget review meeting alongside the Academics team before pivoting back to a budget workshop with central office staff. I’ll also be conducting a principal interview. For lunch, I’m looking forward to meeting with Education Austin as we continue to support the wonderful staff members who make a difference every day in the lives of our students.

In the afternoon, I’ll meet with senior leaders to prepare for the upcoming Board Information Session, with a specific focus on GPM 1.1 - 2nd Grade Literacy. Afterward, I’ll join the Special Education senior leadership team to discuss Austin ISD’s Cyclical Report with the Texas Education Agency. This proactive monitoring process happens at least once every six years to ensure we’re staying in compliance with federal and state mandates like IDEA. Our review focuses on seven key areas—ranging from Child Find and evaluation to IEP development and transition planning—to ensure every student is receiving a high-quality, supportive education.

I’ll close out the day with a very special celebration: the Grand Opening of Harris Elementary! Thanks to the 2022 Bond, Harris has undergone a full modernization and I’m just in awe of how it turned out. I hope to see many of you there at 4:30 p.m. to enjoy student performances and tour this beautiful new campus. If you can, please RSVP to confirm your attendance.

Wednesday, Apr 29, 2026

Wednesday is all about deep dives into our financial planning. I’ll start the morning with Budget Recommendation Reviews alongside our Finance team, then pivot to meet with Talent Strategy. From there, I’ll join my Chief of Staff for a budget review meeting, followed by a session with School Leadership. After lunch, I’ll attend a budget follow-up with our Operations team before joining a Governance Planning Meeting.

As the afternoon continues, I’ll spend some time preparing for an upcoming media event on the budget, followed by my regular 1:1 with Chief of Staff LaKesha Drinks. 

Don’t forget that Wednesday evening is the Give Back Gig 2026! This fantastic event celebrates Austin’s chefs and their commitment to our community. Our Travis Early College High School culinary students will team up with some of Austin's hottest chefs for a unique tasting experience. Click on the link for more information.

Thursday, Apr 30, 2026

Thursday starts with a budget session for principals from the Vertical Team Leader Plus group. From there, I’ll transition to a media event regarding the budget to keep our community informed. I’ll spend most of the afternoon working through the budget recommendations and next steps. To finish the day, there will be a Budget Work Session with the Board of Trustees.

Friday, May 1, 2026

I’ll be spending the bulk of Friday continuing the heavy lifting on our budget recommendations. It’s critical that we remain fiscally responsive to our current budgetary reality while keeping our students' needs at the center of every decision. After lunch, I’ll connect with our principals for our weekly update. I’ll then spend the remainder of the day working on budget recommendations.

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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