Our Schools

STISD Community

January 2026 BoardBits

Decorative image: E-newsletter cover image

This e-newsletter highlights important news from the Jan. 20 regular meeting of the STISD Board of Directors and other recent and upcoming district and campus happenings.

 

School Board Recognition Month: Thank you, STISD Board Members!

January is National School Board Appreciation Month. During the January board meeting, campus administrators and students took time to thank our Board members for their service, sharing words of appreciation and presenting thoughtful tokens of gratitude. We are truly thankful for our exceptional school Board and their unwavering support of the STISD community.

The following are our Board members:

Henry LeVrier, Board President
Dr. Sylvia Sánchez Garza, Board Vice President
E. Larry Cantu, Board Secretary
David Briones, Board Member
Doug E. Buchanan, Board Member
Abiel J. Cantú, Board Member
Sasha Crane, Board Member
Adrian Garcia, Board Member
Irma Garcia, Newly-Appointed Board Member
Margarita Garcia, Board Member
Dr. Noel Garza, Board Member
Andrea E. Gonzales-Loya, Board Member

Robert J. Lerma, Board Member
Dr. Sandra Garza Ochoa, Board Member
Rudy Ramirez, Board Member
Eduardo R. Rodriguez, Board Member
Oscar Salinas, Board Member
David Suarez, Board Member
Jaime R. Solis, Board Member
Dr. Rick Villarreal, Board Member
Ruth Villarreal, Board Member
Sue Ann Villarreal, Board Member
Zach I. Zamora, Board Member

STISD Board President is seated at a table listening, with other people visible in the background.
A young man in a blue medical scrub uniform is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone in a meeting setting.
A young man in a blue shirt is standing behind a podium with the South Texas ISD logo, addressing an audience in a board meeting setting.
A woman in a pink blazer sits in a chair, smiling and listening to presentations.
The image shows a group of people gathered in a board meeting setting, with a young woman standing at a podium and a man holding a sign.
A young woman in green scrubs is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone, with a group of people seated in the background.
The image shows a group of people, including a woman speaking at a podium and two individuals in medical uniforms, addressing the audience during a board meeting.

 

New STISD Board member Irma Garcia takes Oath of Office

Judge Richard Cortez administers oath of office to new STISD board member Irma Garcia

Pictured, from left to right: Judge Richard F. Cortez and STISD Board member Irma Garcia.

During the Jan. 20 board meeting, Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez administered the Oath of Office to new Board member Irma Garcia from Hidalgo County.

Garcia was appointed by Judge Cortez for the unexpired term of Hidalgo County At-Large position.

 

STISD Swears in its First K9 Police Officer

New STISD Police Officer/K9 Handler is sworn in during ceremony while other officers stand in the background

In another historic first for the district, Armando Peña was sworn in as STISD’s first Police Officer and K-9 Handler, surrounded by family, colleagues, and members of the STISD community.

During the same meeting, the STISD Board approved a grant from K-9.org to provide a narcotics detection canine for the STISD Police Department at no cost to the district. Officer Peña will travel to Houston in February to select and train with the canine.

Congratulations, Officer Peña!

 

Other Board actions

  • The STISD Board of Directors held a public hearing on the 2025 Federal Report Card and Texas Academic Performance Report. The reports will be posted within the Accountability and Needs Assessment section of the district website.
  • The Board accepted the Science Academy Athletic Fields and Concession Stand/Restroom and Health Professions Concession Stand/Restroom projects as substantially complete.

  • The Board approved the addition of a new Principles of Applied Engineering CTE course for the 2026-2027 school year to enhance programs of study, provide opportunities for industry-based certifications, and align with TEA standards.

  • The Board approved TASB Local Policy Manual Update 126.
  • Representatives from Burton McCumber & Longoria, LLP, presented the STISD Annual Financial Report for the year ended Aug. 31, 2025, to the STISD Board of Directors. According to the report, STISD received an "unmodified opinion," and there were no findings for the 2024-2025 school year. 

 

Share with Friends & Family: STISD is Enrolling for the 2026-2027 School Year

Enrollment for the 2026–27 school year is now open, and we invite you to share this information with friends and family who may be interested in STISD.

South Texas Independent School District is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public school district serving students in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. STISD offers innovative learning opportunities through seven magnet campuses across the Rio Grande Valley, including middle schools, high schools and a virtual academy for grades 6–12. Free bus transportation is also provided.

If you have friends, family members, neighbors or coworkers who are new to STISD and may be interested in accelerated academics, career-focused programs, college credit opportunities or virtual learning options, please encourage them to enroll at www.stisd.net.

Families with students currently enrolled in STISD do not need to re-enroll for the upcoming school year.

 

STISD Health + Wellness

Visit the STISD Health & Wellness page for additional resources

Feb. 2026 SEL + Mental Health Newsletter

The image is a newsletter focused on mental health and teen dating violence awareness, featuring various informational resources and contact information in the background.

 

You're Invited: Virtual Parent Information Meeting on the STISD Gifted & Talented Program

STISD Parents/Guardians: You're invited to join the STISD Special Programs Department Feb. 5 for a virtual Parent Information Meeting about STISD’s Gifted & Talented (GT) Program. These sessions are designed to share helpful information and answer questions families may have about the program.

To best support our community, two sessions will be offered—one in English and one in Spanish. During each meeting, we will:

  • Review the nomination and referral process
  • Provide an overview of the opportunities available through the GT Program

Click here for more information.

 

The image is an informational flyer for a Gifted and Talented Program meeting hosted by the South Texas ISD on February 5, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. The flyer includes details about the program, a QR code for RSVP, and a background featuring school supplies.
The image displays an informational flyer for a South Texas ISD program called %22Programa de Dotado y Talentoso%22 (Gifted and Talented Program), providing details about an upcoming meeting on February 5, 2026 from 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm. The flyer includes a QR code for reserving a space and information about the program.

 

Upcoming Holidays and Events

The image shows a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white blouse and interacting with another person for an informational flyer advertising %22Spring Open Houses%22 on various dates in February.
  • February 2-6 is National School Counseling Week. Let your counselors know they are appreciated!
     
  • Monday, February 9: Weather Day (District Holiday, except for 226 staff)
     
  • Spring Open Houses begin next week! All are scheduled for 6-8 pm.

👉🏻 February 12: 
Preparatory Academy | Edinburg 
Rising Scholars | San Benito 

👉🏻 February 17: 
Health Professions | Mercedes 
Medical Professions | Olmito 

👉🏻 February 19: 
Science Academy | Mercedes 
World Scholars | Edinburg 
Virtual Academy | Virtual (Zoom link will be shared with families)

  • Friday, February 27, is a Campus Professional Development Day. There is no school for students on this day.
     
  • March 16-20 is Spring Break.

The 2025-2026 Academic Calendar is posted within the Calendars section on the district website.

 

 

 

Now Registering: STISD hosting Wild Card State Qualifier Esports Tournament this month

The image is a flyer for a %22To the Moon Tournament%22 event, featuring various video game titles and systems, as well as details about the tournament schedule and registration information.

STISD is hosting a Wild Card State Qualifier In-Person Esports Tournament at STISD Science Academy in Mercedes on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Schools from across the RGV are welcome to compete, connect and battle it out for a shot at state. 

The registration links are available through the tournament flyers. Click here for tournament flyers

 

 

Inside STISD Video Highlights

2025 Fall Sports Highlight

STISD 2025 Year in Review

 

STISD Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Khairiya Haj-yahya, Health Professions Class of 2013

Dr. Khairiya Haj-yahya, MD graduated from South Texas ISD Health Professions in 2013 before attending UTRGV and becoming a Primary Care Physician for RGV Prime Clinic in McAllen.

Upcoming Events

Calendar RSS Feeds
March 2026
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Sunday, March 1
Monday, March 2
Tuesday, March 3
Wednesday, March 4
Thursday, March 5
Friday, March 6
Saturday, March 7
Sunday, March 8
Monday, March 9
Tuesday, March 10
Wednesday, March 11
South Texas ISD STISD Lunch & Learn Parent Meeting: PALMS Behavioral Health presentation on Adolescent Mental Health
-
Virtual via Zoom
Thursday, March 12
Friday, March 13
Saturday, March 14
Sunday, March 15
Monday, March 16
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Tuesday, March 17
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Wednesday, March 18
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Thursday, March 19
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Friday, March 20
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Spring Break (District holiday)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
Monday, March 23
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28
Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30
Tuesday, March 31
South Texas ISD Meeting of the STISD Board of Directors
-
STISD Central Office Teaching and Learning Center (7001 E. Expressway 83, Mercedes)
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Good Friday (District Holiday/Weather Day)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Good Friday (District Holiday/Weather Day)
All Day
Central Office and all STISD campuses
Saturday, April 4