Dear SAISD Staff:

As we settle back in after Labor Day, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the incredible start you have given our students this school year. Every day, your expertise and commitment are creating opportunities for students to learn and grow. Because of your efforts, our students are beginning the year with the high expectations they need to be successful.

In August, we welcomed Dr. Xochitl Rodriguez, who now serves as Deputy Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Leadership and as a member of my Core Team. Her work, alongside yours, will help ensure that every decision we make remains focused on what matters most: student success.

I want you to know how invested district leaders are in supporting you and our students. You will see us less at Central Office and more on campuses. The district's Core Team and I have been visiting schools each week, and we see the great work happening in classrooms and throughout our campuses. You will continue to see us sharing your work.

As we move forward, we let’s maintain our collective sense of urgency and purpose. Every day matters. Every interaction matters. Every lesson matters. Our goal is clear: improve student outcomes and ensure every student reaches their full potential. That means managing instruction with intention, building the capacity of those around us, and executing our work with consistency and fidelity.

During our campus visits, I also value when I see the customer service we provide families who enter our front offices for assistance. Thank you for warmly greeting our parents and helping them navigate questions and concerns with patience and care. When we create welcoming schools, we demonstrate to our families that their children are safe, supported, and valued. We strengthen the trust families place in us and reinforce their confidence that their children are in caring and capable hands.

These seemingly small moments of kindness, respect, and connection help create a culture of belonging where students can focus on learning, build confidence, and reach their goals. Student success is not defined solely by academic achievement. It is also shaped by the relationships, support, and sense of community that surround each child every day.

Thank you for everything you do to serve our students, families, and one another. Together, we continue to demonstrate what is possible when an entire community comes together in the service of children. By keeping students at the center of every decision and every action, we will continue to accelerate achievement, expand opportunities, and help every student succeed. And as always, we will be stronger together.

Best,
Dr. Adrian Bustillos
Superintendent