Southside Independent School District Superintendent of Schools Mr. Rolando Ramirez believes Southside ISD can become an A-rated district under the Texas Education Agency A through F accountability rating system. “Our district rating at the end of the year will measure how effective we were. We will work harder, smarter, and as a team to make Southside ISD an A-rated school district,” said Mr. Ramirez.

New Superintendent Mr. Ramirez also believes Southside campuses can become national U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools and also earn National Distinguished Performance Awards. He knows it can happen at Southside ISD because it happened during his tenure in the Valley View ISD; a school district just a little smaller than Southside ISD and located along the U.S.-Mexico border. Valley View’s students are 92 percent economically disadvantaged and 62 percent limited English proficient; similar demographics to Southside’s.

Superintendent Ramirez says the coronavirus pandemic has given families greater awareness and appreciation for the work of teachers. He said, “In my opinion teachers should be paid in gold. The public is now experiencing the value of the teaching profession. Teaching is not easy and it takes very special individuals to practice this profession. Therefore, they should be compensated accordingly.”

Superintendent Ramirez and his wife, Graciela, are the parents of two boys; Josh, 16, and Santiago, 7. Their home is in the Southside ISD.