Happy May and the 34th week of school! There’s a lot to celebrate this month. It’s Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It’s an important time to recognize the achievements of the generations of Jewish Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their contributions to our history, culture and society.

And it’s also one of my favorite weeks of the year — TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! Y’all, our teachers are the backbone of Austin ISD. They provide effective instruction and build strong relationships with students. But their hard work day in and day out goes far beyond the classroom. They commit countless hours outside of school planning lessons, providing individual feedback, and supporting students at events. Let’s all take a moment this week—whether it’s a thank-you note or just a kind word—to show how much we value our incredible teachers. And for those of you being honored at Salute…I’ll see you Wednesday night!

Let’s take a moment to recognize another incredibly important group of staff members. Happy School Nurse Appreciation Week to all our dedicated school nurses and health room staff! Thank you for everything you do to keep our students healthy, safe, and supported every day.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit several campuses and wanted to share a few highlights. At Ridgetop Elementary, I joined Ms. Rivera’s first-grade class and had the joy of reading My Name by Supriya Kelkar—it was such a fun and meaningful experience! Over at Oak Springs Elementary, I attended the groundbreaking ceremony and was truly inspired by the students’ talent, pride, and deep love for their school community.

A man in a navy blazer sits in front of a group of young students on the floor, reading aloud from a picture book titled “My Name.” The students are attentively gathered around him in a classroom decorated with Spanish-language posters and a digital screen in the background.

A group of Oak Springs Elementary students wearing blue hard hats and matching T-shirts smile as they dig into a mound of dirt with gold shovels during a groundbreaking ceremony. They are joined by adults, including district staff, in front of a Bond Program Austin ISD banner.

I’d like to update you on a few changes for this year’s graduation ceremonies. First, the Austin ISD App (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) now features a dedicated graduation section, which includes FAQs, shuttle information, and details on clear bags and prohibited items. Additionally, guests will receive postcards with a QR code to access a digital program, while each graduate will receive three formal printed programs as keepsakes when picking up their diploma. We'll also introduce paid parking at the ceremonies, which we used to have when graduations were held at the Frank Erwin Center. Paid parking helps us offset the rising graduation costs and allows us to continue making these celebrations a special experience for our graduates.Pre-paid parking will be available for $10, while day-of parking will be $15. Guests can pre-purchase parking through the parking website. And, of course, free shuttles will still be available for families from each high school.

Where I’ll be and who I’m Meeting

Monday, May 5

I’ll start off the week by meeting with my senior staff. We’ll be progressing our work on campus turnaround plans and FY 25-26 budget, and discussing legislative updates. Afterwards, I’ll attend the McCallum High School Groundbreaking Ceremony. As a part of the 2022 Bond, McCallum will receive a $66.5M Phase 1 modernization, including a secure entry vestibule and improvements to campus systems including, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and roofing repairs and athletic field upgrades. In the afternoon, I’ll meet with Ricardo Zavala, Founder and President of Dove Springs Proud, followed by a principal interview. Then I’ll meet with my team to prepare presentations for this Thursday’s Board Information Session. This evening, a few trustees and I will have a conversation with a select group of teachers around raising student academic achievement.

Tuesday, May 6

The first thing today is the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month kickoff celebration. We’ll have a student speaker from Northeast ECHS and a performance by Reilly Elementary’s Dragon and Lion Dance Team. Afterwards, I’ll meet with my team and a few trustees to discuss next year’s budget. This afternoon, I have a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Latonia Amerson, Executive Director of Secondary School Leadership, and then with Dr. Jacob Reach, Chief of Governmental Relations and Board Services. After a legislative check-in meeting, I’ll be meeting with Katrina Montgomery, Interim Chief Financial Officer, followed by the last Executive Leadership Team meeting of the year. In the evening, I’ll be attending both the District Advisory Council meeting and our first ever Graduation Name Announcer Training. The last thing today is a Dobie Middle School Community Meeting. As we continue to develop the turnaround plan for Dobie, I want to hear from the community and keep them informed of the next steps.

Wednesday, May 7

Today is Bike to School Day. Students, if this is an option for you, I hope you can join the kids and teens around the country riding their bikes to school. When I get into the office, I’ll have a one-on-one meeting with Board Vice President Kathryn Whitley-Chu. Then I’ll spend some time preparing for tonight’s Salute event and dedicate some time to reading and signing contracts.I’ll also meet with my team regarding priority items. Then I’ll make my way to the Performing Arts Center for the Salute: A Tribute to Excellence event. I hope you can join us to enjoy student performances and as we recognize:

Teachers of Promise
Teachers of the Year
Campus Clerical/Office Support Staff of the Year
Teaching Assistant of the Year
Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
Transportation Staff of the Year
Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year
Librarian of the Year
Counselor of the Year
Assistant Principal of the Year
Principal of the Year
Inaugural Austin ISD Icon Award winner.

Thursday, May 8

This morning, I’ll have two principal interviews. Then I’ll have my regular check-in meeting with the TEA Monitors. After my one-on-one meeting with La Kesha Drinks, Interim Chief of Staff, I’ll spend time with my team to prepare for this evening’s Board Information Session . This evening, we’ll have a presentation on Goal 5, which says, “The percentage of graduates who earn a state or district recognition of bilingualism and biliteracy will increase from 10.3% in June 2024 to 11.8% by June 2029.” We will also have a presentation on Constraint 3, which says, “The superintendent shall not allow practices that lead to academic disparities within specific student populations.” We’ll also have presentations on TEA Approved Order Update and the Recommended Budget, and discuss updates on the turnaround work.

Friday, May 9

The first thing today is the Ready, Set, Teach Closing Ceremony. Ready, Set, Teach is a field-based internship program that provides students with background knowledge of child development principles as well as principles of effective teaching and training practices. This program is currently operating at Akins ECHS, Bowie HS, Navarro ECHS and Clifton Career Development School. This afternoon, I’ll be jumping on my regular principal update call. The last thing today is a one-on-one meeting with Board Secretary Andrew Gonzales.

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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