McAllen ISD Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez has been selected by TASA as Texas’ nominee for the School Superintendents Association’s 2021 National Superintendent of the Year.
Gonzalez has served as superintendent of McAllen ISD for the past four years. His service to the district also includes other administrator positions for a total of 23 years. Prior to becoming superintendent, he held the position of associate superintendent for Instructional Leadership. He has also served as a principal, assistant principal, teacher and coach.
“Being an educator and having an influence on people is near and dear to my heart because when you look at it with depth and complexity and from a parent’s perspective, you start to understand the magnitude of what the field of education is all about,” Gonzalez said. “I am fascinated with the art of teaching and learning. Everyone is some kind of smart — be it mathematical, verbal, kinesthetic or musical. We all have a particular learning style, and it is our job, as educators, to help our students discover their talents and to build on their natural skill sets.”
A Rise in Excellence
Gonzalez has been a member of TASA since 2016. He also belongs to the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Gonzalez is also a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. He serves on the UT-Rio Grande Valley College of Education Advisory Committee. Gonzalez serves on the board of directors for both the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the South Texas Association of Schools.
In October, following his selection as Region 1 Superintendent of the Year, the Texas Association of School Boards named him the 2020 Texas Superintendent of the Year. Now, as a state nominee for AASA National Superintendent of the Year, Gonzalez will be considered by a panel of judges from across the U.S. They will select four finalists for virtual interviews in January. The announcement of the 2021 National Superintendent of the Year will take place Feb. 18-19 at AASA’s National Conference on Education.