McAllen ISD’s Superintendent is sharing the story of McAllen ISD’s success on a national stage.
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J.A. Gonzalez, Ed.D., will be speaking at the District Administration Leadership Institute Superintendents Summit which began Wednesday and runs through Friday, Nov. 9, in Coronado, Calif.
His topic will relate to McAllen ISD’s use of an online forum called Thought Exchange.
Prior to calling for a Tax Ratification Election, the McAllen School Board wanted the community’s feedback. In May, the district collected input on the matter from the public through various face-to-face meetings with the community, parents and district staff, plus an online forum called Thought Exchange. More than 1,800 students, parents, employees and other members of the community participated. The School Board called for the TRE in June and, in September, voters passed it with a 76 percent approval rating.
In the fall of 2018, McAllen ISD earned an “A” in the State of Texas Accountability System. Only 13 percent of school districts in Texas earned this honor. McAllen ISD also earned the Post-Secondary Readiness Distinction for the second straight year and a School FIRST award for financial integrity for the eighth straight year.
A veteran of 22 years as an educator, Dr. Gonzalez initiated the creation of STEAM-Plus in Pre-Kinder through 12th grades. This learning framework places a great emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, including coding, rocketry, and robotics. STEAM-Plus also systematically addresses a child’s emotional intelligence.
McAllen ISD also continues to support the highly acclaimed International Baccalaureate Teaching and Learning Framework at elementary, middle, and high school levels.
He became McAllen ISD’s Superintendent in August 2016 and oversees a district with nationally ranked high schools.
As a principal, Dr. Gonzalez was a state finalist for Principal of the Year and participated in The Principals’ Center at Harvard University. He has taught in the Educational Leadership Department as a Practicing Lecturer at the former University of Texas-Pan American.
He graduated from Texas A&M University—Kingsville with a Bachelor of Science in 1996 and earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration from U.T. Pan American in 1999. He completed his Doctor of Education with an emphasis in Educational Leadership in 2008, also through U.T. Pan American.
