Good evening everyone. I am pleased to share that after nearly three years of intensive efforts to transform our special education services, Austin ISD has successfully completed all required actions under our Special Education Agreed Order with the Texas Education Agency and has been formally released from state oversight.

Achieving this milestone and getting to this point for the district has been about more than compliance. It’s been about transforming the special education experience for students with disabilities and their families, ensuring services are delivered with quality, consistency and care.

I’m excited for the work ahead and I’m so proud of our Special Education staff for all the hard work and giving it all to get us to this point in time. Again, thank you!

A wonderful example of this dedication is our Food Service staff, who serve thousands of meals every day across our 116 schools. We know that when students are hungry, it is much harder for them to focus and learn. Our cafeteria teams are key to our students’ well-being and long-term health. Please take a moment this week to thank your cafeteria team for their hard work and the care they show our students.

We also want to recognize our Warehouse workers. This team works around the clock, often behind the scenes, to keep the district running smoothly. Please offer them a high-five or a word of thanks this week for everything they do to provide our students with the resources they need.

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

Welcome back! I hope your weekend was restful. I’m starting Monday morning by visiting schools with Dr. Mary Anne Maxwell, Assistant Superintendent of Academics, and La Kesha Drinks, Chief of Staff. I’ll return in time for a principal interview in the early afternoon, followed by a meeting with our senior leaders for our weekly check-in to coordinate our plans for the week. I’ll end the day with CFO Katrina Montgomery to review our budget presentation for the upcoming Board Voting Meeting.

Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026

On Tuesday morning, I’m meeting with Ascension CEO Jamie Youssef to discuss how our partnership can continue to support our students and families. For lunch, I’ll join Ken Zarifis, President of Education Austin, to ensure we remain focused on the best interests of our teachers. In the afternoon, I’ll visit the staff at Burnet Middle School to discuss our shared work in helping every student succeed. Listening to and supporting our staff is a top priority for me. I’ll end the day at Mendez Middle School for a Community Conversation regarding future academic and extracurricular programs.

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026

Wednesday begins with a touchpoint with my Chief of Staff, La Kesha Drinks. I will then move into a meeting with our Board Officers. I’ll end the day with a discussion with senior leadership regarding our Academic Vision & Framework and school boundaries.

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 

I’ll spend the majority of Thursday preparing for this evening’s Board Regular Voting Meeting. One significant item on the agenda is the approval of the 2025–26 Campus Improvement Plans; 16 campuses have implemented Local Improvement Plans (LIP), while 12 others have developed Targeted Improvement Plans (TIP). Before the voting meeting begins, I will attend a Public Hearing in the board room regarding these specific campus plans.

Friday, Feb 27, 2026

I’m starting Friday with the Real Estate team for an update on our current projects. From there, I’ll head to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Anita Coy Affordable Housing Project. In the afternoon, I’ll have a working lunch with my direct reports. I’ll then connect with our principals for their weekly update and meet with Trustee Hunter. I’ll close out the week at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to share remarks at the African American Heritage Celebration. 

Take care of yourselves and each other. We’re in this together! 

Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!

Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin

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