STISD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Two years ago, Abiel J. Cantu, of Raymondville, returned to the place where he began his career in education in 1976, but this time to serve on the governing board. He feels honored and privileged to be a part of the STISD board of directors, which he has dedicated his time and energy to since taking oath in June of 2017.
After graduating from Raymondville High School, Cantu earned a bachelor of arts from Pan American University (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). He decided to further his education, earning his master of Education Guidance and Counseling from the University of Texas Pan American in 1981.
Cantu has devoted over 40 years to education. His first job in the field was as a residential counselor with South Texas Independent School District (STISD), which was a rehabilitation district for special-needs students at the time. Cantu served in this position for three years. Throughout his lengthy career in education, he has also taught life skills (at Edcouch Elsa ISD) and Spanish (at Raymondville ISD), and has been a counselor at different levels with San Perlita ISD, Lyford ISD and Raymondville ISD. Cantu served as district testing coordinator with Raymondville ISD from 2011-2018, and is currently serving as high school counselor coordinator with the district.
He is actively involved with Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Knights of Columbus, and in his free time he enjoys riding his bike and playing golf.
Cantu and his wife, Irma Anaya of Pharr, have three children - Abiel J. Cantu, Aaron J. Cantu, and Angela J. Cantu - who all graduated from STISD's South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High) campus in Mercedes.
Cantu enjoys serving on the STISD board, sharing that, "It simply brings me great joy to see students excel as they further their education in becoming the leaders of tomorrow."
He is proudest of the "distinctions that the district has achieved: the high marks on the state assessments, the AP and college entrance exams and seeing so many students graduating with honors as they make their plans to further their education," and he hopes to see continued success for STISD. "I would like to see the board continue to work diligently and in unity to provide the very best for our students to maintain or better the state and national ranks that this district has achieved."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Instructional Tech Specialist
Job Titles:
- Administrator for Public Relations & Marketing
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Secretary for Executive Director for Student Support Services
Job Titles:
- Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
Job Titles:
- Receptionist / Secretary for Human Resources
Annette Salinas, Receptionist/Secretary for Human Resources | annette.salinas@stisd.net | 956.514.4224
Job Titles:
- Special Programs Director
Job Titles:
- Special Education Coordinator / Half Day Programs Supervisor / Special Education Counselor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
David Torres began his first term on the South Texas Independent School District (STISD) board of directors with his appointment in November 2020.
Since 1997, Torres has owned and operated David's Bail Bonds and A-Lightning Bail Bonds. He has been a partner at Odyssey Primary Home Care and At Home Health Care since 2007, a managing partner at JDRED Investments since 2012, and a partner at DC Fabrication and Oilfield Services since 2015.
No stranger to education or community service, Torres has a history of contributions in both areas within his hometown of Edinburg.
He served as vice president of the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District school board in 2009, president in 2011, and was a member of the board that received Region One School Board of the Year and The Outstanding Board of the Year in 2013 for the 53rd Annual Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)/Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Convention.
Torres is also a former city councilman for the City of Edinburg, and served as Mayor Pro-Tem in 2018 and 2019, the year in which the City of Edinburg was selected as an All-America City Award Finalist. In addition, he served as an Edinburg Economic Development Corporation board member in 2018-2019 and a representative member for the City of Edinburg for the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization in 2017-2019. The organization was awarded the Citizens of the Year award in 2019 for its leadership as a group that provided sensible, bold, and regional thinking that merged three MPOs into one regional body for the greater good of the region. He has also served as a member and past president of the Edinburg Noon Lions Club since 2005 and is a member of the Hidalgo County Bail Bond Association.
Torres has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from The University of Texas Pan American, and he graduated from The University of Texas Brownsville Police Academy in 1996.
He and his wife, Ellie, have three children and four grandchildren. In his free time, Torres enjoys fishing, hunting and spending time with his grandchildren.
"Serving our South Texas students and helping them achieve success is one of the greatest honors I have been privileged to be a part of," Torres shares. "I understand the level of the world-class education that South Texas ISD offers to the young scholars in our communities, and I believe in nourishing and supporting all their efforts and providing the support they need to succeed."
Torres is proud of STISD's status as one of the best school districts in the state and the opportunities it offers to Rio Grande Valley students, which then segue into bigger and greater opportunities for students in their future.
As a board member, he wants to see the district "Step up to all our new challenges and do everything possible to ensure student success," and he hopes for "continued success for the district and continued growth with the changing times."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Having been encouraged by former STISD board member and fellow Willacy County resident Bobby Chapa to become a part of the governing body for STISD, Doug Buchanan of Raymondville joined the STISD board of directors in May 2000.
Nineteen years later, he continues to serve, and, as of November 2018, he holds the role of board president.
Buchanan brings to the table a bachelor of science in education, a counseling degree (regular and special education) and a mid-management certificate (administration).
He has dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to education. He started his career as a special education teacher/coach, serving in this capacity from 1981 to 1984. Between 1984 and 2003, he served as a teacher, a counselor and as a principal. He was a behavior strategist with Wil-Cam Co-op from 2003 to 2013, and has served as a tutor at Lyford ISD since 2013.
He and his wife, Rosemarie, have four children - Jenna, Chelsea, Taylor and Jason - and two grandchildren - Cade and Callen.
Buchanan is actively involved with his church, the First United Methodist Church of Raymondville, where he serves as board chair and as part of the choir, bell choir, etc. He also serves with the Willacy County Young Farmers organization. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, fishing and traveling.
Buchanan's dedication to STISD is undeniable. He takes great pride in serving a district that has a strong commitment to excellence, state and national recognition, and student achievement with parent support. He finds a tremendous amount of satisfaction from the opportunities he has on the board to collaborate and work with visionary board members to provide students with a positive track to college or a vocational pathway. He also believes in the committed administration and staff who ensure student success.
His hope for the district is to maintain student excellence while increasing vocational opportunity, a goal he will work toward through the board.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of World Scholars
Dr. Cynthia Chairez resides in the small town of Santa Rosa, Texas, and is the proud mother of two boys, Jeremy and Corbin.
Dr. Chairez received a Bachelor's in English, a Master's in Educational Administration, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. In her 20 years as an educator, she has served as a middle and high school English teacher, elementary instructional facilitator, high school dean of instruction, director of accountability, and high school principal.
Her belief is that all students are destined for greatness through post-secondary schooling and in future careers, and her goal is to inspire all staff and students to be passionate about learning and continued growth both personally and professionally.
Dr. Chairez is excited to be leading South Texas ISD's World Scholars campus. Go Lions!
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Administration
- Principal of Health Professions
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of Rising Scholars Academy
As a graduate of South Texas ISD, Dr. Reynaldo D. Rodriguez is proud to return to the district to serve as principal of South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy. Dr. Rodriguez graduated from South Texas High School for Health Professions in 2003 and continued on his journey of higher education. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Houston (2008), master degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University (2010) and The University of the Permian Basin (2015), and his doctoral degree from Texas A&M University Kingsville (2021).
Dr. Rodriguez has worked in all grade levels K-12 in different capacities. He has been in the educational field since 2012 serving as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal.
He looks forward to serving the Rising Scholars Academy community and working together with all stakeholders to ensure the success of all students.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Service to STISD is a family affair for board member E. Larry Cantu of Los Fresnos, who joined the STISD board of directors in May of 2004. To-date, Cantu has served on the board for 17 years.
Prior to him joining the board, his uncle, Erwin W. Scott, Jr. (Scottie), a founding STISD board member, served the district until his passing in 2002.
Cantu pursued his higher education at The University of Texas at Austin. Since that time, he has worked in different roles within the railroad industry.
From 1979 to 1982, Cantu worked in operations for the Union Pacific Railroad. He then served as president and chief operating officer (COO) of the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad from 1982 to 2001. Since 2001, he has been the senior customer success manager for General Electric Transportation.
Cantu and his wife, Rhonda Kay (Strader), have one son and triplet grandchildren (two girls and one boy).
Cantu prioritizes service. He is director of the Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo, a member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church Choir (guitar), past director of American Short Line & Regional Railroads of America, past member of the Los Fresnos Lions Club, past board member of the Rio Grande Council Boy Scouts of America, past board member of United Way of Southern Cameron County, past Boy Scout Master Troop 61. He also served on the Los Fresnos CISD board of directors for 12 years, where he received recognition as a member of an honor board.
According to Cantu, the most important part of being on the STISD board is the students. He shares, "I want the best possible education students can receive that is equal to or better than any other school district in the nation. I want our students to have the best facilities, teachers and staff working to help them succeed." He is proudest of the level of accomplishments of STISD students, and he takes pride in the fact that STISD is considered one of the best school districts not only in the state, but in the nation.
Cantu hopes the district can continue providing high-quality education to the students of the Rio Grande Valley. He hopes we "continue to excel in providing the best education students can receive and continue to offer a curriculum that challenges and motivates our students. I want to make sure our kids have the latest ideas, technology and opportunities that can be afforded post-secondary students."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Eduardo Roberto Rodriguez was appointed by Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., for one of the two at-large positions for the county. He was sworn in to the STISD Board of Directors on Nov. 27, 2018.
Rodriguez is an attorney who has practiced law in Brownsville and South Texas for 50 years. He is currently a special partner with the firm Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, practicing alongside his son, Michael. Rodriguez serves out of the Brownsville office, focusing solely on trial work.
Prior to joining Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez in 2012, Rodriguez practiced out of a firm he developed in 1968, Rodriguez, Colvin, Chaney and Saenz.
He is a member (and former president) of the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association (ABA), The American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Rodriguez has also served as president of the Cameron County Bar Association, and in various capacities in the ABA, including chair of several committees, in the House of Delegates for many years, as State Delegate for five years and three years on the Board of Governors.
In 2018, Rodriguez received the Professionalism Award from the American Inns of Court. He received the award for the 5th Circuit of Appeals at a ceremony in the United States Supreme Court.
He has always had a great interest in education. He found a niche in which to make an impact while attending the University of Texas School of Law, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1968. At the time, within the student body of 1,500, there were only seven Hispanic students and one African American student. Since that time, he has worked with the law school, and alongside many from the University of Texas-Brownsville and University of Texas Pan-American campuses (now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) to recruit minority students, and especially Hispanic students, to attend UT.
Rodriguez prioritizes his work within the community, and he has served on various boards and organizations in Brownsville. When he first started his practice, he sponsored the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) at both St. Mary's Church and St. Joseph's Church.
Rodriguez and his wife, Paula, have five children and seven grandchildren.
Throughout his more than 20-year career in education, Garza has served STISD students through different roles within the district.
His most recent position was Executive Director for Student Support, in which he served since July of 2020. STISD created this new position to provide leadership, development, implementation, and evaluation of all facets of student support services, including but not limited to, health services, counseling, special education programs, and career and technology.
He began his career in 2001 as a science teacher at The Teacher Academy of South Texas (Teacher Academy) in Edinburg. At that time, Teacher Academy consisted of both middle school and high school. Garza continued in that role until 2008, when it was decided that the middle school grade levels from what had become South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy (BETA) would split off as a separate campus. As a new counselor and part of the middle school creation team, Garza helped establish the middle school campus of Teacher Academy as South Texas Preparatory Academy (now South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy).
In 2015, he helped in the establishment of the district's newest middle school, Rising Scholars Academy of South Texas (now South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy) in San Benito, as assistant principal. He was crucial in the creation and implementation of the mission and vision for the campus, and he oversaw and evaluated numerous departments on campus and was the lead in various duties, including multiple facets of administrative management.
From there, he transitioned to a role as assistant principal at South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy, or BETA (now South Texas ISD World Scholars) in 2017, and a year later was hired as principal of that campus. As principal, he oversaw the growth and development of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, and led the campus through its program change and transition from BETA to World Scholars. Garza was also tasked with overseeing the district's special education services program beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
Along with his science/biology teacher certification, Garza holds an ILP3-Principal Certification from Region One ESC, as well as a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas Pan American (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
He looks forward to continuing to serve the students of STISD in his new role as Deputy Superintendent.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of Science Academy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hector Gonzales joined the STISD board of directors in May 2002.
He was born and raised in Raymondville, and he continues to call Willacy County his home as a resident of Lyford.
After graduating from Raymondville High School, Gonzales earned his bachelor of science in Education from Pan American University (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), and two masters degrees from Texas A&I University in Kingsville (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) - one in Bilingual/ESL and the other in Mid-Management.
Gonzales started his career in education as a classroom teacher at Lyford CISD. He served as principal at Lasara ISD for 13 years, then as principal at Lyford CISD for 10 years, and he currently works as a teacher supervisor for Texas Teacher Alternative Certification Program in Brownsville.
He and his wife, Lucila, have one son, Roger, and two daughters, Andrea and Cristina.
Gonzales is involved with the Lions Club and the Catholic Men's Club. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and gardening, and he is a collector of Oldies records.
Seventeen years into his tenure on the STISD board, Gonzales has been involved with many decisions that have allowed the district to progress and positively impact the children of the Rio Grande Valley. He shares that, "Serving as a Board Member for STISD is important for me because it allows me to be involved in the education of Valley youth (our future). The success of Valley youth is my top priority."
He adds, "I am most proud of the success and top rankings of all our campuses. STISD is second to none in the quality of education it provides the students."
In terms of the future, he hopes STISD "… continues to provide a top-notch educational format to all the students that attend our campuses, and that the students continue to attend the top-ranked colleges in the nation."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President / Brownsville
Henry LeVrier of Brownsville has served on the STISD Board of Directors since 2005, a tenure that has included a term as secretary and his current term as vice president.
LeVrier brings to the board 43 years of experience in school district finance and a long history of civic involvement.
After earning his bachelor's from Texas A&I University, LeVrier decided to further his education, earning his master's in business administration at Pan American University at Brownsville. On top of his master's degree, he also completed an additional 30 hours in Accounting at the university, as well as 48 hours of Instructional Leadership Training through Brownsville Independent School District (BISD). In addition to his academics, LeVrier also participated in civic education through Brownsville Leadership Class VII from 1991-1992.
LeVrier kicked off his career in education as an Accountant at BISD in 1975. After eight years in that role, he moved up to Supervisor of Accounting, then Director of Accounting, and eventually Area Administrator/Business, a role in which he served for 13 years. In 2001, he transitioned over to Point Isabel Independent School District, where he served as Deputy Superintendent for 17 years, until his retirement in 2018.
LeVrier's involvement in his community goes beyond professional roles. He has served on the Charro Days Inc. board since 1999, leading as president for three terms, the most recent of which is ongoing. He also served on the board for Saint Joseph Academy from 2000-2004, and has served as a board member for the Texas Association of School Boards - Lone Star Investment Pool since April 2020.
With his in-depth experience in school district finance and leadership, as well as his deep roots within the community, LeVrier brings an invaluable perspective to the STISD board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Principal at Lasara ISD
- Secretary / Raymondville
Raymondville native Israel G. Quintanilla joined the South Texas ISD (STISD) board in November 2011, bringing with him over two decades of experience in the field of education.
His interest in STISD started when he began his educational career at Lasara ISD as a teacher. He quickly learned that some of the students within the district attended STISD's Half-Day Career & Technology Program, while others chose to leave the district and enroll to one of the STISD schools instead.
Being the mindful educator that he is, Quintanilla thought it best to familiarize himself with the district that interested students and families within the district he served. He was intrigued with all of its offerings, and decided to actively pursue the district by joining the STISD board for the betterment of all.
Quintanilla is the district principal at Lasara ISD. Prior to serving as district principal, he taught 6th-8th-grade mathematics for 26 years.
Quintanilla holds a masters in educational administration from the University of Texas-Pan American, now The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
He and his wife, Hortencia, have one daughter, Anissa, and are all very active within their church.
Quintanilla is proud to serve as a board member for a district that truly believes in the power of teamwork. "It is not by accident that the district is consistently ranked among the best in the state and the nation, and that is because of the quality stakeholders: administration, staff, students, parents and communities, working together and going beyond what is expected of them. I hope that the district will maintain and exceed its current academic standings in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and in the nation, and I plan on staying on the board to continue to see those successes."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Pharmacist
Jaime Solis of Edinburg was appointed by Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia for one of four at-large positions. Judge Garcia administered his oath of office on Nov. 27, 2018.
Solis has been a licensed pharmacist for 32 years. He is a partner of Lee's Pharmacy & Medical Equipment, a partner of Amara Hospice and In-Patient Facility, LLC, and is a College of Pharmacy Preceptor, working with The University of Texas, University of Houston and Texas A&M University-Kingsville as an educator and mentor for pharmacy students and pharmacy tech students. He has professional affiliations with the Texas Pharmacy Association, American Pharmacy Association and the American Society of Hospital Pharmacy Systems.
He is also an entrepreneur and business owner, with several other ventures, including Solis Land Development, an investment and property development partnership; JRS Consulting, which provides health and life insurance consulting services to public and private entities; and Construct Associates, which provides certified cost construction estimates for public utilities and private manufacturing organizations.
Solis recognizes the importance of giving back to the community, and he has served as an elected official in different capacities and with different organizations throughout the years. He served on the Edinburg CISD Board of Trustees from 2012-2016. He was also a board member with the Edinburg Parks and Recreation from 2013-2015, was appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2014 to serve as a member of the Medicaid/CHIPS Advisory Committee, and has been a member of the advisory board for the Rehabilitation Hospital at Renaissance since 2015.
He is active within his church community at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church in Edinburg, having served on the executive board as finance chair and a former trustee.
Solis and his wife, Ophelia, have one son, Jaime Andres.
He considers his service on the STISD Board of Directors a good fit for his personal mission, which is to "be an intricate part of a progressive team of educational professionals. Collaboratively, we will foster a community committed to excellence in education while promoting an integrative system of high quality and educational opportunities using research-based traditional, experiential, and creative instructional practices to ensure that all students become inquisitive, lifelong learners with the 21st Century skills necessary to be successful."
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Coordinator
Janie Sicairos, Human Resources Coordinator | juanita.sicairos@stisd.net | 956.514.4263
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Javier Farias of McAllen was appointed to the STISD board of directors by Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia in October of 2013.
He is a Mission High School graduate, and he pursued his higher education at Texas A&I Kingsville.
Prior to taking oath to serve on the STISD board, Farias served on the McAllen ISD school board for 12 years. During his tenure, the McAllen ISD board was selected Region One School Board of the Year and Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Outstanding Board of the Year in 2012. Farias was also selected by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association as School Board Member of the Year for the state in 2012-2013.
He has three children - Valerie De La Torre, Victoria Farias, and Javier Antonio Farias - and four grandchildren - Nathan, Robbie, Rafael, and Raiden.
In his spare time, Farias enjoys wildlife photography and cooking.
Serving on the STISD board holds importance for Farias, as he believes in what the district has to offer. He shares that, "South Texas ISD offers their students advanced academics by giving them the tools to explore unlimited opportunities for a higher education."
He takes pride in the fact that STISD students are graduating with the skills necessary to successfully maneuver through the academia world they will encounter, and he hopes to see the district continue to grow and provide students with advanced academics.
Job Titles:
- Speech Language Pathologist
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of Medical Professions
Job Titles:
- Counseling Department Secretary
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal
- Assistant Principal of Health Professions
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Specialist
Job Titles:
- Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
- Human Resources
Lissa Frausto, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources | Lissa.frausto@stisd.net | 956.514.4226
Frausto served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Texas Southmost College from April 2014 to the week before she started with STISD on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. At TSC, Frausto was responsible for the administration and supervision of all human resource activities, including but not limited to employment, classification and pay, equal employment opportunity, Family and Medical Leave, Affordable Care Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, affirmative action, employee benefits, training, and employee relations.
Prior to her time at TSC, she was a Human Resources Specialist with Brownsville ISD for nine years and Employment Coordinator at Valley Baptist Medical Center for nearly four years.
Frausto has both a bachelor and a master of business administration from The University of Texas at Texas Southmost College, and holds Title IX Coordinator and Senior Professional in Human Resources (HRCI) certifications.
She brings with her to the district a wealth of knowledge and experience in human resources. Although it has been an unusual start, she has already learned much about the district and is working on plans to improve HR for STISD. She looks forward to meeting her STISD family in the near future.
Job Titles:
- Career and Technology Education
Job Titles:
- Secretary for Special Education Department
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of Preparatory Academy
Job Titles:
- Executive Director for Student Support
- Executive Director for Student Support Services
- Student Services
- Student Support
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Incumbent
Margarita Garcia of San Juan was sworn in to the STISD board of directors in November of 2014.
Garcia has learned much about the district since taking oath that year - both through her capacity as a board member and as the parent of a middle school student within the district.
Garcia's educational background is in Chemical Engineering, and her professional history is diverse. She worked at ConAgra for 12 years, serving as assistant manager in her last role with the company. She also worked for one year as a receptionist of the engineering department at IBM of Mexico, and she had an opportunity to teach basic English language to small children in Monterrey, Mexico.
Although she is not currently working, Garcia stays busy through service. Aside from her service to the STISD board, she also commits herself to her church community, assisting with activities like the annual Jamaica Fall Festival. Garcia and her family also enjoy helping those within the community who are less fortunate or who are going through rough times. One way through which they do this is by coming together to cook meals for them. As further evidence of her belief in the importance of education, Garcia participated in the PSJA parent involvement program for 13 years.
Garcia is married to Pedro (Pete) Garcia, and she has two children, Oscar, who is 20, and Ana, who is currently 14. Ana is currently an eighth-grader at STISD's South Texas Preparatory Academy (STPA), and she plans to attend STISD's South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy (BETA) campus next school year. Garcia also has two step-children - Pedro, Jr., and Jessica - who attended STISD's The Science Academy of South Texas (Science Academy) and BETA, respectively.
Service on the STISD board is of high importance to Garcia. She wants to ensure that our kids within the Rio Grande Valley are educated well and fairly and that the education they receive allows them to lead successful lives.
Garcia is proud of the quality education given in this district, and she believes the quality of the education has led to the prestige that the district currently holds.
In reflecting on the future of the district, she shares that she hopes "the district keeps its good prestige and quality of education throughout the coming years and also be recognized as the best of the nation." Further, she hopes to see the board members continue to "work together with the same goal - the best education for all children - in mind." As the Rio Grande Valley grows in population, she wants to see the district expand its facilities to serve the community needs without losing sight of the vision and mission.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of STISD Virtual Academy
Job Titles:
- Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations
- Finance & Operations
Job Titles:
- Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
Job Titles:
- Licensed Specialist in School Psychology Intern
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Mission
Natividad "Nati" Sosa began her first term on the South Texas Independent School District (STISD) board of directors with her election to represent Hidalgo County Precinct 3 in November 2020.
Sosa, from Mission, is a business owner and medical billing specialist.
She attended The University of Texas at Austin and majored in history. She also studied acting/script writing at the Los Angeles City College (LACC) Theater Academy and has registered screenplay works with the Writers Guild of America.
Through her experiences as a parent and the director of parent advocacy for a pediatric foundation, she found a new calling to pursue a career teaching special education. Her inspiration for this move came from her own son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, as well as her other interactions with children with special needs. She is continuing her education to bring this dream to fruition.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Mission
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Mission
Ruth Villarreal, a mother of three and businesswoman from Sharyland, began her first term on the South Texas Independent School District (STISD) board of directors with her appointment in November 2020.
After graduating from Mount Carmel Catholic High School in Houston, Villarreal pursued her bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Houston College of Architecture.
After earning her degree, Villarreal worked with ROFDW Architects in McAllen from 1999-2000. She then worked with ERO International (formerly TAG International) in McAllen from 2000-2002 and Drewry Martin Architects in Sharyland from 2002-2004.
Her professional endeavors in architecture eventually led her to a different career path in insurance, an industry she says offered her a significant opportunity to provide assistance and support to our community in times of need. She launched her career as an insurance agent and later became the owner of her own insurance agency - Ruth Villarreal Insurance - where she has led a successful team for over 16 years.
Her company has a long history of collaborating with La Joya ISD on many events and activities, and she looks forward to her involvement in the STISD community moving forward. Villarreal believes that "Education - Quality Education - is the ‘cornerstone' for a better Rio Grande Valley for us all…especially for our children," and she intends to work tirelessly as a member of the board to achieve the organization's goals. "These difficult COVID times have put all of us to the test, and I look forward to working with STISD to continue safely providing the best for our students, staff, employees and their families."
An architect at heart, Villarreal likens the role of a school board to an architect's role in the improvement of a community. "Architecture has always been of particular interest to me. What better way to improve a community than to design and build a better community! But building a better community goes far beyond the design and construction of new or improved structures. Building a better community follows many of the same steps as building a better building. It is a team effort - a team of qualified, talented and hard-working men and women - who research, study, create and build a truly functional and successful outcome (or building.) I intend to be an integral part of the STISD team and build an even better STISD that will be the ‘foundation' of a better Rio Grande Valley for us all!"
Villarreal and her husband, Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, have three school age children - David, Sofia and Valeria.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Secretary for Director of Special Programs
Job Titles:
- Front Office Receptionist
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper
- Purchasing Clerk
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Sylvia S. López of Brownsville was sworn in to the STISD board of directors on Jan. 22, 2019.
A long-time math teacher with Brownsville ISD, Lopez has taught Pre-Calculus (24 years), Algebra II (20 years), Algebra I (nine years), and Geometry (five years), and has served as the math department head for 10 years. She has also been testing coordinator for two years.
Lopez earned a bachelor of arts from Pan American University (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), with a major in history and minors in mathematics and Spanish.
She prioritizes involvement within the community, and she is currently giving back through a number of different organizations, including the Order of the Sultanas, Catholic Daughters of America, Catholic Ministries at St. Mary's, Brownsville Area Retired School Employees (BARSEA), Order of the Serape, and St. Mary's Catholic Church Ministries. Lopez was also a part of the Leadership Brownsville Class VIII, and she previously served in the Brownsville Junior Service League.
She and her husband, Joey Lopez, former STISD board member and immediate past president, have three daughters, Daniella Lopez Valdez (who is married to Hector Valdez), Denisa N. Lopez, and Danika L. Lopez.
Lopez believes that all children deserve access to free quality education, and serving on the STISD board is a perfect fit for ensuring that STISD can continue to offer this to the students of the Rio Grande Valley.
Although new to the STISD board, she has already picked up on the STISD culture through a visit to the campuses. She shared that, "Upon visiting the district, there was a sense of dedication, innovation, and enthusiasm by all staff. In addition, students' behavior mirrored the staff."
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors