The Brownsville Independent School District has announced Brownsville ISD graduate Dr. Jesus H. Chavez as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent of schools.

The announcement comes after a thorough and extensive search process and listening to the community through various community town halls, student roundtable discussions, business and community stakeholder meetings, employee surveys and public comments.

At the start of the search process, the board of trustees initially set a criteria excluding the interim superintendent from eligibility for the position. Despite Chavez not actively seeking the role of superintendent of schools, his involvement with the current administration, visits to campuses and engagement with community stakeholders prompted the board to reassess its criteria and consider him as a potential candidate. Concurrently, Chavez reevaluated his stance on pursuing the position, driven by his profound dedication to education and the district’s mission.

In considering all candidates, the board of trustees found that Chavez brought extensive experience and a commitment to educational excellence to the position. His leadership qualities, vision for the district and dedication to student success stood out during the selection process. Having served Brownsville ISD in the past as a teacher and assistant principal, he has a proven commitment to educational excellence and has prior experience in working collaboratively with all stakeholders, such as the board of trustees, staff, parents and other communities.

“We are confident that Dr. Chavez is the right leader to guide Brownsville ISD to even greater heights of achievement,” said Jessica G. Gonzalez, president of the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees. “His passion for education, along with his proven track record of success, make him an exceptional choice to serve as our next potential superintendent.”

Per state law, the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees must wait a minimum of 21 days before officially appointing Chavez as the superintendent of schools. During this time, the board will negotiate the terms of the employment contract with the finalist.