Mercedes school superintendent resigns
MERCEDES — The superintendent of the Mercedes school district has resigned to take a position at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Superintendent Beto D. Gonzalez, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., has overseen the school system for the past year. He is living to accept a position as head of the education/kinesiology division of Texas A&M-San Antonio, he said. His resignation takes effect June 30.
Mauro Vasquez, a retired high school principal with the district, was appointed acting superintendent, and a search committee has begun seeking a permanent replacement.
During a meeting Tuesday with teachers and administrators, Gonzalez credited faculty and staff members with the recent rise in test scores across the district.
“Almost all scores were higher this year,” Barbara Hinojosa, a spokeswoman for the school system, said Wednesday. She is preparing a report on the latest round of testing.
Gonzalez said he was grateful for his time as the district’s superintendent.
“I am happy to report this school district is financially strong and headed in the right direction, with the majority of our campuses expected to be ‘recognized,’” he said, referring to the state rating system.
Under that system, schools are labeled as exemplary, recognized, academically acceptable or academically unacceptable. The
ratings are based on dropout and graduation rates as well as Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills results.
“This remarkable progress denotes the passion and dedication of our school board, faculty and staff,” Gonzalez said of the outcomes.
School board member Benjamin Castillo said school district improvements attributable to Gonzalez have been reflected in the test scores.
“We are grateful for Mr. Gonzalez’s service of this last year,” Castillo said. “Under his leadership and the leadership of his staff, our district has come closer to being a ‘recognized’ school district. We wish him well in his new challenge in higher education and expect he will impact the delivery of education with much success.”
Maria Hernandez Ferrier, president of Texas A&M-San Antonio, said she looked forward to Gonzalez assuming his duties at her campus.
“Never has it been more important to our nation, indeed to our democracy, that all students receive a world-class education, and that takes great teachers,” she said. “For that reason, I am thrilled that Mr. Gonzalez has agreed to lead the division of education here at Texas A&M-San Antonio. His passion, experience and commitment to the field will ensure that we produce master teachers for today’s classrooms.”
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Allen Essex is a reporter for the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen.
