Many SAISD students are navigating the challenges of higher education as first-generation college students, and that path has real obstacles. Scholarships, college tours, and internships can create tangible, measurable change in students’ lives. And when those students return as role models and leaders in their communities, the impact comes full circle. The San Antonio Express-News recently shared the full circle story of one such student, alumna Katrina Munoz (Sam Houston, 2018).

Katrina Munoz has proven what’s possible when opportunity meets determination — and how together, we can shape students’ futures in ways that last a lifetime. During her junior year at Sam Houston, Katrina participated in a college tour funded by the SAISD Foundation and Valero Energy's Pipeline for College Success program. The experience showed students first-hand what college life could be like and inspired Katrina to attend Austin College, where she graduated in 2022.

Katrina’s connection with the SAISD Foundation extended far beyond her college tour. Her impressive scholarship application essay captured the team's interest, leading to a summer internship at the SAISD Foundation. She returned for a second summer internship while in college, where she developed leadership and management skills through leading volunteers in our Book Buddies program.

Katrina went on to earn her master’s in teaching from Trinity University as a Charles Butt Foundation Scholar and is now fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. From SAISD student to high school teacher, Katrina has come full circle and in her classroom, Katrina recognizes pieces of her younger years reflected in her students. “I was always the kind of student who loved academics, who loved being a part of something. I was always busy, always productive,” she said. “Now, I get to instill that same drive in others.”

Katrina has a message to the donors and supporters of the SAISD Foundation: “You are changing lives. Even if you think it’s a small thing, it’s huge for us. Students just want to be seen, heard and supported. Your help goes a long way - and we appreciate it more than you know.” Read her full story from mySA by clicking here.

Get ready for some joyful celebrations! Throughout Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5 - May 9) and the month of May, we will be surprising SAISD educators with Bright Idea Grants, and you’re invited to join the fun! 

Thanks to our generous donors and event sponsors, we are awarding $100,000 in Bright Idea Grants! These special grants, awarded to talented San Antonio ISD teachers and staff across the district, provide up to $5,000 to kick-start new and innovative projects or enhance current programs. Since the grants are a surprise, we can’t share too much, but grants will range from investments in our youngest Pre-K learners to Arts and STEM investments with our high school students. 

Come along as we deliver the exciting news in person — seeing the reactions of our educators is truly priceless! Contact SAISDFoundation@saisd.net if you are interested in joining us for the surprise visits!

Since the reopening of schools post-pandemic and at the request of students and educators, the SAISD Foundation has been investing in emotionally safe spaces at school for students to decompress, resolve conflict, and be able to return to class ready to learn.  These spaces have been a welcome addition. 

Over the last two school years, partnering with the City of San Antonio’s Youth Commission, the SAISD Foundation has supported nine campuses through micro-grants, including a peace room at Rhodes Middle School. Sheryl Mondragon, 8th-grade counselor, stated, “The peace room has been well utilized by many of our staff members when they need to work with a student in a safe and supportive environment. We also have space within the room for restorative circles and small group counseling. We hope to continue to make this space a refuge for our students and expand its use next school year.

At Rogers Academy, the school’s student council worked together to plan a space where students can recharge and recuperate throughout the day. Students are enjoying the visual, auditory, and tactile components of the room that provide a calming space where they can de-stress and return to class ready to engage in their lessons. This room was made possible by the COSA Youth Commission and a Principal Grant awarded by the Foundation. 

For our younger students, the spaces reflect the needs of their student population and, as such, are unique. Erica Guerra, Assistant Principal at Fenwick Academy, shared, “Our students love it. Younger students have utilized some of the fidgets and the weighted stuffed animals to help with anxiety in the classroom. It's been a great addition to our campus.”

San Antonio ISD has taken that work to scale in a new way as they invest in 25 peace rooms at secondary schools in partnership with Bexar County. This past March, the District unveiled the 14th peace room at Brackenridge High School. This newest peace room holds special meaning for the SAISD Foundation. The unique elements in this space were funded by the Carol Lee Jones Educational and Cultural Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. The room honors Brackenridge alumna Carol Lee Jones, whose endowment supports programs that help students stay in school and thrive.

The SAISD Foundation is opening up a whole new world of possibilities for students — literally! Thanks to a grant from John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation, a fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, we are launching an exciting new initiative where students can explore more than 40 careers without ever leaving their classrooms, all through the power of virtual reality.

The VR career exploration experience through Transfr software is a valuable tool to ignite curiosity and stimulate future planning, a perfect match for AVID classes. In SAISD, AVID or Advancement via Individual Determination works with students to prepare them for college and careers. In our first classroom launch in April, AVID students at Whittier Middle School had the opportunity to engage in career exploration with the Transfr VR headsets. Through the leadership of Cynthia Martinez, PhD, Director of AVID at SAISD, and trained instructor Ms. Xitlali Flores, the scholars engaged in introductory lessons on career clusters and completed an interest inventory prior to the VR experience.

Students explored the careers that interested them to see if their interests matched the “virtual” reality of the career. Martinez continued, “A popular simulation was conducting knee surgery where scholars dove into the tools and techniques used. Scholars either solidified their interest in medicine or realized they were uncomfortable with blood. One scholar engaged in a simulation where he repaired a downed communications tower 400 feet in the air. The simulation felt so real, he realized he did not want a job that involved heights. It is just as important for our scholars to know what they don't like as much as what they do like.”

In addition to AVID courses, we are working in partnership to deliver this dynamic, relevant content through our mobile STEM Buses launching Fall 2025 and additional middle school elective courses. From our experiences to date, we are confident that this programming will open the eyes of middle school scholars to the multitude of career options available to them in SAISD’s robust pathways and beyond. Thereby exciting them about their futures and helping them make informed choices for their high school courses and pathways. 

In SAISD, we know that where we started matters—and so does where we’re headed. As graduation season approaches, we’re shining a light on our proud alumni through our “Where We Started Matters” series on LinkedIn, celebrating the individuals who built their foundations right here in SAISD schools. These stories serve as powerful reminders of the impact a strong public school education can have—and how far our students can go.

Now, it’s time to celebrate the next generation of SAISD alumni: the Class of 2025.

With more than 200,000 SAISD alumni strong, our community represents a powerful network of experience, resilience, and pride. As our seniors prepare to take their next steps, there's no one better to offer guidance than those who once walked these same hallways.

We’re inviting alumni from across the district to share words of wisdom, encouragement, or inspiration for the Class of 2025. Whether it’s a personal story, a piece of advice, or a simple note of support—your voice matters. Your message might even be featured on the jumbotron at graduation, showing our seniors just how many people are rooting for them.

Be part of their story—submit your message here.

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