Special to the NEWS
The South Texas Independent School District (STISD) Board of Trustees, at its April 7 meeting, named Dr. Sandra Garza Ochoa of Edcouch-Elsa ISD as a finalist for superintendent.
By law, the Board must now wait 21 days before voting to hire Ochoa as the new superintendent for South Texas ISD, which has a campus in San Benito (Rising Scholars). Ochoa is slated to replace outgoing Superintendent Dr. Marco Antonio Lara, Jr.
The Board conducted a lengthy nationwide search to determine the finalist. In November, the Board hired Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to direct the search.
TASB consultants administered a survey to gather feedback from the district community on the new superintendent’s leadership qualities.
The profile developed from this survey served as the benchmark used by the Board and consultants to evaluate applicants for the position.
The Board is scheduled to vote on offering Ochoa a contract on April 29. Ochoa has served as superintendent of Edcouch Elsa ISD since 2025.
STISD comprises four magnet high schools – South Texas ISD Health Professions in Mercedes, South Texas ISD Medical Professions in Olmito, South Texas ISD Science Academy in Mercedes, and South Texas ISD World Scholars in Edinburg – as well as two middle schools – South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy in Edinburg and South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito – and one stand-alone virtual campus, South Texas ISD Virtual Academy, which serves students in grades 6-12.
All campuses are tuition-free and serve students from Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties. For more information, call 1-800-21STUDY or visit www.stisd.net.
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