Texas Border Business
MERCEDES, Texas — South Texas Independent School District (STISD) Virtual Academy is pleased to announce it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2023–2026 program term. The campus was selected for this distinction based on its commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to create exemplary learning practices.
Maribel Valdez, principal of STISD Virtual Academy, shared what this recognition means to the Virtual Academy community, saying, “As a virtual school, our teaching and learning revolve around technology. Through the use of Apple devices in our virtual classrooms, we have created a unique environment that meets the needs of our diverse learners and bolsters student academic success. We are honored to be recognized alongside other innovative educational institutions from around the world as an Apple Distinguished School, and we look forward to opportunities to network through this program to continue learning and adopting best practices.”
Apple Distinguished Schools are recognized as some of the most innovative in the world. They’re centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic accomplishments.
Schools all over the world are using iPad and Mac to transform learning. As teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, they empower students to lead, learn, and thrive, to discover new opportunities, and to make their world a better place.
South Texas Independent School District (STISD) Virtual Academy is one of seven secondary campuses in the state and nationally recognized STISD, a public school district offering tuition-free college- and career-preparation to students from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties. Now in its third year, Virtual Academy offers Rio Grande Valley students in grades 6-11 (6-12 in 2024-25) the opportunity to take courses 100 percent from home through curriculum and instruction designed specifically for virtual learning. For additional information, call 1-800-21STUDY or visit www.stisd.net.
