Press release provided by Region One Service Center:
Region One Education Service Center Announces 2024 Regional Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Gonzalo Salazar, Los Fresnos CISD Superintendent Receives Regional Recognition
Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Gonzalo Salazar was named as the 2024 Region One Superintendent of the Year. As Regional Superintendent, Dr. Salazar will represent Region One at the statewide Superintendent of the Year Awards Program, led by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
The Superintendent of the Year Program honors administrators for achievement and excellence in public school administration.
Superintendent Salazar has served the Los Fresnos students, families and communities as superintendent since 2006. Starting his leadership tenure at Lopez-Riggins Elementary as an Assistant Principal, Salazar was attributed as crucial to the district’s success by the Los Fresnos CISD Board of Trustees.
Student performance has consistently surpassed state and regional averages. All 14 campuses have met state standards each year. The district also touts high levels of student performance, placing it among 26 districts in the State to receive the College Readiness distinction and making it one of five school systems in Texas to receive the distinction for four consecutive years.
Los Fresnos CISD has received multiple accolades for student performance, including the Gold Leadership Award for Math and Science, an Imagine Learning National School of Excellence designated elementary school and 10 Project Lead the Way recognitions.
As Superintendent, Dr. Salazar has also advocated for public education. The Los Fresnos CISD leader has served on several state and national organizations, where he represented and supported Region One area schools, especially the emergent bilingual community and families of low socioeconomic status. Leadership positions include serving as the 2022-23 Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) President and Equity Center President. Dr. Salazar was also honored as one of the inaugural members of the first cohort within the Broad Center at the Yale University School of Management and was selected as a Ted Ed Innovative Educator.
The nomination essay, which was submitted by the Los Fresnos CISD Board of Trustees, described Dr. Salazar as an innovative leader, and creator of initiative programs that engage students, such as elementary coding labs to promote STEM careers.
Dr. Salazar has also maintained quality relations with the Board of Trustees over his 17 years of service, according to the nomination essay. The Los Fresnos CISD Board described the district’s leadership as a true team that always places students at the forefront of every decision.
Nominations for the regional award were submitted to the Region One Education Service Center and reviewed by a select committee consisting of Board Members from school districts in the Region One service area who have completed Leadership TASB training. Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality in their districts and commitment to public involvement in education.
Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,024 local school districts are eligible for nomination by their school boards. The State Superintendent of the Year Committee will select five state finalists from the nominations submitted by regional education service centers. The TASB Texas Superintendent of the Year will be announced during txEDCON on September 28, 2024, in San Antonio. For more information on the Superintendent of the Year Program, visit the TASB website.
About Region One Education Service Center:
Region One Education Service Center (www.esc1.net) serves over 422,000 students and educators in eight South Texas counties. Region One assists school systems with enhancing student performance, operating efficiently and implementing legislative initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Commissioner of Education.