The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees officially approved Rene Gutierrez as the district’s new superintendent of schools at a board meeting Monday night.

The approval paves the way for the two-time Regional Superintendent of the Year to return to the district where he attended school and graduated from McAllen High in 1983.

“We are elated to have Dr. Gutierrez as our new superintendent,” said School Board President Debbie Crane Aliseda. “He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the district. He is a leader who comes in with proven results and will be fully committed to success – one child at a time.”

The contract is for three years. Gutierrez became the lone finalist on Oct. 16 and will start officially on Nov. 27.

The board received feedback from stakeholders including parents, students, teachers, staff and community members.

“Community input was vital in this process,” Aliseda said.

A Commitment to Education

A life-long educator, Gutierrez served as a superintendent for Edinburg CISD for 10 years before taking over as superintendent for Brownsville ISD in 2019. He led both of those districts to become state “A” rated districts in the Texas Accountability System.

Twice, he has been named the Region One Superintendent of the Year, winning in 2012 while in Edinburg and earlier this year at Brownsville. He brings 36 years of experience to McAllen ISD.

Gutierrez earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas-Pan American in 2008. He earned his Masters of Education Degree at UTPA in 1992.

He began his career as a math teacher in La Joya ISD in 1987. His other past positions include high school counselor, school facilitator, migrant coordinator, director of state and federal programs, elementary principal, and assistant superintendent for administration and finance.

He is married to Edna Gutierrez and they have three children – Omar, Edgar and Vanessa.