Mission superintendent named superintendent of the year

MISSION — Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez Jr. has been named as the state superintendent of the year by the Texas Association of School boards.

Rodriguez, who has served as Mission’s top administrator since 2005, was named the superintendent of the year Saturday during the association’s annual convention.

This is the second time a superintendent from Mission has received this award. Then-superintendent Rafael Cantu received the award in 1994.

“This district has a legacy of excellence,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve re-achieved that goal … returned to a level of excellence that Mission has enjoyed.”

Mission received a “recognized” rating from the Texas Education Agency this year, the second highest in the state’s rating system for schools and districts. This is the first year the district received this ranking since the state implemented more rigorous standards in 2003.

Rodriguez credits the work of educators, staff, students, school board and the community for the district’s success and his winning the award.

“It’s a team, we’re all pitching in,” he said.

Region One Education Service Center named Rodriguez as regional superintendent of the year in June. In August, he was selected to be one of five finalists for the state award.

The selection committee that interviewed Rodriguez and the other four finalists noted the district’s Operation College Bound, a partnership Mission has with the University of Texas-Pan American and South Texas College to help high school students fill out financial aid forms and applications and educate them about what they need to do to go to college, according to a news release the district sent.

Rodriguez, who announced in July he was resigning but staying on until the district found a new chief administrator, said he is pleased to leave the district on a high note.

“If you’re going to go, that’s the way to go,” he said. “We’re going to leave the house in order.”

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.