Brownsville ISD - txurbancouncil

Quick Facts

38,500 students.

6,000 employees.

54 schools.

Superintendent
Dr. Jesus H. Chavez

Brownsville Independent School District (BISD), encompassing 95 square miles, is the largest employer in the Rio Grande Valley. Approximately 6,000 employees have accepted the challenge of serving a population of almost 38,500 students. BISD recognizes and addresses the unique cultural lifestyle of South Texas with a broad selection of academic activities and programs for all students.

These programs range from Early College High Schools to support programs for students with special needs. Limited English speaking students are served through the bilingual or English as a second language program. There is pride in the progress BISD has made in recent years with regard to state-mandated testing. Better scores have translated into more seniors fulfilling degree requirements and graduating career-ready and college-connected. Academically, both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Texas Education Agency have accredited Brownsville public schools.

BISD is committed not only to working with students, but also with the community as well. The district supports Campus Care Centers to serve the unmet medical needs of school age children and adolescents. Because no student deserves to go through the school day hungry, BISD features Universal Feeding, Provision Two. This plan provides breakfast, lunch, and supper, free of charge, to all students, regardless of income or ability to pay. BISD uses these elements, and many more, to achieve its mission. Quality education cannot be a vague statement. It must be the challenge that encourages students and educators to be the very best that they can be every day.

BISD will graduate students who are prepared to excel in higher education and successfully pursue career opportunities in a changing global society by maximizing resources to ensure equitable opportunities for all students.

This school year (2021-2022) two Brownsville ISD campuses were selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education: Dr. Ruben Gallegos Elementary and Mittie A. Pullam Elementary. Another campus, Annie S. Putegnat Elementary, was awarded the Distinguished Performance Award by the Texas Education Agency, which was one of only two schools in Texas to receive this award. Over $112 million in scholarship offers for our 2021 senior graduates awarded by local, state, and national entities that generously offered our graduates scholarships to pursue their postsecondary education. A total of 107 Brownsville ISD 2021 graduates earned an associate degree from Texas Southmost College thru the dual enrollment program.

Brownsville ISD has seven schools that were ranked in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools in America: Brownsville Early College High School, Veterans Memorial Early College High School, Pace Early College High School, Hanna Early College High School, Lopez Early College High School, Rivera Early College High School, Porter Early College High School.

Superintendent

Dr. Jesus H. Chavez

Dr. Jesus H. Chavez will be serving as the Interim Superintendent for the Brownsville Independent School District.

He was born in Brownsville, Texas, and raised in the Southmost area. He attended Cromack Elementary, Faulk Intermediate, Brownsville High School, and Porter High School; public schools where his teachers, administrators, and other school staff are credited with making a significant difference in his life and helping him become a teacher, administrator, and superintendent.

After graduating from Porter High School in 1976, Dr. Chavez attended Texas Southmost College, where he graduated in 1977, and transferred to The University of Texas, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Teaching in 1979, Summa Cum Lade. Dr. Chavez received his master’s degree and Mid-Management Administrative Certificate at Pan American Brownsville in 1981.

Dr. Chavez moved to Austin in 1983 to pursue his studies for his doctorate. He received his doctorate in 1989 from The University of Texas with a concentration in special education administration and his Superintendent Certification. Dr. Chavez’s dissertation was on school finance, his lifelong interest.

He has worked in Brownsville as a teacher and assistant principal from 1979 to 1983, in Round Rock as a central office administrator from 1984 to 1995, and in three districts as Superintendent: Harlingen CISD from 1995 to 2001, Corpus Christi ISD from 2001 to 2006, and Round Rock ISD from 2006 to 2013.

In 2014, Dr. Chavez was hired by Texas State University as an adjunct professor, where he taught school finance and supervised principal and superintendent certification candidates. He remained with Texas State University until 2017.

Dr. Chavez worked for the Holdsworth Center, a Charles Butt organization focused on leadership training, during its inaugural year from 2017 to 2018. Most recently, Dr. Chavez has served as the Executive Director of South Texas Association of Schools, a non-profit advocacy organization focused on school finance advocacy, and as a consultant to school districts and educational organizations. He believes in putting children first in any decision, continuous organizational improvement, teamwork, and treating everyone fairly and respectfully.