Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Antonio City Council recognizes Harlandale ISD superintendent as Region 20 Superintendent of the Year
Summary
The San Antonio City Council honored the Harlandale ISD superintendent (name varies in the transcript) after the Texas Association of School Boards named him Region 20 Superintendent of the Year; council members praised his leadership, bond work and student attendance improvements.
The San Antonio City Council formally recognized the Harlandale Independent School District superintendent as the 2025 Region 20 Superintendent of the Year, praising the district’s leadership and recent gains in student services and attendance.
Mayor Pro Tem Kor and Council member Castillo presented the recognition, noting the superintendent’s role in passing the district’s largest bond, establishing a career and technical education center and expanding student connectivity through a private LTE network. Council members highlighted the superintendent’s multi-decade career in public education and recent steps to restore local governance and strengthen family engagement.
“Under his guidance, Harlandale ISD has experienced historic transformation marked by innovation, fiscal stewardship, and strong community partnership,” Council member Castillo said during remarks recognizing the superintendent.
Several council members added specific praise: they credited the superintendent with leading recovery after the pandemic, increasing average daily attendance to about 90 percent last year, and prioritizing student well-being through initiatives such as an early-alert system and increased partnerships with community organizations.
The superintendent addressed the council, thanking members for their support and emphasizing ongoing city–school collaboration to advance educational opportunities in San Antonio’s South Side.
The recognition was ceremonial; council members used the occasion to underscore continuing priorities for partnerships between the city and local school districts. No formal action beyond the presentation was recorded in the transcript.
The transcript spells the superintendent’s name inconsistently (appearing variously as "Sotho," "So to," "Soto," and "Sato"). The council identified him as the Harlandale ISD superintendent and introduced him to speak; the record does not provide a single, authoritative spelling to reconcile all variants.
The presentation concluded and the council proceeded to other agenda items.
