Building on the success of our Book Buddies Bus—which now delivers over 40,000 books annually and fun adventures to SAISD schools each week—we’re expanding our mobile bus model to launch a new bus that will bring hands-on STEM experiences directly to our students at school. 

This past school year, one of the senior Engineering design teams at St. Mary's University designed, gutted and built out the Voyager STEM Bus to provide hands-on STEM learning for middle school and upper elementary-aged students. Their Engineering senior design project is more than a capstone—it's a transformative, two-semester journey where classroom learning meets industrial practice. 

We were honored to bring SAISD educators, our Foundation board and industry professionals into the design conversations with students and Kat Sauter, Coordinator of Pre-College STEM Outreach Initiatives at St. Mary’s and former SAISD educator, to ensure an end product that delivers dynamic opportunities for students in SAISD. The St. Mary’s students have definitely left their mark! With videos accessed as pre-lessons on the bus, these near peers have also shared their personal stories detailing what experiences and teachers sparked their interest in STEM. While there’s still work to be done this summer to complete the project, Voyager is well on its way to becoming an exciting, hands-on tool that will inspire students to explore and pursue future careers in STEM.

We can’t wait to formally launch Voyager in September and feature it at our Inspire Awards reception along with our student showcases. There, guests can join in the journey. Like our students on Voyager, guests can engage in an aerospace adventure through a flight simulator and drones, an advanced manufacturing adventure through a robotic arm and 3D printing, and an AI adventure through robotics and VR. 

A special thank you to the donors who have been on this journey with us to expand student opportunities in STEM through Voyager and our first bus, Pathfinder. Partners include Frost Charitable Trust, HB Family Foundation, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, San Antonio Area Foundation and Valero Benefit for Children. If you or your company is interested in experiencing the STEM bus, supporting the completion of our second bus, or helping with ongoing transportation and maintenance costs, we’d love to connect with you! Please reach out to us at SAISDFoundation@saisd.net.

Beat the Heat summer college enrollment trips are officially underway! This collaborative effort between the SAISD Foundation and SAISD Postsecondary Initiatives is designed to eliminate common barriers that recent high school graduates face when enrolling in college. The program offers transportation to local colleges and universities, helping students access enrollment and financial aid offices with ease. 

Postsecondary Navigator Cindy Cardenas shared, “Our Beat the Heat trips are more than just college visits—they’re a bridge to opportunity and possibility that most students don’t get anywhere else. Students may arrive feeling nervous, unsure, and/or apprehensive, but they leave empowered, informed, and connected. By the end of the trip, they have our phone numbers, our support, and a team of postsecondary navigators ready to walk with them every step of the way. We help with everything from enrollment and financial aid to follow-up questions and life transitions. I know first-hand that this level of hands-on support isn’t offered in any other districts.”

Earlier this month, 32 new SAISD alumni from the class of 2025 received on-site support at St. Philip's College, registering for classes through this vital program. This week, 10 new SAISD alumni from the class of 2025 joined us to confirm admission, register for New Student Orientation, submit required documents, and receive one-on-one support from the admissions team at Texas A&M University - San Antonio. 

During these trips, students receive hands-on assistance with critical tasks such as:

-Transcript Delays: Final high school transcripts are not yet ready district-wide—an annual challenge across districts. To move students forward despite this delay, our team has worked with colleges to accept 6th-semester transcripts, allowing students to resolve transcript holds and proceed with enrollment.

-Test Score Submissions: Many students face delays in submitting TSI or SAT/ACT scores because testing coordinators and counselors are off-contract during the summer. This year, we partnered with the SAISD Online Learning & Student Support department to access an online repository of Texas College Bridge certificates, helping recent graduates waive their TSI requirement and avoid re-testing.

-Financial Aid Verification: Students are receiving their financial aid holds and verification requests much later than usual. Given the 6–8 week processing time after document submission, many are unsure whether their aid will be ready before classes start. Our team helps students check their status in person and upload any missing documentation during campus visits.

-Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination: Higher education partners have identified this as one of the most persistent barriers to enrollment. Our Postsecondary Navigators created a comprehensive resource guide of clinics offering free or low-cost vaccination options and are advocating for on-site vaccination at enrollment events. We've also streamlined the process for graduates to request their shot records by partnering with SAISD Student Health Services.

-Accessibility Services & Orientation: Students also receive help setting up accommodations through Student Accessibility Services, registering for New Student Orientation, and enrolling in courses—all on-site, with staff from both the district and college partners.

Last year, 179 students were enrolled during these summer trips and we expect to exceed those numbers this summer. There are still eight trips remaining this summer to the University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas A&M San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio College, and Palo Alto College. With these trips still left to go, our team remains committed to ensuring no student is left behind on their path to college.

We are thrilled to announce the distinguished honorees for this year’s SAISD Foundation event: Richard Acosta (Brackenridge), Walter Embrey (Jefferson), Janie Martinez Gonzalez (Burbank), and Baltazar “Walter” Serna (Edison). These outstanding alumni represent the strength, resilience, and excellence rooted in San Antonio ISD schools.

This year’s celebration is proudly tri-chaired by Deborah Amini, Elaine De Los Santos, and Tiffany Grant, who are leading the charge to make this event our most impactful yet.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and join us at the beautiful Mays Center at the Witte Museum. We’re excited to return to this inspiring venue and to expand the student talent stage introduced last year—a powerful showcase of the creativity and talent of SAISD students.

As public schools continue to face limited financial support for essential programs, your participation is more critical than ever. Proceeds from this event directly fund vibrant arts and STEM programming across SAISD schools, ensuring these opportunities remain accessible to all students.

Whether as a sponsor or ticket holder, your involvement helps preserve and enhance the educational experiences that help students thrive. There is no better time to invest in our youth and honor the legacy of those who once walked these halls and now shine as community leaders.

Visit our event website and registration portal to secure your spot, or download the fillable PDF for mail-in options.

A heartfelt thank you to our early sponsors—your support is already making a difference. We look forward to welcoming even more generous partners to ths important cause.

Together, we celebrate our past and invest in our future.

Manuel Long’s SAISD story began in the classrooms of Maverick Elementary, continued through Tafolla Middle School, and culminated with his graduation from Jefferson High School. It was there, during his sophomore year, that he met Stephanie—his future wife— just before the 1994 Snowman’s Ball. That high school dance was the start of a lifelong love story that continues today. Both proud Jefferson alumni, Manuel and Stephanie, often reflect on how the District gave them not just an education, but each other.

“I owe a lot to SAISD,” Manuel shares. “It is a big part of who I am. Not only did my sister, Jeanette, also attend the same schools as I did, but our mother went on to work at Maverick with special needs children until 2008.”

Today, Manuel is paying it forward as a monthly donor to the SAISD Foundation. He first learned about the Foundation at the Inspire Awards in 2018 while attending with his employer, Frost. Inspired by the stories and the impact being made across the District, he decided to be part of that ongoing work. 

 “Alumni can be stewards of the District,” Manuel says. “The District has always had challenges, but also has a strong sense of community and is capable of doing great things.” This sense of duty recently brought him back to Maverick Elementary, where he volunteered to teach financial literacy to Mrs. Ruba’s fifth-grade class. “It felt incredible to return to Maverick and spend the day working with future SAISD graduates.”

Manuel believes all alumni have a role to play. “Our opportunity to give back to the District you were a part of is important, and all alumni should try to do that in some way. Be a part of the work. Lift up the District and the kids that go there now.”

He also wants people to know that giving doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful.
“Every little bit helps. $10 a month can make a difference,” Manuel says. 

Join Manuel—Become a Monthly Donor Today!

Whether you’re a fellow alum, a parent, or a friend of SAISD, your monthly gift helps fuel student success, fund innovative programs, and uplift our school communities. Just $10 a month goes a long way.

Start your monthly gift today and be part of something bigger. Together, we can advance opportunities for today’s students.

We are proud to celebrate the students who graduated this spring from SAISD high schools—ready to take on college, careers, and the world! In addition to their high school diplomas, hundreds of SAISD seniors also earned valuable college credentials that will give them a head start on their future. 307 strong, these include 186 associate degrees and 139 Level I certificates of completion—all awarded before students graduated from their SAISD high school. SAISD’s robust dual credit programs are made possible through partnerships with Alamo Colleges, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M San Antonio, the University of Texas at Austin and McMurry University and are free to SAISD students.

These credentials were awarded across nine SAISD campuses, including our P-TECH and Early College High Schools. Notably, Travis Early College High School led the way with 99 total credentials awarded, including 86 associate degrees from San Antonio College!

These early college successes reflect SAISD’s commitment to preparing students not just for graduation, but for lifelong learning and the workforce. We’re especially proud of our students and district staff and college partners who made these achievements possible. 

Congratulations to our graduates—you make us #SAISDProud!

Help send the SAISD Class of 2025 off to college with dorm essentials!

Make a donation toward dorm supplies: A gift of $100 will fully support one student. Your gift, whether big or small, sends a powerful message: You believe in our students and their future. To give click here add "Dorm Room" to the comments.

Shop our Amazon Registry  and have items shipped directly to us—it's quick, easy, and convenient! No need to leave your home to make a difference. Click here to shop.

Distribution of the items to SAISD’s college-bound students will take place at an in-person send-off on July 24, also at the Alamo Convocation Center. Thanks to our partners at Compudopt, students also have the opportunity to receive a FREE laptop for school. 

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