Good afternoon Austin ISD! It’s hard to believe, but we only have a couple of weeks left to wrap up the 2025-26 school year. I want to take a moment to say how much I truly value every single staff member's contributions. Your hard work and daily efforts create an impact that definitely doesn’t go unnoticed! Let’s keep that momentum strong as we dive into another productive week together. 

The Harris Elementary Grand Opening Celebration was an absolute blast! There is nothing quite like the joy of celebrating modernized school spaces alongside our students and families. It was an honor to have Trustee Candace Hunter and Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela join us to mark this milestone for our community. A huge thank you to Principal Wyatt for your leadership and for making this day so special for our students. 

As we move further into May, we’re leaning into the rich cultural history that makes our district so vibrant. This month we’re proudly observing Jewish American Heritage Month. Whether it’s through innovation, creativity, or a long-standing commitment to community, the Jewish experience is deeply rooted in the American identity. We're proud to honor that history and the people still shaping it today.

Simultaneously, we’re celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a wonderful time to recognize the instrumental role AAPI individuals play in our history and our future success. Their diverse voices and traditions enrich our classrooms every day, reminding us that our strength lies in our diversity.

If our schools are the body, then our teachers are undoubtedly the heart. Let’s be real: they have one of the toughest jobs in the world. Their service, sacrifice and relentless pursuit of excellence are truly admirable, especially given the various constraints facing school districts today. Talk about leaving a lasting legacy!

From May 4 to May 8, we are going all out to honor our amazing educators. They ensure every student receives a quality education regardless of their background, language or ethnicity. To our teachers: thank you for choosing Austin ISD. To everyone else: please make sure to show some extra love and appreciation to a teacher this week!

The celebrations don't stop there! This week, we also recognize School Nurse Appreciation Week. Our nurses are the frontline of student wellness, providing a safe haven and expert care that allows our kids to stay healthy and ready to learn. We couldn't do this without their compassion and medical expertise.

Finally, it is Skilled Trades Appreciation Week. From the technicians keeping our HVAC running to the experts maintaining our facilities, these professionals are the unsung heroes who keep our district functional. Their technical mastery ensures our environments are safe and conducive to learning. Please join me in thanking them for the vital work they do behind the scenes!

Monday, May 4, 2026

I am so excited to kick off the week with Cowan Elementary’s 25th Anniversary Celebration! We are incredibly grateful to the Cowan family for their support of our teachers, staff and students over the last quarter-century. After the festivities, I’ll sit down with my Chief of Staff for a Budget Recommendations Review before joining a planning session with a group of our Trustees.

Following lunch, I’m heading into back-to-back budget reviews — first with our Police Department and then pivoting to Technology. I’ll also be carving out time to conduct an interview, alongside my direct reports. We’ll wrap up a full day with an Ad Hoc Budget meeting as we continue the heavy lifting of getting our 26/27 budget approvals.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Tuesday morning starts with my senior leadership team to debrief on pending items and get aligned for the days ahead. From there, I’ll jump into another senior leadership interview.

In the afternoon, I'll be catching up with CFO Katrina Montgomery to review updated FY 2026-27 budget reductions. I’m also stepping into a meeting with our graduation team to ensure our upcoming ceremonies are absolutely perfect for our seniors. To close out the day, I’m meeting with Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Executive Director Celina E. Thomas. 

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

My Wednesday morning will be dedicated to prepping for an upcoming Special Board meeting. After a quick lunch break, I’ll connect with Dr. Angel Vales, my Special Assistant, for our regular check-in.

I plan to spend the bulk of the afternoon focused on budget recommendations and preparing for Thursday’s Board Information Session. The highlight of my day will undoubtedly be the Salute Awards! This is our annual chance to recognize the incredible dedication of our team members across ten different categories. I can't wait to cheer on our Teachers of Promise and our Teachers of the Year — they truly represent the best of Austin ISD.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Thursday begins with the monthly Council of Great City Schools Superintendent meeting. This is a vital space where leaders from the nation's largest school districts share best practices and tackle the unique challenges facing urban education today.

After lunch, I have my weekly 1:1 with Chief of Staff LaKesha Drinks. Most of my afternoon will be spent in deep prep for the evening’s Board Information Session. During that session, we’ll provide the community with critical updates on the Budget and our progress on Scorecard Goal Progress Measure 1.1 regarding our 2nd Grade Literacy goals.

Friday, May 8, 2026

I’m starting Friday morning with our Real Estate team to check in on our facilities. Then, I have the honor of speaking at the Ready, Set, Teach Future Educators Closing Ceremony. It is so inspiring to see seniors from Akins, Austin, Bowie, and Clifton preparing to join the teaching profession! Many of these students will walk away with industry-based certificates, marking a huge step in their careers.

Later, I’ll debrief with my direct reports to recap the week and look ahead to what’s next. After lunch, I’m joining city officials for the Executive Leadership Collaborative, where we work to align city and school resources for the benefit of all Austin families. I’ll then hop on our weekly Principal Update to stay connected with our campus leaders. I’ll cross the finish line this week with the Texas Urban Council (TUC) superintendents, collaborating on legislative priorities that impact our biggest Texas school districts.

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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