Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde
Introduced by former AISD Trustee Lion Ann Teich
Guest speaker for this year’s scholarship check presentation is Dr. Stephanie S. Elizalde. As superintendent of the Austin independent School District, she oversees more than 80,000 students and 12,000 employees. A lifelong educator committed to equity and excellence in education for every student, Dr. Elizalde is a native Texan and the district's first Latina superintendent. She also happens to be a member of the Austin Founder Lions Club!
She is a third-generation public school educator, following in the footsteps of her father and grandmother. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from UT San Antonio, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from UT Austin.
During her career, Dr. Elizalde has been a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and deputy chief. She has worked in diverse school systems, from small settings to large, urban systems, including Southwest ISD and San Antonio ISD.
Today, she is focused on the development of great school leaders as the foundation for success in every school. By supporting, rewarding and retaining excellent teachers, she stands behind the belief that “the teacher is the program.”
Her professional accolades are numerous: She was awarded the UT-Austin Dr. Nolan Estes Leadership Ascension Award four times, most recently in 2017, and earned a Presidential Medal from Ana G. Mendez University.
Dr. Elizalde has a proven track record of raising academic achievement while being focused on a culture of inclusion and equity with diverse communities. She understands the importance of developing collaborative relationships with the city and individual communities that are home to each school.
She will speak on the state of the district, some of her successes and her plans for AISD’s future.
Presentations of six $500 scholarships will be made to the principals of schools named for Austin Founder Lions: Cowan Elementary, Kocurek Elementary, Widen Elementary, Pickle Elementary, Boone Elementary and Garcia Middle School.
LUNCH IS FREE - BUT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER