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NEISD Discover Magazine Spring 2026

Page 1


NORTH EAST

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

David Beyer, President, District 4

Terri Chidgey, Vice President, District 6

Lisa Thompson, Secretary, District 1

Melinda Cox, Trustee, District 5

Caprice Garcia, Trustee, District 7

Tracie Shelton, Trustee, District 2

Michael Wulczyn, Trustee, District 3

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Anthony Jarrett, Interim Superintendent of Schools

Rudy Jimenez, Chief of Schools and Leadership

Deborah Caldwell, Chief Operations Officer

Susan Lackhorn, Interim Chief Financial Officer

Dr. April Muzquiz, Interim Chief Instructional Officer

Aubrey Chancellor, Executive Director of Communications

Contents

Cover: New Shoes For All at Dellview

Page 3:

North East ISD @northeastisd

District Welcomes New Leadership NEISD Opens Boundaries to New Students

Thank You, NEISD Community!

Page 4: North East Briefs

NEISD Tipline

Free Summer Meals

Board of Trustees

Get Your Senior Star Card

Apply For a Job

Page 5: New Shoes For All at Dellview

Page 6: Around the District

Summer Learning for Kids and Adults

Cellphone Policy

2026 Bond Updates

Who To Call This Summer

Beyond the Bell

Lunch Changes Next School Year

Page 7: Educators Honored For Their Excellence

Page 8: A Morning of Miles, Smiles and Student Support

Page 9: NEISD Kids Summer Camps

Page 10: NEISD KIN Registration

Page 11: Advertisements

Back Cover: You’re Invited to NEISD’s 3rd Annual Summer Feast!

DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHiP

On May 18, Anthony Jarrett was named the lone finalist for North East ISD’s Superintendent of Schools. He stepped into the role of Interim Superintendent after Dr. Sean Maika announced his departure in November.

Jarrett is an accomplished educator with more than 25 years of experience, Jarrett has previously taught students in classrooms, led schools as a principal and served as a district administrator. Most recently he served as Chief Instructional Officer, a key member of the NEISD executive leadership team.

Additionally in May, two NEISD Board of Trustees positions went before voters. In District 3 and District 7 respectively, we welcome newly elected board members Michael Wulczyn and Caprice Garcia. Tracie Shelton in District 2 was also up for election this year but ran unopposed, so she retains the position. They officially began their terms on May 13.

neisd opens boundaries to new students

Thank you,

During the April regular meeting of the North East ISD Board of Trustees, trustees voted in favor of opening our District boundaries to allow any students living in San Antonio and surrounding areas to enroll in NEISD for the 2026-2027 school year. Families were invited to start the application process the following week. Acceptance will depend on available space, attendance, discipline, and academic standing.

NEISD community!

NEISD has been voted the #1 School District in the 2026 YourSA San Antonio Express-News Readers’ Choice Awards!

This wouldn’t be possible without you—our incredible students, families, teachers and staff. Thank you for choosing NEISD and helping us provide the best education possible for every child. This is the fourth time our District has won the honor, as you have also helped us reach #1 in 2021, 2023 and 2025.

If you see something, say something. Online or by phone. North East Police Department

North East Tip Line

neisd.net/ tipline

Emergency Number 210-407-0911

Non-emergency Number 210-407-0925

NORTH EAST

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

To find the latest information on our NEISD Board of Trustees, including maps, policies, meeting dates, videos and agendas, visit: neisd.net/board

NORTH EAST briefs

Free meals for kids this summer!

North East ISD is participating in the Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals to children 18 years of age and younger at several NEISD campuses beginning June 4, 2026.

To find locations near you:

• Call 211

• Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304

• Visit neisd.net/summermeals

Get your senior stars club card

To qualify, you must be 65 years old or older AND live within NEISD boundaries.

• Get free use of NEISD swim facilities and tennis courts, and admittance to athletic and fine arts events.

• Receive 20% discount on community education classes. Call 210-407-0132 for more information.

Whether your talents are in maintenance, food services, education, clerical, transportation, custodial, accounting, counseling, special education, languages or campus leadership, North East ISD welcomes your interest and employment application.

Employee Benefits and Perks:

• Competitive compensation

• Affordable health plans

• Generous vacation/leave days

• Employee perks and discounts

• Professional development

For job opportunities --> CLICK TO LEARN MORE

New Shoes for all at dellview

Dellview Elementary School students are sporting new kicks these days, thanks to the efforts of Bimbo Bakeries/ Thomas Breads and Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that provides new coats and shoes to children.

On a Friday in May, volunteers from Bimbo Bakeries/Thomas Breads visited Dellview, bringing more than 300 pairs of shoes of every color, snacks and swag to distribute to every student. Bimbo Bakeries/Thomas Breads Director of Sales Rafael Reyna said they also brought the good vibes.

“At Bimbo Bakeries, for us, it’s important to give back to the community,” he said. “These are our consumers, our customers. Customers support us. The community supports us, so that’s why we think it’s important to give back.”

Second-grader Arabella Carter picked out a pair of bright pink shoes after a volunteer helped her find the right size.

“I like the color,” she said after putting on her new shoes.

Each class came by the gym, where a volunteer helped each student find their shoe size and then led them to the tables piled high with pairs of bright-colored shoes. After students tried on the shoes, they could grab a bag with snacks and other goodies and sign their names on an Operation Warm poster.

“It’s very exciting to provide this opportunity for our students and our parents,” Dellview Family Specialist Mayra Martinez said. “It’s a great resource, and it will help build their confidence.”

North East ISD family specialists are located at 32 NEISD Title 1 campuses to support students and their families. We also have Family Engagement Liaisons assigned to support clusters of schools. Our Family Engagement teams ensure families have access to the resources and services they need.

AROUND our DISTRICT

CELLPHONE POLICY

To learn more about any of these topics and more, follow us on social and visit our website at neisd.net

SUMMER learning for kids and adults

North East ISD Adult and Community Education is offering a variety of summer enrichment opportunities for youth and adults. Youth classes are available in both morning and afternoon sessions, providing flexible options for families. Adult enrichment classes will be offered at the Community Learning Center, as well as online via Zoom, making it convenient to join in a way that best fits your schedule. Enrollment is now open. For more information, visit: neisd.ce.eleyo.com

In April, the Board of Trustees voted to modify the District’s cellphone policy for students. Click here for more.

who to call this summer

Most campuses operate on limited hours or are closed during the summer, but here is a great resource on who to call: neisd.net/summer

NEISD 2025 BOND

Propositions A, B and C of the 2025 bond were approved by voters in the fall. To keep track of the bond’s progress, visit neisd.net/bond

BEYOND THE BELL

Free counseling services will again be offered to students this summer. Fill out the referral form and a certified school counselor will be in touch.

lunch changes next school year

Don’t forget to fill out your Free and Reduced Meal Application!

We know that access to healthy school meals directly impacts student success, so we want to work with you to remove any barriers. Many of our campuses previously qualified for the National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision, which means all students enrolled at those campuses received free lunch and breakfast. Unfortunately, due to changes in the program, many of our CEP campuses no longer qualify. That means meal prices will be charged to any student at those campuses beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Your child may still qualify for a free or reduced meal price, so we strongly urge you to fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to verify. Families at non-CEP campuses will receive an email in July when the application is available. They will also receive a paper application during the first week of school, so please don’t miss out on this opportunity. To find out if your campus is a CEP campus or if you need to fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Application, click here

educators honored for their excellence

Our educators don’t do their jobs for awards or accolades. They have a passion for educating and supporting our students and do their jobs because it is their life calling.

But we all know that excellence rises to the top, and these hard-working individuals deserve all the praise we can give them. Recently, our District honored some of its finest.

Even H-E-B dropped by for a huge educator recognition.

“Thank you for sharing your talents with North East,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Anthony Jarrett. “We will not achieve success without you. Each and every one of you continue to make a difference.”

NEISD teachers of the year

Teachers of the Year are selected from each of our campuses and honored for their talents and leadership. At our District Teacher of the Year celebration in May, an overall elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year are announced. This year, that honor went to Montgomery Elementary School’s Lena Aloumari and Churchill High School’s Humberto Gonzalez. Lena teaches fifth grade at Montgomery and Humberto teaches U.S. History and coaches boys basketball.

NEISD paraprofessionals of the year

North East ISD paraprofessionals, instructional assistants and teacher aides play a crucial role in supporting our students, teachers, staff and community. This year, the top paraprofessionals in our District are Nidal Abdallah from Redland Oaks Elementary School and Dorothy Wood from Legacy of Educational Excellence High School. Nidal is a special education assistant on her campus, and Dorothy is her school’s library assistant.

H-E-B Excellence in Education Award

Tex Hill Middle School Principal Michele RamirezCastaneda was named one of five finalists statewide for the Secondary Principal category in the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. As a finalist, she won $1,000 for herself and $1,500 for her school, and was surprised with the news at a school assembly.

“Every day, I am inspired by the intentionality and passion our community pours into our school,” said Ramirez-Castaneda. “This nomination is a reflection of the excellence we build together.”

a morning of miles, smiles and student support

The inaugural Footsteps for Education 5K and Kids Color Run on May 9 was a tremendous success, bringing together more than 1,000 students, staff, families, and community partners for a morning focused on wellness, school spirit and student support. Thanks to the incredible participation and generosity of our community, the event raised more than $23,000 to support Student Impact Grants across North East ISD. Participants ranged in age from just 2 years old to 82 years young, showcasing the true community spirit behind the event. Hundreds of students took part as runners and volunteers, joined by more than 100 adult volunteers from both NEISD and the greater community. The event also featured more than 30 vendors, five food trucks, and representation from all seven NEISD clusters.

NEISD executive staff helped kick off both the 5K and the Kids Color Run, adding to the excitement and energy of the morning. From the starting line to the finish line, the event was filled with encouragement, smiles, and unforgettable moments.

Our North East Educational Foundation (NEEF) brought the new event to life as a way to support our students and teachers.

A special thank you to NEEF Board of Directors, the NEEF 5K Committee, NEISD Benefits and Wellness Program and Blue Cross Blue Shield for their support in helping make this event possible.

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, sponsored, and supported the Footsteps for Education 5K. We cannot wait to make next year even bigger!

Until then, mark your calendar for more exciting NEEF events.

Kids’ Kids’ s’

NEED AFTER NEED AFTERSCHOOL SCHOOL CARE? CARE

NEISD’s 3rd Annual Summer Feast

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Ed White Middle School

7800 Midcrown, SATX 78218

• Summer meals: Free lunch for kids 18 and under

• Resource Fair: 35+ NEISD departments and community organizations

• Food Distribution: Free food bags while supplies last from the San Antonio Food Bank

• Mobile Clinic: Free immunizations provided

• PE Zone: Fun physical activities for the kids

• DJ, door prizes and giveaways on site neisd.net/summer-feast

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