PUIG IS THE MAN: Superintendent from Van Horn to lead SBCISD

By JACOB LOPEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

Dr. Marc Puig

Dr. Marc Puig

Members of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees expressed optimism in their selection of Dr. Marc Puig as the lone finalist for superintendent of schools.

The board selected Puig via a unanimous vote, 7-0, after reconvening from closed session during a special meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6. Puig recently served as the superintendent of Culberson County-Allamoore ISD in Van Horn, which is located in West Texas.

Celia Longoria, community relations director for SBCISD, issued a press release the same evening of Puig’s selection that detailed his qualifications and accolades.

Puig brings a “hybrid” background to the superintendency with commanding experience in both business and education, according to the press release.

His experience includes serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Furthermore, Puig has “spent seven years in the corporate world as an account executive, research analyst and project manager for a national marketing firm based in Fort Worth.”

Puig was named the Region 18 Superintendent of the Year and his board was recognized as a 2014 Texas Honor Board. According to the press release, that means it was “one of only five districts in the state to earn this distinction.”

As a principal in Dallas ISD, Puig led a TEA Exemplary campus. His research in the area of public school governance and student achievement won the “Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.”

He also serves as a mentor superintendent for the Texas Association of School Administrators Learning for Leadership Program. The newly-named SBCISD superintendent is a registered provider of board training credit through the Texas Education Agency.

“He has made numerous professional presentations statewide, including workshops on how to establish strategic board-superintendent relations, curriculum policy and visioning,” the press release reads, further stating, “Most recently, Dr. Puig was selected to present at the 2015 National School Boards Association Conference in Nashville on the topic ‘school board influence on student outcomes.’”

He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s from the University of Texas at Arlington. In May 2014, he completed his doctorate in education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Puig’s selection ends a search for a superintendent that began on July 8. The board commissioned Waterford School Services Inc. to conduct the search and build a profile based on traits and qualifications determined by the board and through public input.

According to Texas state law, there is a 21-day waiting period required after the board names a lone finalist for superintendent.

Board member Angel Mendez, said, “I’m very confident that the individual that we selected is going to bring in some new perspective. As a whole, we selected the best candidate for the job.”

Current superintendent Antonio G. Limón said that he will begin his new position as assistant superintendent of human resources one day prior to Puig taking over, as per his contract.

“My duty is to make it as smooth a transition as possible (for Dr. Puig) and I intend to do that,” said Limón, adding, “and I look forward to the arrival of Dr. Puig and look forward to a smooth transition.”

As for his interest in retiring in the near future, Limón said it’s a “possibility” he’s discussing with his family.

Board president Arnold Padilla, said that the board was “ecstatic” about Puig’s selection.

The process was “a tedious affair,” according to Padilla, but he said that the board exercised serious contemplation and diligence in making the decision.

“I personally feel that we’ve done a tremendous job,” said Padilla.

After taking the top six of 49 applicants, the board selected Puig, according to Padilla, adding that the decision was unanimous.

One of the main things that separated Puig from the others, even though they all had what Padilla referred to as “equal” qualifications, was his energy, and “the personality needed to help move this district forward.”

Trustee Yliana González said she is “optimistic” about Puig and that, in all interactions they’ve had with him, he’s been “very processional.”

He “has a charisma about him,” said González of the lone finalist, adding, “That’s not to say the others weren’t.” She said every applicant was qualified, but “at the end of the day [the board] can only select one.”

Details concerning Puig’s contract negotiations, including salary, have yet to be released.

Attempts to reach board vice president Hector Leal, board secretary Oscar Medrano and fellow trustees Anna Cruz and Fatima Huerta were unsuccessful as of press time Friday.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/11/07/puig-is-the-man-superintendent-from-van-horn-to-lead-sbcisd/

23 comments

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  1. @FH out
    I totally agree but there’s other board members that take advantage of freebies; for example, just look at Oscar Medrano, he always takes an Entourage with him which includes the 9th and 10th board members( Rosalinda and Sonia) to seminars and most of the vendors paid dinners. That’s exactly the problem with San Benito, is way these people represent our community. It’s a joke!!!! But you guys voted for them so don’t complain. Ana Cruz and Fatima Huerta are out for sure, word on the street! And I totally agree!!

    • HAHA on November 15, 2014 at 2:43 pm
    • Reply

    @Typical
    Please tell me what this board has done wrong? List the things that they have done wrong. If anything they are working to clean up the mess that the “Ghetto Board” members left behind. Additionally, I was replying to citizen, because as usual the people that attack Ms. Garcia on here are the same people that lost the election. However, your comments don’t get to me at all. The reason for that is because TEA and who knows what other federal agency is going to look into what the “Ghetto board” members did when they were in office. This is not over for them!! Let’s not forget the feds are cracking down on other school districts for voter fraud and other illegal crimes here in the valley. I guarantee you that the feds are probably keeping an eye on SBCISD. You should be more concerned about that than trying to defend citizen who only has ignorant things to say about Ms. Garcia. If you are not happy with this board then by all means run for office this coming election. It’s funny how people think that it’s that easy to run, win, and come in like dictators saving the district from what they believe is wrong. Then what happens next is you have the state government and feds at your door telling you, “no sweetie, this is not Mexico we have American laws that have to be followed and you cannot simply come in and do as you please.” Remember these elected officials are nothing more than a group that evaluate the superintendent of the school district. They do NOT run the daily operations of the district. The ones that do that are the Directors, Principals, and Professional Staff that have degrees and are certified to do so. So please go cry elsewhere.

    • Rosalinda G. Garcia on November 15, 2014 at 10:23 am
    • Reply

    Roses Are Red and Violets Are Blue, Comments won’t break me and neither will you!

    Hope you have a great! And Thank-You Lord for giving me awesome days!

    Thanks for reading my blog.

    Rosalinda G. Garcia

  2. @HAHA
    Your a total joke, and by classifying people your just as low class as the others. The new board has made a mess of the their short time on the board. According to you, ghetto is out, so what your excuse now? The mess continues weekly… 2015 elections can’t come fast enough!!! An trust me your, your non ghetto board members will be replaced, trust me!!!

    • Juanita on November 13, 2014 at 8:04 pm
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    SBCISD will be a stepping stone.do the research

    • Henry on November 13, 2014 at 8:02 pm
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    The focus should always be on academics. It will not be as he has been told to focus on cutting and cutting. Just watch out employees, as your raise will not be there and all those people supposedly focusing on reading will also be gone. The minute Anna allowed people to be interviewed without the right stuff, she lost the focus on academics. The plans are there and have been. The “new board” is lining up.

    • FH out on November 13, 2014 at 1:48 pm
    • Reply

    I hear that Fatima is planning to run again next May, why would she do that to herself? We all know she is going to lose! She does not stand a chance! Neither her, nor her husband (8th board member), will not longer get to rejoice in all the freebies. No more steak dinners!

    Fatima, you don’t stand a chance!!!

    • HAHA on November 12, 2014 at 10:29 pm
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    @Citizen
    Aww poor baby, you still can’t get over the fact that your ghetto board members lost the election! It’s about time you move on. You’re right about one thing, log off!!! and GET A LIFE!!

  3. @ The Reader
    It looks like you woke up the sleeping monster! For the most part, these comments are decent to read, but when she gets blogging it’s time to log off.. Unfortunately, this person stands for nothing positive and has proven it, so I’m out..

    • Rosalinda G. Garcia on November 10, 2014 at 11:16 pm
    • Reply

    To Reader: You might be right, what do I know. I use the word blog because under Opinions in the SB News are Letters to the Editor; Guest/Staff Columns, and Blogs. I choose to use the word “blog”. Is there such a word “blog” in the dictionary? Like I said, what do I know.

    Thanks for reading my blog.

      • Triple P on November 11, 2014 at 10:21 am
      • Reply

      well it does say “# comments”, “skip to comment form”, “link to this comment”, and “reply to comment”. but like you said, what do you know.

    • WeThePeople on November 10, 2014 at 6:58 pm
    • Reply

    “Time wounds all heels.” – Groucho Marx

    Peace will come
    With tranquillity and splendor on the wheels of fire
    But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall
    And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating
    Between the King and the Queen of Swords

    BOB DYLAN, “Changing of the Guards”

    • Juan on November 10, 2014 at 11:05 am
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    That’s the whole problem,C Rod.Nobody for along while has focused on the students.Their issue,and maybe yours too is their jobs.It doesn’t matter if it’s Tony’s party or the other side,their goal is the jobs,the students are only after thought,they don’t matter,the administration,staff,and teachers are what really counts in this community.

    • C Rod on November 9, 2014 at 10:21 pm
    • Reply

    In San Benito politics is alive and well. You know the right people and your job is secure. Student success is not at the forefront nor is accountability. You have top administrators running to board members when things don’t go their way. The irony of it all is that the same board members she runs to (Anna & Oscar) are the same board members she talks about and stabs in the back. All the while the program she heads is one of the least successful in the district. But ten years later(maybe more) she is still heading that program and having melt downs. This is just one of many examples of the ineptness that exists in the district. As an employee of SBCISD my hope is the new leadership holds all of us accountable. If we can’t get the job done replace us. It’s all about the students! Let’s stay focused.

    • New Hope for SBCISD on November 9, 2014 at 8:43 am
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    I certainly hope he doesnt get manipulated by anyone!.. and that he puts all schools and including all district staff under the microscope and gets all employees to do their JOBS!.. School Board Members Let him do what hes hired to do . PLEASE LET THIS MAN MAKE OUR SCHOOLS BETTER. Dont lead him into making bad choices that will only benefit school board members and their friends and family.

  4. We wish Dr.Puig the best of luck on his new endeavor. I hope he has the will to stand up to the board and do the right thing, and that’s fight of our children and staff. Our school district needs badly strong leadership, that will make people accountable. Remember Dr.Puig stand up for what’s right, and don’t let the board manipulate you because remember the board changes every other year!

    • HERE WE GO AGAIN on November 9, 2014 at 7:38 am
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    I cannot believe that SBCISD has done it again. They need to start by getting your money back from the firm they paid to place the superintendent. You could have allowed the students be the selection committee and they would have come out with a better candidate for superintendent. San Benito is a corrupt, dysfunctional, inefficient and poor performing district that is run by a corrupt administrations and school board. This is the only reason they would hire a puppet as opposed to a qualified individual that is needed to save the district. To bring in some one that has only experience with two schools and expect them to manage 19 schools. Dr Puig has no experience with such a large budget or curriculum on such a large scale. Dr. Puig needs not to build his resume on our local tax dollars and not gain curriculum experience on our children. The board and corrupt administration will love someone new that will have to count on them for lead and in-turn he becomes their puppet. The administration and board couldn’t get experienced and qualified superintendents (Abregon & Cantu) to play their BS games so they had to find Dr Puig with 2 schools experience. Good luck SB and when it comes to the education and future of our children, we don’t sit back and HOPE !!!!

      • Triple P on November 10, 2014 at 8:09 am
      • Reply

      So you would rather have two interim superintendents waste tax payers money to play school board bs games instead? Is that what you are saying?

        • HERE WE GO AGAIN on November 10, 2014 at 1:39 pm
        • Reply

        No way. Just an experienced leader. Now that you mention it and just because Mr Limon will be assigned a new title, he will still be as unproductive as he is along with the salary. They need to replace Mr Limon, Mrs Sanchez and Ms McCall. You do not only have poor administrative leadership from that side of the fence but from the business side as well.

    • Rosalinda G. Garcia on November 8, 2014 at 8:52 pm
    • Reply

    I feel very confident in the present school board with the selection of Dr. Marc Puig; a lone finalist who brings a combination of education and business experience that will continue to lead San Benito CISD in a positive direction.

    Thank you for reading my blog.

      • reader on November 10, 2014 at 8:07 am
      • Reply

      I haven’t read your blog, but I did read your comment. 🙂

    • concerned teacher on November 8, 2014 at 3:05 pm
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    I hope Dr. Puig is capable of being the leader of this district. He is coming from a very small district which was most certainly easier to lead. Only 2 campuses :Eagle Elementary School and Van Horn Secondary.
    Enrollment of students taking the STAAR in that district were 3rd- 5th 203 students ,6th-8th 91 students ,and 9th-12th 138 students.
    I pray that he has the wisdom and the integrity to get the job done. We definitely need someone new who will think for himself.

    • HOPE on November 8, 2014 at 12:13 pm
    • Reply

    I hope the best for this new superintendent and that he along with the directors, administrators, and teachers will make a new and good difference in our school district. I pray that things get better now that SBCISD has new leadership! God Bless!!

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